Senior Electrical Engineer (Space Communications)

Northwood is on a mission to transform connectivity between Earth and space. Satellites are only as powerful as the ground systems that connect to them - without that critical infrastructure, they can’t be steered or send their data back to Earth. Northwood’s global ground network ensures that missions ranging from national security, to global connectivity, to disaster response can unlock their full potential and operate every day without fail. We take a vertically integrated approach to building an end-to-end ground system, delivering technology that is scalable and reliable for both government and commercial customers.

Backed by over $100M from investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Washington Harbour Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, Founders Fund, and others, Northwood has proven its ability to move fast – we’ve stood up a fully operational site in Australia in just 3 months, where similar efforts typically take years.

Northwood is rapidly scaling its global footprint, with 30 sites planned across 2026 and 2027. We’re building and deploying infrastructure at a pace the industry hasn’t seen before. If you thrive on building quickly, solving hard problems, and seeing your work deployed globally on critical missions, we want you at Northwood.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (HIGH SPEED, MIXED SIGNAL ELECTRONICS)

Northwood is looking for a Senior Electrical Engineer to help drive the development of our digital compute and power electronics. These complex digital systems ensure that our antennas can meet high-rate processing needs no matter where they are deployed around the world. Our hardware team prioritizes excellent engineering, building end products that are known for their reliability, scalability, and cost.

Responsibilities

• Drive electrical design for high speed digital communication systems. Implementing RF and mixed-signal designs in complex, multilayer PCBs
• Work with 100G high speed networking, complex digital power trees, and drive system trades for architecture decisions
• Perform schematic capture, layout, and bring-up on a variety of different digital systems including FPGAs, microcontrollers, and their associated peripherals
• Collaborate across hardware and software teams with RF engineers, antenna engineers, FPGA engineers, and firmware engineers to optimize system performance and overall design
• Test prototypes and assess performance in the lab and in the field
• Work with production teams to make testable and manufacturable products that we can integrate in-house
  
  

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5-7 years of professional experience in electrical design
• Proficient in high-density/high-speed design (including FPGAs, high speed data converters, SerDes, 10/100 GigE, networking, JESD204C)
• Proficient in schematic capture and good PCB layout design
• Experience with troubleshooting EMI/EMC, either conducted or radiated
• Knowledge of PCB materials and developing board stack-up definition
• Familiarity with soldering and hot air rework methods
• Experience with full product lifecycle (concept through production)
  
  

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 5 years of experience designing high-speed mixed-signal electronics and complex multilayer PCBs for FPGA- or processor-based systems
• Strong expertise in high-speed interfaces and networking technologies such as multi-gigabit SerDes, DDR, JESD204B/C, and 10/100G Ethernet
• Deep understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation, PCB stack-up definition, and high-performance board layout practices
• Proven experience leading hardware development from architecture and prototype bring-up through validation, manufacturing, and production ramp
• Hands-on experience debugging complex hardware systems using advanced lab instrumentation and driving root-cause analysis across board and system levels
• Ability to lead cross-functional technical efforts, mentor junior engineers, and make sound engineering tradeoffs in fast-paced development environments
  
  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Electrical Engineer/Level III: $129,000 - $175,000 per year

Electrical Engineer/Level IV: $115,000 - $145,000 per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Northwood. You may also be eligible for equity in the form of stock options or other long-term incentives, as well as potential performance bonuses. We offer comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, generous paid time off, and various other perks and discounts.

Additional Information:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.