Director, Avionics

Job description

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge. For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles. Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more. We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.  ABOUT THE ROLE Reports to: VP of Engineering Direct reports: Avionics engineering team leads across Flight Computers & Embedded Compute; Power Electronics (PCDU, DC-DC conversion, energy storage); and Electrical Harnessing Clearance: Must be ITAR-eligible (U.S. person) Apex builds productized, off-the-shelf satellite buses that scale, across four vehicles at four stages of maturity — LEO Aries, GEO Aries, Nova, and Comet. Every one of those vehicles runs on the same flight-critical electrical hardware, and the Director of Avionics owns it. Reporting to the VP of Engineering, you lead the technical and strategic direction of spacecraft electrical systems across our growing fleet, with full ownership of the Avionics discipline — the architecture, development, and delivery of flight electronics across both existing and new product lines. You lead an engineering organization responsible for flight computers, electrical harnessing, and power systems — power generation, power distribution, energy storage, and DC-DC conversion — for harsh environments. We’re looking for a leader excited to stay hands-on, with deep technical expertise in at least one core avionics hardware discipline, strong working knowledge across broader electrical systems, and the engineering judgment to guide complex architectural decisions. You’ll build, mentor, and develop a high-performing team while establishing the technical vision, engineering strategy, and organizational capabilities Apex needs to keep scaling. As a discipline Director in the VP of Engineering’s organization, you supply staffed, capable avionics teams and the governing standards they work to; you partner closely with flight software, mechanical, propulsion, and systems — including the Integration & Test and Satellite Design Engineers on each Vehicle Director’s team — and with production to take spacecraft hardware from concept through qualification, flight, and rate production. This is a role for a leader who combines technical depth, strategic vision, and a passion for developing exceptional engineers. RESPONSIBILITIES Team Leadership & Technical Strategy - Lead, mentor, and grow the Avionics Engineering team, establishing a culture of technical excellence, ownership, accountability, and continuous development. - Define and execute the long-term technical strategy, architecture, and engineering roadmap for spacecraft electrical systems across existing and new product lines. - Own organizational planning, hiring strategy, resource allocation, and team development to support Apex’s continued growth and long-term vision. Avionics Architecture & Hardware Development - Lead architecture, design, development, verification, and delivery of flight computers and embedded compute, electrical harnessing, power generation, energy storage, power distribution, and DC-DC conversion systems. - Remain hands-on in hardware development, contributing directly to critical design decisions, technical problem-solving, and complex engineering challenges — deep leadership in your area of expertise plus broad judgment across adjacent electrical disciplines. - Drive system-level design trades balancing performance, reliability, cost, schedule, and manufacturability. - Guide hardware development from concept and requirements through design, integration, qualification, flight, and production. Standards, Reviews & Reliability - Establish engineering standards, development practices, and verification strategies that improve execution and reliability. - Lead technical design reviews, challenge assumptions, and empower engineers to own solutions within their specialties. - Own avionics reliability for harsh environments — fault-tolerant, redundant architectures and robustness to radiation, thermal, vibration, and EMI/EMC. Cross-Functional Delivery - Partner with flight software, mechanical, propulsion, systems, manufacturing, and production engineering to ensure clean spacecraft integration — supplying the avionics expertise the Vehicle Directors’ Integration & Test and Satellite Design Engineers build to. - Own technical execution, priorities, risk management, and delivery across multiple concurrent spacecraft programs. - Identify opportunities for innovation, architectural commonality, and continuous improvement so each new program inherits proven, flight-heritage avionics instead of starting over. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS - Must be eligible to access ITAR-controlled technical data: U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or otherwise a protected individual under ITAR / 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). - Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field. - 8+ years of professional experience in avionics, electrical hardware, embedded electronics, or high-reliability hardware development. - 5+ years of direct, hands-on hardware engineering experience, with end-to-end ownership of complex electronics from architecture and design through integration, testing, and delivery. - Deep technical expertise in at least one core avionics hardware discipline — flight computers, embedded computing hardware, or power electronics — complemented by strong working knowledge of broader spacecraft electrical systems. - Proven people-management experience, including hiring, mentoring, developing technical leaders, managing performance, and building high-performing hardware engineering teams. - Ability to evaluate complex engineering decisions, guide architectural tradeoffs, and establish technical direction across multiple electrical disciplines. - Experience defining technical strategy, setting engineering priorities, and aligning execution with organizational objectives. - Strong understanding of hardware development from design and prototyping through integration, verification, qualification, and delivery. - Experience delivering complex electrical hardware in spacecraft, aerospace, or similarly demanding high-reliability environments such as automotive or defense. - Strong technical judgment, cross-functional leadership, communication, and organizational skills. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. - Experience leading avionics or electrical hardware development across multiple spacecraft programs or product lines. - Direct technical ownership of flight computers, onboard computing hardware (including FPGA/SoC-based designs), power electronics, or other flight-critical spacecraft electrical systems. - Experience scaling hardware from prototype or initial flight designs into repeatable, high-rate production, including design for manufacturability and standardization. - Experience building or scaling engineering organizations, developing technical leaders, and implementing processes to support growth. - Experience designing electronics for harsh environments, including radiation, thermal, vibration, and EMI/EMC considerations. - Familiarity with space EEE-parts selection, radiation-hardness assurance (RHA), and derating/reliability analysis for flight electronics. - Experience with fault-tolerant, redundant, and high-reliability avionics architectures. - Experience defining technical roadmaps and introducing new technologies across multiple programs. - Experience in a fast-paced, vertically integrated, or startup engineering environment. WHY JOIN APEX? Apex believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day. Our employees love working at Apex, and we want you to love it too. We're a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding, and we invest heavily in our people from day one. WHAT WE OFFER FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: - Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create - Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost - Comprehensive PTO package: Starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays - Competitive 401(k) plan: Generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2% - 8 weeks paid parental leave: Plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel - Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks: To keep you fueled throughout the day - Vibrant community: Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for you and your family - Your dream desk setup: All the tools you need to be your most productive self - World-class Playa Vista office: With the benefit of in-person collaboration with amazing coworkers and flexibility to integrate work and life - Real impact opportunity: Work alongside experts from aerospace, new space, and other cutting-edge industries to make a lasting difference ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Compensation ranges are set by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. A candidate's specific level and base pay are determined case by case and may vary with job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities, and internal equity. Beyond base salary, full-time hires are also eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options, along with medical, dental, and vision coverage and a 401(k) retirement plan. ITAR REQUIREMENTS Apex's work is governed by U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). To be eligible for this role, applicants must either (1) qualify as a U.S. Person, meaning a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a refugee admitted under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or an individual granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or (2) be able to obtain the required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or another applicable U.S. government agency. You can learn more about ITAR here https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Apex Technology, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.