Solar Array Engineer

Company Overview:

KODA is a people-first company recognized as a six-time winner of Huntsville's Best Places to Work® Award, certified as a Great Place to Work®, and a Best Place for Working Parents®. KODA is a small business focused on solving complex engineering problems on national-priority projects in domains such as missile defense, hypersonics, DOD space, and civil space.

Our expertise spans Radar and Missile Development, Multi-Domain Operations, Flight and Ground Test Planning and Execution, Tactical Data Link Testing, Test Range Instrumentation, Systems Engineering and Integration, Model and Simulation Development, and Digital Engineering/Model-Based Systems Engineering.

The name KODA, a Native American word meaning 'allies', embodies our dedication to our customers and each other. Trust and integrity guide us in all we do. We prioritize our people, support national-priority missions, and give back to our community through the KODA Cares program. We offer competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a commitment to professional growth. Join us and learn more at .

Position Overview:

KODA Technologies is seeking a Solar Array Engineer to support the design, development, integration, and verification of space-rated solar power generation systems for the GeoXO program-NOAA's next-generation geostationary satellite constellation.

In this role, you will be responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of solar array subsystems, including structural layout, electrical performance, mechanical deployment, thermal behavior, and radiation resilience. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across spacecraft systems, power electronics, thermal engineering, and materials science to deliver flight-ready, mission-optimized solar array solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead or support design, analysis, and test of spacecraft solar array subsystems (panel layout, cell interconnects, hinges, deployment systems)
• Conduct power performance analysis including worst-case power output under eclipse, end-of-life (EOL), and off-pointing conditions
• Interface with Power System Engineers to align generation with battery sizing and bus voltage requirements
• Support trade studies for cell type selection, material coatings, stowage mechanisms, and solar array drive assemblies (SADAs)
• Perform mechanical and thermal analyses in collaboration with structural and thermal teams
• Oversee or support build and test of Engineering Development Units (EDUs) and flight hardware
• Support integration and environmental testing (vibration, thermal vacuum, deployment tests)
• Generate documentation for reviews (PDR, CDR) and flight certification packages

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of relevant experience.
• B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering or related field
• Experience in spacecraft solar power system design, development, or test
• Familiarity with solar cell technologies (e.g., triple-junction GaAs, Si), power budgets, and performance modeling
• Knowledge of mechanical deployment mechanisms, solar blankets, array hinges, or SADA interface design
• Experience using modeling tools such as Thermal Desktop, NASTRAN, or MATLAB
• Strong understanding of the space environment (thermal cycling, radiation, vacuum conditions)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with NASA Class A or high-reliability spacecraft programs
• Prior work on geostationary satellite missions or power systems >2 kW
• Familiarity with solar array reliability modeling and radiation degradation profiles
• Understanding of power tracking electronics and interaction with spacecraft bus
• Experience with COTS vs. custom solar panel tradeoffs
• Working knowledge of Materials and Processes (M&P) and Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) for flight structures

Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust (NOAA) or DoD Secret clearance.

KODA Technologies Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent, national origin, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.