Avionics Harness Design Engineer; Mid

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.

Apex is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Avionics Harness Design Engineer to join our dynamic team developing cutting-edge space systems. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, analyzing, and verifying electrical harnesses for spacecraft, satellites, rovers, and other aerospace applications. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in avionics and electrical harness design, with a focus on meeting rigorous spaceflight standards and ensuring system integrity in harsh space environments.

Responsibilities:

• Develop detailed designs for electrical harnesses, including wiring diagrams, schematics, and 3D routing models.
• Select suitable connectors, wires, and shielding materials specifically designed for space environments.
• Work closely with the systems and mechanical engineering teams to ensure harness designs meet system requirements and space system integration needs.
• Perform electrical analyses, including voltage drop, signal integrity, and thermal effects, to validate harness performance.
• Ensure that all designs comply with EMI/EMC requirements and meet spaceflight standards such as NASA, ESA, and other aerospace-specific requirements.
• Conduct thorough environmental assessments to ensure the electrical harnesses are suited for the extreme conditions of space, including thermal, radiation, and mechanical stresses.
• Develop comprehensive test plans and procedures for harness qualification, acceptance, and environmental testing.
• Collaborate with testing teams to validate harness designs under simulated space conditions, such as thermal vacuum, vibration, and radiation testing.
• Address any performance issues identified during testing and implement design improvements as necessary.
• Generate detailed design documentation, including Bill of Materials (BOMs), Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and manufacturing drawings.
• Ensure all designs meet relevant aerospace standards and regulations, such as IPC/WHMA-A-620, MIL-STD-810, and NASA-STD-8739.4.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records for design iterations, compliance checks, and testing results.
• Work closely with systems engineers, mechanical engineers, integration teams, and manufacturing teams to ensure harness designs align with overall system goals and integration requirements.
• Support harness installation, integration, troubleshooting, and problem resolution during spacecraft assembly and testing phases.

Requirements:

• U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export controlled data.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in electrical harness design for aerospace, space systems, or related industries.
• Familiarity with aerospace materials, components, and space-rated systems.
• Strong understanding of electrical design principles, including grounding, shielding, power distribution, and signal integrity.
• Proficiency in using electrical CAD tools (e.g., Altium, Rapid Harness) and mechanical CAD tools (e.g., NX, PLM in Teamcenter).
• Experience with harness manufacturing processes, including vendor interaction, prototyping, and production support.
• Knowledge of spaceflight standards (e.g., NASA, ESA) and quality compliance requirements (e.g., IPC/WHMA-A-620, MIL-STD-810).
• A…