Lightning Labs Jobs (NOW HIRING)

At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we're building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we're helping create a truly scalable space industry.
Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we'd love to have you join us.
The avionics system is the backbone of highly reusable, operable, and reliable space systems. As the first EMI/EMC engineer at an early-stage start-up you will own the entire electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) program from the ground up. You will be responsible for ensuring electronics performance through some of the harshest and varied electromagnetic environments imaginable. You will use your deep understanding of electromagnetic effects and environments to set requirements, design solutions, identify EMC risks, design and perform EMI/EMC tests, and interface with external agencies for EMI/EMC certification. You will seek out state-of-the-art solutions to difficult problems and you will assist in the definition of company standards for avionics development. This is a hands-on, high impact role in a fast-paced startup environment where your work directly enables mission success. You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly.
Responsibilities

• Establish comprehensive EMI/EMC requirements, specifications, control plans, and design guidelines for the launch vehicle and all subsystems, flowing down from platform-level needs to hardware.
• Perform analyses for conducted/radiated emissions & susceptibility, bonding/grounding, lightning direct/indirect effects, electrostatic discharge (ESD), triboelectric charging, multipaction, and spacecraft charging
• Collaborate closely with avionics, RF, power, propulsion, structures, and software teams to integrate EMI/EMC best practices and mitigations early in the design cycle.
• Develop and execute EMI/EMC test plans and procedures, including pre-compliance screening, formal qualification, and system-level testing.
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause investigations for EMI/EMC problems, implementing corrective actions and verifying effectiveness.
• Create and maintain all EMI/EMC documentation (requirements, analyses, test reports, verification matrices, and certification packages) to support internal reviews and external approvals.
• Define, procure, and/or oversee EMI/EMC test facilities and equipment; coordinate with external labs when needed.
• Ensure full compliance and certification against relevant standards, including MIL-STD-461G, MIL-STD-464D, NASA-STD-4003 (Electrical Bonding), NASA-HDBK-4002B (Spacecraft Charging), and applicable range safety / launch vehicle requirements.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of work experience in EMI/EMC engineering with direct involvement in aerospace systems (launch vehicles, spacecraft, or aircraft)
• Advanced degree in electrical engineering, physics, or related fields
• Previous work experience with MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-464, NASA-STD-4003 documentation
• Knowledge of in-atmosphere and in-space EMI/EMC including effects of space plasma, charging, grounding, bonding, shielding, design for low radiated emissions, lightning, electromagnetic field coupling, Maxwell's equations, boundary conditions, image charge/current, and lumped element modeling
• Knowledge of materials and their electrical properties including paint, anodize, alodine, surface finish, electrical conductivity, volume resistivity, surface resistance
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting EMI events from system to board level
• Proficiency with EMI/EMC test equipment (spectrum analyzers, EMI receivers, antennas, LISNs, current probes, etc) and familiarity with simulation tools (SPICE, HFSS, CST, etc)
• Strong knowledge of RF principles and RF engineering
• Experience in fast-paced work environment with flight hardware
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be available to work primarily on-site in person from Stoke's HQ in Kent, WA
• Rigorous attention to detail
• Ability to lead & follow

Benefits

• Equity - We know that our employees are the reason we succeed. To give everyone a stake in our future, we are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full-time employees
• Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 4 weeks' Paid Time Off
• Holidays - 10 days (including an end-of-year closure)
• Paid Family/Parental Leave
• On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location)
• Dog friendly offices!

Compensation
Target Level:

• Level 3 Range: $129,150-$193,620
• Level 4 Range: $151,305-$252,105
• Level 5 Range: $176,505-$327,810

Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis.
Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.
#LI-TS1
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Equal Opportunity
The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status. It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII. It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring.
Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and backgroundchecks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company. Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.
Separate from this I-9 process, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations. Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.
Candidate Rights & Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact careers@stokespace.com. Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.
For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here.
E-Verify
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