PCB Designer (All Levels)

Department: Avionics

Location: Hawthorne, California

Compensation: $140,000 - $230,000 / year

Description

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

Astrolab is looking for a detail-oriented PCB Designer who will also serve as our ECAD Librarian, responsible for both high-quality PCB layout and the integrity of our Altium component library. This role is critical to ensuring design consistency, manufacturability, and configuration control. You will work closely with Responsible Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers to take designs from schematic to released manufacturing packages, and you will own the component library as the single source of truth for all PCB designs. This posting covers entry-level through staff-level positions, and leveling will be commensurate with experience.

What you'll do:

• PCB Layout: Perform schematic capture support and PCB layout for complex, high-reliability electronics, including multilayer, high-speed, mixed-signal, and power designs. Execute constraint-driven layout including impedance control, differential routing, and power integrity considerations
• Library Ownership: Lead Altium component library development, including defining component creation and lifecycle management processes. Create and maintain symbols, footprints, and 3D models for commonly used parts, and organize and govern component libraries to ensure consistency, accuracy, and reuse
• Design Integration: Collaborate with Responsible Engineers and mechanical and thermal engineers to ensure design integration, and iterate designs based on prototype feedback, test results, and manufacturing input
• Manufacturing Readiness (DFM): Prepare electronics designs for manufacturing with a focus on DFM readiness. Generate and review fabrication and assembly drawings, stackups, and design notes, and support DFM/DFA reviews with PCB and PCBA contract manufacturers
• Design Infrastructure: Set up and maintain Altium project templates and configurations. Define PCB layout guidelines, stackup rules, constraints, and baseline drawing notes, and configure manufacturing packages and the release process
• Documentation & Training: Develop documentation and training materials covering Altium project setup, component creation, PCB layout rules, tool configuration, and PCBA release processes
  
  

What you'll bring:

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) related field
• 1 years of experience with PCB layout, component creation, and library management
• Experience with Altium Designer or equivalent ECAD tools

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and releasing electronics for aerospace, space, or other high-reliability applications
• Experience with multilayer PCB stackups and materials, high-speed design principles including signal integrity and controlled impedance, and power distribution and grounding strategies
• Experience with IPC standards such as IPC-2220, IPC-2152, IPC-7351, IPC-A-600, and IPC-A-610
• IPC Certified Interconnect Designer (CID) certification, with advanced certification (CID ) a plus
• Experience with rigid-flex and HDI designs, via-in-pad, and blind and buried vias
• Experience designing for environmental requirements, including vibration, thermal, EMI/EMC, and radiation considerations
• Experience with PLM systems, configuration management, and release workflows, and working with fabrication and assembly vendors
• For senior and staff levels: experience defining library governance, layout standards, and release processes from the ground up, and supporting the selection of PCB and PCBA contract manufacturers
  
  

Benefits and Perks

• Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
• Equity ownership in the company
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Flexible PTO and parental leave
• Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
• Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks