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# Principal Electrical Engineer - Avionics and Command & Data Handling Lead

- **Company:** ASCENT SERVICES GROUP LLC
- **Location:** Beaverton, OR, United States (Remote available)
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $195,000.0 - $250,000.0
- **Contract:** Temporary contract
- **Skills:** Board Bringup, Systems Engineering, Network Analysis, Software Debugging, Network Interface Controllers, Firmware, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Interface Design, Subsystems, Systems Architecture, Data Processing, Pcb Layout
- **Published:** October 27, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/principal-electrical-engineer-avionics-and-command-data-handling-lead-beaverton-or--8148da0f-4a7b-4551-ab0e-f7e06933408c

## About the Role

Electrical Engineering, Avionics, Communication Systems, Avionics, Electrical Engineering, Satellite Communications, System Architecture, Startup, Topology, Component Selection, * B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline; 8+ years, including spacecraft or other high-reliability avionics. Hands-on board design - circuits taken from requirements through schematic, analysis, bring-up and test, and you can show what you designed

 * Subsystem-level engineering: architecture definition, requirements flow-down, interface control and resource budgets
 * Command and data handling: on-board computing, telemetry and command architecture, data bus topology, and discrete, analog and serial signal accommodation
 * EEE parts selection and derating for space or another high-reliability domain
 * Specifying and technically managing procured electronics units, including supplier design reviews
 * Comfortable across electrical, software and systems boundaries, and able to reach agreement with subsystem leads
 * Strong plus: GEO communications satellites; FPGA or firmware familiarity; ECSS or equivalent space standards

## Description

Come join us in shaping the future! Get in on the ground floor as an early member of our Electrical Engineering team, working on a revolutionary satellite communications system. Architect the avionics and data handling, design the boards, buy the boxes, then make it all work together.

AscendArc is a venture-backed startup founded to revolutionize the satellite communications industry. We are looking for doers who want to work in a ground-breaking and fast-paced environment. Our success will depend on your energy, skill, and creativity.

Responsibilities

 * Lead avionics and Command & Data Handling (C&DH) within the Electrical Engineering team
 * Architect the avionics and C&DH subsystem, including buy-vs-build decisions
 * Own avionics and C&DH requirements, I/O and channel allocation, and interface control documents
 * Design in-house electronics, including topology, component selection, schematics, and circuit analysis
 * Perform worst-case and derating analysis and select EEE parts for a 15-year GEO mission
 * Support PCB layout, board bring-up, debugging, and testing
 * Own technical procurement of externally sourced units, including specifications, SOWs, technical evaluations, supplier design reviews, and acceptance data
 * Partner closely with Flight Software, Systems Engineering, Power, Battery, and other Electrical Engineering leads
 * Own hardware interfaces across power, grounding, bonding, protection, harness, and spacecraft-level integration
 * Work within the Systems Engineering baseline for requirements, interfaces, and technical budgets while owning avionics architecture decisions