Director Of Hardware (Space Payload)

Job Title: Director of Hardware Engineering (Space Payload Systems)

Job Description

Join an innovative early-stage startup in Seattle, WA, pioneering advancements in Geospatial Intelligence. As the Director of Hardware Engineering, you will spearhead the design, development, qualification, and deployment of scalable, electronically-steered radar systems for cutting-edge spaceborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. You will lead multi-disciplinary teams to deliver high-performance hardware for low-earth orbit (LEO) environments, ensuring technical excellence, schedule adherence, and budget accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the definition of hardware system architecture for electronically-steered radar subsystems, including antennas, RF front-ends, power electronics, and embedded processing hardware.
• Direct full product lifecycle execution: from requirements to spacecraft integration.
• Recruit, hire, manage, and mentor cross-disciplinary engineering teams, fostering a culture of ownership and innovation.
• Collaborate with system engineering, software/firmware, GNC, payload/instrument, and operations teams to ensure coherent hardware-software interaction.
• Oversee hardware Verification & Validation (V&V) and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) advancement strategies.
• Collaborate with the Program Management Office to manage schedules, budgets, and resources, ensuring mission performance and reliability.
• Drive manufacturability, cost efficiency, and quality through Design for Excellence (DFX) principles.
• Engage with customers, suppliers, and subcontractors throughout the product development lifecycle.

Essential Skills

• BS/MS or PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent discipline.
• Eligibility to obtain and hold a US DoD security clearance (TS with SCI).
• 4-5 years in leadership/management of engineering teams across hardware disciplines.
• Significant experience developing mission-critical hardware for space and/or defense environments.
• Proficiency in RF/Microwave, Antenna systems, Radar, high-speed digital and mixed-signal electronics, and power electronics.
• Experience with PCB design, EMI/EMC practices, and mechanical/thermal packaging.
• Proven success in qualifying hardware for environmental and radiation conditions.
• Strong understanding of program planning, budget control, and risk management.
• Excellent communication skills for collaboration with senior leadership, customers, and suppliers.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with electronically-steered or phased-array radar systems and beam-steering.
• Familiarity with space-qualified component engineering and radiation-tolerant design.
• Proficiency with modeling and simulation tools for RF/antenna, signal/power integrity, and thermal/structural analyses.
• Experience with space-rated hardware testing standards such as SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000, MIL-STD-461.
• Experience in defense contracting environments or ISR/target-tracking radar missions.
• Exposure to hardware manufacturing scaling, DFM for high-volume production, or lean development practices.
• Experience collaborating across global supply chains and managing subcontractors.

Work Environment

The position is based in an office located in Seattle, WA, providing a dynamic startup environment that fosters innovation in spaceborne technologies for low-earth orbit (LEO) applications.

This is a Permanent position based out of Seattle, WA.

The pay range for this position is $198000.00 - $242000.00/yr.

Base Salary Equity Options Relocation Assistance (for out of state candidates) Ownership Opportunity: Equity grants give you a stake in Kapta Space’s growth and success as we scale in the geospatial intelligence market.

This is a fully onsite position in Seattle,WA.

This position is anticipated to close on Mar 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

Salary : $198,000 - $242,000