Electrical Engineering Director

About

First Principle has been retained by a highly ambitious space technology company developing a next-generation satellite platform tackling one of the more complex engineering challenges currently underway in the commercial space sector.

With first-of-a-kind technical demonstrations recently achieved and a clear path toward flight hardware, the company is now entering a critical phase of development: translating novel architectures into fully integrated spacecraft capable of operating reliably in orbit for years at a time.

To support this transition, we are seeking an Electrical Engineering Director to lead the development of spacecraft avionics, electrical power systems, and flight electronics that will underpin this platform. This will be a foundational leadership role responsible for translating ambitious system concepts into flight-ready electrical hardware across design, testing, integration, and ultimately production.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the electrical architecture of a new class of spacecraft, spanning avionics, electrical power systems, communications interfaces, and associated flight electronics.
• Own the development lifecycle of critical electrical subsystems, from early concept through detailed design, prototype development, environmental testing, and flight readiness.
• Lead a multidisciplinary electrical engineering team responsible for delivering flight hardware that meets demanding reliability, power, and performance requirements.
• Drive design-for-manufacturing and scalability across spacecraft electrical systems, ensuring that early prototypes can evolve into hardware capable of serial production.
• Work closely with systems, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to integrate electrical subsystems into a coherent spacecraft platform.
• Oversee verification and qualification of flight electronics, ensuring designs meet the environmental and operational demands of the space environment.
• Act as a senior technical leader, setting the engineering bar for electrical system development across the organization.

Success Criteria

• We expect candidates to bring deep experience designing and delivering complex electrical systems operating in demanding environments, with senior engineering leadership experience in aerospace, space systems, defense hardware, or similarly complex engineered platforms.
• A track record of delivering electrical or avionics systems from concept through integration and operational deployment. Ideally, this person will have deep expertise in spacecraft avionics and power systems.
• Experience working within highly multidisciplinary engineering organizations where electrical systems must integrate seamlessly with mechanical, optical, and software-driven subsystems.
• Comfort operating within a fast-moving startup environment where engineering leaders are expected to combine technical depth with hands-on problem-solving.

This role represents the chance to work on one of the more ambitious engineering programs currently underway in the commercial space sector, with a rare opportunity to define the electrical foundations for a new generation of orbital infrastructure.

You will shape system architecture, build and lead a high-performing engineering team, and directly influence the design of spacecraft, which will ultimately operate at a globe-spanning constellation scale.

*To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, you must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, a 'protected individual', or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State in order to work in this position.