Senior Harness Engineer

Responsibilities

Own harness design from concept to flight Drive the electrical interconnect architecture for spacecraft power, data, RF, and GPU/compute subsystems, including high-current power distribution for multi-kilowatt payloads Produce complete harness designs: interconnect diagrams, wiring schematics, wire lists, connector and contact selection, wire gauge and derating analysis, shielding and grounding schemes, and bend-radius/routing constraints Model 3D harness routing in CAD (NX, Creo, CATIA, or Siemens Capital/Zuken E3 for electrical), coordinating clearances, clamp locations, service loops, and keep-outs with the mechanical team Define and release harness drawings, build books, from/to lists, and inspection criteria; manage revisions through release and ECO processes Work as the bridge between EE and Mech Partner with electrical engineers to capture pinouts, signal integrity and EMI/EMC requirements, power budgets, and connector interfaces from every avionics box and payload Partner with mechanical and structures engineers on routing paths, mounting provisions, thermal environments, and vehicle access for assembly and rework Own and maintain the interface control documentation (ICDs) for all electrical connections across the vehicle; catch interface mismatches before they reach the floor Drive harness manufacturing to completion Own the build plan: sourcing of wire, connectors, contacts, backshells, overbraid, and tooling; long-lead procurement; and kitting Write build, crimp, solder, and inspection procedures to IPC/WHMA-A-620 (Space Addendum) and NASA-STD-8739.4 standards Stand up and scale harness production, in-house or with contract manufacturers; train and support harness technicians; perform or sign off on first-article inspections Be on the floor during builds to resolve issues in real time, disposition non-conformances, and implement fixes without stopping the line Support integration, test, and flight Support vehicle integration, continuity/hipot/insulation resistance testing, and functional checkouts Own harness-related anomaly investigation and root cause, in test and on orbit Feed lessons learned back into design standards, part libraries, and process documentation as we move from one-off builds to repeatable, rate production Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline 3+ years of experience designing and building electrical wire harnesses for spacecraft, launch vehicles, aircraft, automotive, or similar high-reliability hardware Hands-on experience taking a harness design from schematic through fabrication and installation Proficiency in at least one 3D CAD package and one electrical/harness design tool Preferred Skills and Experience Experience with spaceflight harness standards (IPC/WHMA-A-620 Space Addendum, NASA-STD-8739.4, ECSS-Q-ST-70-series) and space-rated wire and connector families (D-sub, micro-D, nano-D, circular MIL-DTL-38999, RF coax, high-current power) Experience with high-power distribution (hundreds of volts, hundreds of amps), high-speed data (Ethernet, PCIe, SpaceWire, fiber), and associated shielding and grounding practices Experience with EMI/EMC, ESD, radiation, thermal, and vibration considerations for harness design Experience scaling from prototype to production: design for manufacturability, supplier management, cost and lead-time reduction IPC/WHMA-A-620 or NASA 8739.4 certification; comfortable crimping, soldering, and inspecting your own work Experience supporting vehicle integration and launch campaigns Ability to work in a fast-paced startup with ambiguity, tight schedules, and rapidly evolving designs Compensation and Benefits: Starcloud offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including: Lead Harness Engineer: $100,000 - $110,000 per year Senior Harness Engineer: $140,000 - $190,000 per year Potential for stock options, discretionary bonuses, and other long-term incentives. Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage. 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave. Generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave. What Success Looks Like You can walk into a room with a pinout list and a mechanical model and leave with a harness plan that everyone agrees on Harnesses arrive at integration on time, fit the first time, and pass test Mechanical and electrical engineers treat you as the authority on interconnect, and come to you early As the team grows, your standards, libraries, and processes are what new engineers and technicians learn from Additional Requirements Willingness to work extended hours and weekends when needed to meet critical program milestones Ability to lift up to 25 lbs, work on the production floor, and support integration in cleanroom environments (If applicable) To conform with U.S. export control regulations (ITAR/EAR), applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State Starcloud is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.