Senior Avionics System Engineer - Electrical Power System

Senior Avionics System Engineer - Electrical Power System

The Exploration Company

Munich, Germany

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.

Key Responsibilities

System Architecture & Design

• Define the Electrical Power System architecture in coordination with system engineering and mission requirements;
• Size and specify solar arrays, batteries, and power conditioning/distribution units;
• Ensure optimal power generation, storage, and distribution strategy across all mission phases and failure scenario and failure scenario.

Component Selection & Specification

• Evaluate and select flight-qualified components: solar cells, battery design, power conversion and protection elements;
• Support the design of power conditioning and distribution units;
• Generate technical specifications.

Analysis & Simulation

• Conduct worst-case, reliability, and redundancy analyses in accordance with ECSS/NASA standards.

Integration & Testing

• Define and execute Electrical Power System verification and validation plans (unit, subsystem, and system levels);
• Support integration of Electrical Power System with other subsystems of the spacecraft;
• Participate in environmental testing: vibration, thermal vacuum, EMC.

Project & Supplier Coordination

• Interface with suppliers for COTS and internal teams for in-house designed power system components;
• Support project development logic, planning, risk assessment, and technical reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR).

Documentation & Standards Compliance

• Produce detailed documentation for design, analysis, test procedures, and compliance reports;
• Ensure compliance with space-grade standards (NASA-STD, ECSS);
• Contribute actively to reviews with customers and certification authorities for the Electrical Power System.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field;
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in spacecraft Electrical Power System or avionics system development;
• Good level of understanding of the following domains:
  • Solar array systems;
  • Space-qualified batteries;
  • Power converters (DC/DC), MPPT, PCDU design;
  • Power distribution architectures (bus, switched, redundant);
  • General electronics.
• Proficiency with simulation and software development tools (e.g. Github, Python);
• Familiarity with ECSS/NASA standards and derating rules for space hardware;
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical documentation skills;
• Fluent in English; ability to write clear technical specifications and reports.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with spacecraft platforms;
• Experience with Lithium-Ion Batteries;
• Experience with battery management systems (BMS) and Battery failure modes;
• Experience with solar arrays design and test for space applications.