Harnessing Engineer (Launch Vehicle Avionics)

  • San Francisco, California, United States
  • Confidential
  • Full-Time
  • On-Site
  • -

Job Description:

Harnessing Engineer

(Launch Vehicle Avionics)

The Team

Our clients Avionics team is responsible for the electrical architecture that powers and controls the launch vehicle. As a Harnessing Engineer, you'll own the design and execution of flight and test harnesses that connect avionics, sensors, power systems, and vehicle subsystems—ensuring reliability in extreme environments.

This is an end-to-end role spanning requirements definition, architecture, detailed design, first-article builds, qualification testing, and production support. Youll work closely with mechanical, thermal, electrical, integration, and manufacturing teams to deliver harness systems that are safe, lightweight, manufacturable, and flight-ready.

The Opportunity

Were looking for a hands-on, highly collaborative engineer who thrives in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments and is excited to build real flight hardware. Youll be a key technical owner on the vehicle program with high visibility and the ability to shape best practices as the organization scales.

What Youll Do

  • Serve as the Harness Responsible Engineer for the launch vehicle program
  • Partner cross-functionally with Mechanical, Thermal, and Electrical Engineering to define harness requirements, interfaces, and system constraints
  • Select materials and components (wire, connectors, backshells, shielding, strain relief, etc.) appropriate for aerospace environments
  • Design harness architecture and routing, including mechanical layout, service loops, strain relief, and EMI/EMC considerations
  • Create and maintain system-level schematics, wiring diagrams, and pinouts
  • Draft and review manufacturing/assembly drawings and ensure alignment with production processes
  • Support first-article builds and transition designs into repeatable production flows
  • Execute and/or define test approaches including continuity, isolation, grounding, pin-to-pin verification, and troubleshooting
  • Investigate development and production nonconformances, drive root cause, and implement corrective actions
  • Document and maintain engineering artifacts including test procedures, analysis/results, FMEAs, requirement docs, and work instructions
  • Operate in a hands-on environment—supporting design, build, integration, and test activities as needed

What Were Looking For (Required)

  • Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical field
  • 5+ years of professional experience in wire harness design (aerospace, vehicles, robotics, defense, or similarly rigorous environments)
  • 3+ years using mechanical CAD tools and PLM systems; comfortable releasing production drawings
  • Ability to interpret and create complex wiring diagrams, schematics, and interface documentation
  • Strong understanding of harness design and manufacturing methods (buildability, inspection, testability, and rework considerations)
  • Experience with aerospace-grade materials/component selection and design for weight, cost, and manufacturability
  • Hands-on experience troubleshooting harness issues to root cause, with a corrective-action mindset
  • Familiarity with one or more relevant standards, such as:

    IPC/WHMA-A-620, NASA-STD-8739.4 / 8739.6, NASA-STD-6016, SAE AS22759, J-STD-001

  • Strong communication skills and ability to manage interfaces across multiple engineering teams
  • Self-directed and comfortable solving open-ended problems with speed and rigor

Nice to Have (Desired Multipliers)

  • Prior experience in aerospace or launch vehicle applications
  • Knowledge of redundancy strategies for flight-critical systems
  • Experience designing for high vibration, vacuum, thermal cycling, and harsh EMI environments
  • Proficiency with Siemens NX and Teamcenter
  • Experience with harness-specific design tools such as RapidHarness

Inclusive Hiring

You do not need to meet every qualification to apply. Our client values diverse perspectives and is committed to building a team with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

San Francisco applicants will be considered in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

ITAR / Export Controls

This position is subject to U.S. export control regulations, including ITAR and EAR. Employment is contingent upon the candidates status as a U.S. Person or ability to obtain an appropriate export license, along with required background checks and (where applicable) eligibility for government contracts or security clearance.