---
title: 'Sr. Electrical Engineer at Xona Space Systems'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-electrical-engineer-xona-space-systems-burlingame-tyhrt8a01ak8'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-09'
---

# Sr. Electrical Engineer at Xona Space Systems

- **Company:** Xona Space Systems
- **Location:** Burlingame, CA
- **Compensation:** $170k–$200k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-06-24
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/xona-space/49563d0b-64ab-4a6f-9d32-25e52d11ae2c/application

**Skills:** Power electronics, Switched-mode power conversion, Isolated DC-DC converter topologies, Closed-loop control, High-voltage electronics, High-power electronics, Schematic capture, PCB design, Power conditioning, Power conversion units, Radiation effects, Radiation-tolerant component selection, Plasma loads, Nonlinear high-voltage loads, Magnetics design, EMI/EMC design, Space hardware standards, NASA standards, MIL-STD, ECSS

> Lead the design and development of high-voltage power electronics for satellite propulsion systems, owning the architecture from initial concept through flight qualification. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver reliable, efficient, and manufacturable units for the space environment.

## Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

We are seeking a Sr. Electrical Engineer to lead the design and development of high-voltage power electronics for satellite propulsion systems from the ground up. In this role, you will own the design from initial architecture through flight qualification. You will develop the converters, control electronics, and define the software requirements needed to deliver high voltage power in a demanding space environment.

You will work closely with mechanical, software, and subsystem engineers to deliver a reliable, efficient, and manufacturable unit for the space environment. This is a hands-on, senior role spanning circuit design, analysis, prototyping, and test, with design authority over the unit from early breadboard through spacecraft integration and into production.

## What You’ll Do

- Own the architecture and detailed design of a high-voltage power electronics unit, including topology, component selection, and PCB design.
- Design high-voltage DC-DC converters (e.g., phase-shifted full bridge or similar topologies) optimized for efficiency, mass, and reliability.
- Design control electronics for regulation, sequencing, telemetry, and fault protection.
- Perform analysis to validate designs against electrical, thermal, and radiation requirements of the space environment.
- Develop and execute test plans for breadboard, engineering model, and flight hardware.
- Lead schematic capture and collaborate on PCB layout for high-voltage, high-power flight hardware.
- Drive component selection and qualification, including evaluation of radiation-tolerant and high-reliability parts.
- Troubleshoot and debug power electronics hardware throughout development.
- Develop qualification and acceptance test procedures and hardware.
- Support integration of the unit with spacecraft avionics.
- Support Design for Manufacturability (DFM) efforts as the design transitions from prototype to sustained production.
- Define and maintain requirements, interface control documents, and verification artifacts.

Required Qualifications

- B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience designing power electronics, with demonstrated ownership of designs from concept through hardware bring-up and test.
- Strong fundamentals in switched-mode power conversion, including isolated DC-DC converter topologies and closed-loop control.
- Experience designing high-voltage and/or high-power electronics.
- Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB design tools.
- Strong problem-solving ability and attention to detail.
- Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Ability to work onsite in Burlingame, CA.

Desired Qualifications

- Experience designing power conditioning or power conversion units for spacecraft or other high-reliability applications.
- Familiarity with radiation effects and radiation-tolerant component selection for space.
- Experience with plasma or other nonlinear high-voltage loads.
- Knowledge of magnetics design for high-frequency power converters.
- Experience with EMI/EMC design and mitigation.
- Familiarity with space hardware standards and qualification processes (e.g., NASA, MIL-STD, ECSS).
- Experience supporting hardware integration, assembly, or environmental testing.
- Familiarity with embedded control or firmware for power electronics.

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

## About Xona Space Systems

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Xona Space Systems is building Pulsar, a high-integrity positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) constellation in Low Earth Orbit that delivers authenticated, centimeter-accurate services as a resilient alternative to GPS.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C – $170M raised ~April 2026)
- **Headquarters**: Burlingame, California, USA (also offices in Montreal, Canada and London, England)
- **Founded**: 2019
- **Founders**: Brian Manning (CEO), Tyler Reid (CTO), Adrien Perkins (VP of Engineering)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace / Satellite Navigation, Defense & Critical Infrastructure, Autonomous Systems
- **Target customers**: B2B / B2G – enterprise, government, defense, autonomous robotics, construction, industrial IoT, and any application requiring resilient PNT
- **Mission**: “Unlock the potential of tomorrow’s technologies by providing the most robust and accurate navigation and timing services on Earth.”

## Products & Services
- **Pulsar Constellation**: A network of 258 small, software-defined satellites in LEO broadcasting secured, authenticated PNT signals. Offers native user accuracy at centimeter level and is designed to upgrade existing GPS devices via a software update.
- **Pulsar‑Verified Receivers & Simulators**: Certified hardware and test platforms for integrators. Includes reference designs and simulation tools.
- **Time Authentication Service**: A cryptographic layer that validates the origin and integrity of timing signals, providing resilience against spoofing and jamming.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (conflicting reports may exist; no official figure available)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding $327.53M (CB Insights); latest Series C closed ~April 2026 (amount $170M)
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Not publicly disclosed (funding specifics unknown). Key partners include Murata (MOU for LEO navigation in industrial applications), the Government of Canada (R&D collaboration to strengthen timing resilience), and the National Research Council of Canada.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Successfully launched Pulsar‑0, the first commercially funded navigation satellite, now in orbit for one year (June 2026).
  - 11+ patents filed (encrypted navigation signals, wireless locating, etc.).
  - Active hiring in Burlingame, Montreal, and London; 828 employees on LinkedIn as of mid‑2026.
  - Collaboration with ISED, NRC, and DRDC to broadcast Canada’s official time signal (UTC(NRC)) from space.

## Competitive Advantages
- **First‑mover with a privately funded navigation satellite** – Pulsar‑0 set a precedent for commercial LEO PNT.
- **Authenticated signals** – Cryptographic security native to the signal provides spoofing/jamming resistance unmatched by traditional GPS.
- **Software‑defined satellites** – Rapid constellation scaling and in‑orbit updates at a fraction of legacy system cost.
- **Multi‑national timing broadcast** – Ability to carry multiple official time standards (US, UK, Canada) on a shared infrastructure, creating sovereign resilience for allies.

## Strategic Focus
- **Constellation deployment** – Scale from prototype (Pulsar‑0) to a full production fleet of 258 satellites.
- **Ecosystem enablement** – Grow partner network of receiver makers, chipset vendors, and integrators (e.g., Murata, government bodies).
- **Geographic expansion** – Establish a strong presence in Canada (Montreal) and the UK (London) while deepening relationships with allied governments.
- **Defense & critical infrastructure** – Pursue contracts that require autonomous, tamper‑proof PNT for military, aviation, and grid timing.

## Why Work Here
- **Impact** – Work on “a generational technology at startup speed”; decisions are pushed to the people closest to the work. Culture of ownership and rapid iteration.
- **Compensation** – Competitive salary, equity (ownership culture), 401(k) / Roth 401(k).
- **Benefits** – 95% of healthcare premiums covered for US employees (50% for dependents); HSA/FSA options; supportive parental leave (equitable); flexible time off.
- **Workplace** – Burlingame office with catered lunches twice a week, snacks, drinks, coffee. Roles also in Montreal and London (hybrid likely per location, but remote‑first not stated).
- **Culture** – Engineering‑driven, fast‑shipping, collaborative; team includes leaders from industry and academia.

## Sources
1. [xonaspace.com](https://www.xonaspace.com/)
2. [xonaspace.com/careers](https://www.xonaspace.com/careers)
3. [xonaspace.com/mission](https://www.xonaspace.com/mission)
4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/xonaspace)
5. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/xona-space-systems)

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