Senior Electrical Engineer – Spacecraft Power Systems & Bus Architecture
Portal Space Systems
Bothell, WA · Posted July 20, 2026
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Where Bothell, WA ranks
Where Bothell, WA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #5Best cities for director and executive jobs in the Pacific Northwest18% · of 17
- #6Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Pacific Northwest57% · of 17
- #7Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Pacific Northwest0.8% · of 16
- #7Best cities for AI-skill jobs in the Pacific Northwest8% · of 17
- #10Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Pacific Northwest49 openings · of 14
- #11Cities with the most hybrid jobs in the Pacific Northwest5% · of 16
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
Pay compared with the market
This listing does not state pay. Across 130 open senior electrical engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $145,500 to $171,500 and the median is $160,000.
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How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among electrical engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for electrical engineers: 6% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
About the job
About Portal
Portal Space Systems is on a mission to expand humanity’s freedom of movement in space. We’re building the spacecraft that makes that mission possible. From our Bothell, WA headquarters, we design vehicles with the maneuverability, resilience, and adaptability needed for the next era of orbital operations. Every system we build is in service of a simple idea: space should be more accessible, responsive, and capable. Joining Portal means stepping into a team that believes in bold engineering, fast iteration, and the power of small groups to change what’s possible. If you want your work to directly shape the future of in-space mobility, join us.
About the Role
We are seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer with deep expertise in hardware electrical design for spacecraft, particularly in power systems engineering and bus-level power management.
Responsibilities
Architect and design spacecraft power systems including solar array interfaces, battery charge/discharge regulation, power distribution units (PDUs), and system-level grounding schemes.
Lead development of the main spacecraft power bus: voltage regulation, load management, protection, and redundancy strategies.
Perform trade studies and system sizing for battery capacity, solar array performance, and bus architecture optimization.
Develop schematics, PCB layouts, and cable harnessing for power boards and interface hardware.
Drive hardware bring-up, functional testing, and fault isolation on power boards and integrated systems.
Collaborate with systems, mechanical, and thermal engineers to align EPS design with mission requirements and spacecraft constraints.
Contribute to environmental testing for acceptance and qualification and EMI/EMC compliance for power hardware.
Coordinate with Launch Providers on interfaces and concept of operations during payload integration, launch pad and waking up in space.
Basic Qualifications
B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, related field or equivalent.
5+ years of experience designing power systems for aerospace, spacecraft, or other high-reliability platforms.
Experience with power electronics design, including DC-DC converters, battery management systems, and overcurrent/undervoltage protection circuits.
Experience using ECAD tools (e.g., Altium Designer) for board design and system schematics.
Experience testing and debugging flight or flight-like power hardware in lab and system testbeds.
Preferred Skills & Experience
Experience with spacecraft power architectures including unregulated and regulated bus designs.
Knowledge of space-grade components, derating guidelines, and radiation effects on power electronics.
Familiarity with power system modeling and analysis tools (e.g., PLECS, SPICE).
Experience with EPS integration and operations on actual flight programs.
Familiarity with standards such as NASA-STD-4005, ECSS-E-ST-20-20, or NASA power interface specs.
Pay Range: $145,000 - $205,000
Compensation and Benefits:
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
At Portal, your base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company equity at an exciting time of company growth as well as potential bonuses. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage (premiums paid by Portal 100%), access to a 401(k)-retirement plan, paid parental leave, you may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 12 or more paid holidays per year as well as sick time.
ITAR Statement
This position may involve access to technical data and defense-related materials controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Eligibility to access ITAR-controlled items requires that candidates be U.S. persons , which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other protected individuals as defined by U.S. law. Employment is contingent upon verification of ITAR eligibility and, where applicable, obtaining any required export authorization or license.
Equal Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.