Staff Harness Engineer

Location: This role is based onsite at our Louisville, CO office. 
Travel: Up to 10%, domestic or international.
Job ID: 577

About Capella 

Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next-generation compute to deliver secure, mission-ready intelligence. Capella’s culture is built on collaboration, rigorous engineering, and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthen global stability and security. Team members work side-by-side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems, quantum-enabled technologies, and mission-critical operations.

Capella values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically underrepresented in technology, national security, and aerospace. No prior space experience is required. Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capella’s ability to innovate and deliver meaningful impact for partners worldwide.

The Role

As a Staff Electrical Hardware Design Engineer, you will take ownership of full-cycle PCBA designs, from early concept to flight readiness. You will work cross-functionally with RF, mechanical, software, FPGA/SoC, and operations teams to bring high-reliability, space-ready electronics to orbit. You will guide the Electrical Engineering team on special topics and present across disciplines to help facilitate ideas, product readiness, and conduct reviews.

Responsibilities

• Design System Level harnesses from power distribution to high-speed communications
• Own the harness design lifecycle and implement harness design best practices
• Collaborate across teams—mechanical, RF, electrical, and systems—to ensure seamless integration. Knowledge of industry-standard electrical design principles, to include, but not limited to electrical component selection, testing, manufacturing, and production processes
• Technical point of contact for Wire, Cable, Connector, and Harness suppliers
• Support resolving non-conformances from harness suppliers
• Provide critical input to schedule planning, hardware requirements, and process improvements
• Define test plans and verification strategies that meet flight readiness requirements

What Success Looks Like 

• You consistently deliver flight-quality harnesses on schedule with minimal oversight 
• You proactively identify and articulate system-level risks and drive mitigations early 
• You communicate across hardware/software and cross-functional gaps with confidence and clarity 
• You make thoughtful trade-offs in constrained environments and justify them with data 
• You show curiosity about advanced areas like architecture optimization or radiation mitigation, even if they’re outside your scope for now 
• You exhibit advanced wide-ranging experience in harness engineering, using in-depth professional knowledge 
• You get things done, align with stakeholders, and document concisely 

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science or higher from an accredited college in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline, or equivalent experience/combined education 
• 5+ years’ experience designing, testing, and troubleshooting complex harnesses  
• Experience with designing and maintaining systems from beginning to end of the product lifecycle  
• Knowledge of PCBA’s and working closely with electrical design engineers to define harnessing requirements and inform board level design decisions 
• An understanding of RF cabling, components, and testing 
• Excellent Organizational skills and strong documentation habits
• Strong knowledge of industry harnessing standards (NASA-STD-8739.4, IPC/WHMA-A-620, etc) 
• Experience with SolidWorks or other CAD applications  
• Strong knowledge of Zuken or other harness design applications
• Experience in engineering product lifecycle management tools
• Strong knowledge of cable assembly design
• An understanding of Electro Magnetic Effects (EME) to include Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI)

Required Qualification

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Compensation 

The approximate base salary range for this position is $126,887 - $158,217. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.   Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity.  Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available.  

Benefits/Perks 

In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We provide extensive medical coverage, including strong vision and dental plans, flexible spending accounts, and additional supplemental health options.
• Paid Flexible Time Off Policy
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match to help you invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Parental Leave program
• Employer sponsored Lifestyle Spending Account
• Commuter & Parking Benefits
• Mental Health Resources
• Monthly Phone Stipend
• Furry friends? We’ve got you covered with dog-friendly work environment & them with pet insurance options 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all, and we strive to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.  
 
We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. If you need assistance or require an accommodation during the job application process, please notify [email protected] 

To learn more about us, explore our site: https://www.capellaspace.com/  and follow us on X and LinkedIn to see our SAR imagery!