Job Description

Mission

Aetherflux's mission is to deliver energy to planet Earth. Our work will make energy more accessible, establish American energy independence, power underdeveloped and disaster-stricken areas, and protect American warfighters.

Background

Aetherflux is taking a new approach to an old idea called space solar power. Our constellation of satellites will collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit, convert it to electricity, and transmit power through infrared lasers to ground stations, providing reliable energy access where traditional delivery is expensive, challenging, or dangerous.

Current energy systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure, making them vulnerable to natural disasters, extreme weather, and physical and cyber attacks. Aetherflux overcomes these challenges by enabling direct, on-demand, secure, and scalable 24-hour energy distribution from space. This can revolutionize energy generation and delivery, and enable new capabilities as we deliver power to remote regions, military bases, bespoke operations, and unmanned autonomous systems.

Baiju Bhatt, who also co-founded Robinhood, founded Aetherflux in 2024. Inspired by his father’s career at NASA, Baiju earned his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics at Stanford before starting Robinhood, now a public company that has helped over 20 million Americans access the financial system. Aetherflux is currently self-funded through a $10 million investment from Baiju.

This is an ambitious mission that demands extraordinary talent. Aetherflux’s team has worked at places like Robinhood, SpaceX, NASA, Anduril, JPL, and the U.S. Navy, and is based in San Carlos, CA. If you're ready to solve complex technical challenges and help build the most important energy company in the world, we want to hear from you.

Overview

The PCB Design Engineer at Aetherflux will lead the layout, design, and optimization of printed circuit boards (PCBs) for high-power, space-based energy transmission systems. This role will involve working closely with electrical, mechanical, and thermal engineers to ensure PCB designs meet the rigorous requirements of space environments, including radiation tolerance, thermal constraints, and high-reliability operation. The ideal candidate will have experience designing complex, high-density, multi-layer PCBs for high-performance space applications.

Responsibilities

• PCB Design & Layout: Develop multi-layer, high-reliability PCB layouts for space applications, including power, digital, and RF circuits.
• High-Power & High-Speed Design: Design PCBs optimized for high-current power distribution and high-speed signal integrity.
• Component Placement & Routing: Optimize layout for thermal performance, manufacturability, and electromagnetic compatibility.
• Thermal Management: Collaborate with thermal engineers to ensure effective heat dissipation in space environments.
• Signal & Power Integrity Analysis: Utilize simulation tools to ensure optimal signal transmission and minimal power losses.
• DFT & DFM: Work with manufacturing partners to ensure PCB designs are optimized for fabrication, assembly, and testability.
• Radiation Hardening: Design PCBs to meet space radiation and environment reliability requirements.
• Documentation: Maintain schematic symbols, footprints, and design documentation in compliance with industry standards.
• Testing & Validation: Support hardware bring-up, debugging, and validation and PCB assemblies.
• Collaboration: Work closely with systems, electrical, and mechanical engineers to integrate PCB designs into Aetherflux’s satellite systems.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in PCB design and layout for high-reliability applications.
• Proficiency in PCB design tools such as Altium Designer, Mentor Graphics Xpedition, etc.
• Experience with high-power and high-speed PCB designs, including impedance-controlled routing.
• Strong understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, and EMC/EMI mitigation techniques.
• Knowledge of PCB fabrication, assembly, and testing processes.
• Experience designing PCBs for space, aerospace, or defense applications.
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, network analyzers, and power meters.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and component datasheets.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience designing PCBs for space or high-reliability environments.
• Familiarity with radiation-hardened electronic components and design techniques.
• Experience with RF PCB design and microwave components.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, MATLAB) for automation and data analysis.
• Strong understanding of thermal and mechanical constraints in PCB design for space applications.
• Experience with reliability analysis, failure mode effects analysis (FMEA), and qualification testing for aerospace electronics.

Benefits

• Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Unlimited paid time off
• 10 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid leave for new parents
• Relocation assistance

Disclaimer

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Aetherflux’s discretion.

Aetherflux is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. Aetherflux is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR .

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