Custom Emulator Electronics Engineer

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.

To support this mission, we are looking for a Custom Emulator Electronics Engineer to join our Electrical Functional Test Team in Munich.

In this role, you will be responsible for the design, development, validation, and deployment of custom electronic hardware used within Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL), EGSE, and spacecraft verification environments. You will develop electronic systems that accurately emulate spacecraft equipment, sensors, actuators, electrical loads, and communication interfaces, enabling robust and automated testing throughout the product development lifecycle.

You will work closely with avionics, software, systems, AIT, and test engineers, taking ownership of electronic developments from concept definition through schematic design, PCB layout, prototype validation, firmware development, and deployment into operational test environments.

Key Responsibilities

In your role as Custom Emulator Electronics Engineer, you will:

• Design and develop custom analog and digital electronic hardware used to emulate spacecraft subsystems, sensors, actuators, power interfaces, and communication buses.
• Develop signal conditioning circuits, interface electronics, load simulators, fault injection systems, and custom test equipment for verification activities.
• Own the complete hardware development lifecycle, from requirements capture and architecture definition through schematic design, PCB layout, manufacturing support, bring-up, validation, and release.
• Design multi-layer PCBs using Altium Designer (or equivalent ECAD tools), ensuring robustness, manufacturability, and maintainability.
• Develop embedded firmware for microcontrollers and custom electronic platforms supporting emulation, control, monitoring, and automated testing functions.
• Perform hardware debugging, root-cause analysis, and troubleshooting activities using laboratory instrumentation.
• Define and execute validation and characterization campaigns for newly developed electronic systems.
• Support integration of custom electronics into HiL and EGSE platforms.
• Collaborate with software and automation engineers to implement scalable and automated test solutions.
• Produce technical documentation, test reports, design reviews, and manufacturing packages in accordance with engineering best practices.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of test infrastructure, emulation capabilities, and engineering processes.

You and your team will be in charge of

• Designing and maintaining custom electronic hardware that enables accurate and repeatable spacecraft verification activities.
• Developing emulation platforms capable of reproducing real-world electrical behaviors and interfaces.
• Expanding the capabilities of the company's HiL and EGSE environments through innovative hardware solutions.
• Ensuring reliability, performance, maintainability, and scalability of test electronics.
• Supporting critical spacecraft development and qualification campaigns with high-quality engineering solutions.

Must-Have Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electronic Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in electronic hardware development, test equipment development, embedded electronics, industrial automation, aerospace, automotive, or a comparable industry.
• Strong experience in analog and digital circuit design.
• Proven experience developing custom electronic hardware from concept through production and validation.
• Experience with signal conditioning circuits, interface electronics, measurement systems, or electronic test equipment.
• Strong proficiency with ECAD tools, preferably Altium Designer.
• Experience in schematic capture, PCB layout, component selection, and manufacturing support.
• Practical experience with embedded systems and microcontroller-based designs.
• Ability to develop and debug embedded firmware in C/C++ or similar languages.
• Hands-on experience using laboratory instrumentation, including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, electronic loads, power supplies, and multimeters.
• Experience performing board bring-up, debugging, verification, and troubleshooting.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work autonomously on multidisciplinary projects.
• Good communication skills and fluency in English.

Nice to Have

• Experience with LabVIEW and/or NI TestStand.
• Experience with automated test systems and data acquisition platforms.
• Knowledge of aerospace, automotive, or high-reliability electronic systems.
• Experience with communication protocols such as CAN, RS-422/485, SPI, I2C, UART, or Ethernet.
• Experience with FPGA-based systems or mixed-signal electronics.
• Familiarity with scripting languages such as Python for test automation and data analysis.
• Experience with environmental, qualification, or acceptance testing.
• Familiarity with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) systems and verification methodologies.
• Experience developing electronic emulators, simulators, or custom test equipment.

Why you should join us!

What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:  

• We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind
• We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them
• We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?

We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly. 
 
The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.  


All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible.

If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.