Avionics Design Reliability Engineer (All Levels)
Hawthorne, CaliforniaOn-siteFull-time
AI Summary
An Avionics Design Reliability Engineer ensures CLV-1 lunar rover avionics, RF, and power systems are designed for reliability. They lead FMEA, set design standards, manage risk reviews, and mentor engineers to prevent failures before launch.
About this role
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.
CLV-1 is the first human-capable lunar rover since 1972. It will carry Artemis IV astronauts across the lunar South Pole, one of the harshest environments humans have ever worked in. There is no service center. It must work. As an Avionics Design Reliability Engineer, you will ensure CLV-1's avionics, RF, and power systems survive the mission. You will work across disciplines to build reliability into the design itself, identifying and mitigating failures before they arise.
CLV-1 is the first human-capable lunar rover since 1972. It will carry Artemis IV astronauts across the lunar South Pole, one of the harshest environments humans have ever worked in. There is no service center. It must work. As an Avionics Design Reliability Engineer, you will ensure CLV-1's avionics, RF, and power systems survive the mission. You will work across disciplines to build reliability into the design itself, identifying and mitigating failures before they arise.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead FMEA for avionics, RF, and power systems, and drive design changes that prevent failures before they happen
- Architect Astrolab's avionics design standards and test methodologies
- Champion the Astrolab design process and set design criteria, requirements, and verification approaches for new hardware
- Own change and risk reviews, translating technical risk and impact into decisions the team can act on
- become the person the organization trusts to translate technical risk into clear, confident decisions
- Build the processes that ensure designs meet standards, reviews are comprehensive, changes are implemented, and risks are mitigated
- Flow reliability requirements down to hardware: margins, screening levels, derating guidelines
- Develop specialized analysis tools, review templates, reliability checklists, and design guides
- Mentor engineers on reliability methods and analysis techniques
- Capture lessons learned and drive continuous improvements to strengthen standards and processes
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline
- 5+ years of experience designing and analyzing hardware for space, automotive, or other high-reliability systems
- Experience designing, integrating, testing, or operating space vehicles or other large, complex systems
Preferred Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in design reliability for spacecraft, launch vehicles, aircraft, robotics, or other complex hardware
- Experience with EEE parts, PCBAs, avionics units, RF components, and wire harnesses
- Experience applying derating practices, Sneak Circuit Analysis, Worst-Case Circuit Analysis, Design for Excellence (DFX), and requirements flow-down
- Experience applying reliability engineering methods, including FMEA, accelerated testing, and Weibull analysis
- Experience creating engineering standards, review templates, or technical guidance frameworks
- Experience with manufacturing processes, materials selection, and hardware qualification pathways
- Experience applying Physics of Failure methodologies and identifying failure mechanisms in electronic hardware
- Experience with fracture control, human-rated hardware standards, or similar reliability frameworks
Benefits
- 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
- Home office set up reimbursement
- Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
- Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks
Skills
Accelerated TestingAvionicsDeratingDFMDFxEEE PartsFMEAPCBAsPower SystemsRFWeibull AnalysisWire Harnesses
Explore related jobs
More jobs at Astrolab
Service Desk Engineer IIHawthorne, California- Technical RecruiterHawthorne, California
- Lead Mechanical Engineer, Vehicle EngineeringHawthorne, California
- Mechanical Engineer (Vehicle Engineering), Senior or Staff-LevelHawthorne, California
- Mechanical Engineer (Vehicle Engineering), Entry to Mid-LevelHawthorne, California
- PCB Designer (All Levels)Hawthorne, California
Browse these categories
Market data for this role
All reports →- SeriesRole reportsOne role family at a time: how many openings, what changed this week, who is hiring, what it pays.
- SeriesSalary reportsWhat employers publish in job postings, by level and workplace. Not self-reported pay.
- Market overviewState of tech hiring, September 2026: up 4.8%Tech hiring rose 4.8% month over month in September 2026, with 411,122 new listings. Customer support and account executive roles led the growth.