Engineer Senior - Electrical Hardware Lead

Engineer Senior - Electrical Hardware Engineer Lead

The Electrical Hardware Lead contributes to the integration and testing of high-reliability, space-based electronics systems. You will be responsible for key phases of the electrical lifecycle, from supporting the architecture and requirement flow-down to executing final verification and delivery. You will manage complex hardware and software interdependencies, mitigate technical risks, and provide guidance to junior engineering staff to ensure technical excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Design & Execution

• System Architecture: Contribute to the box architecture and support the electrical design for high-reliability space systems.
• Requirements Management: Analyze system-level and box requirements, assisting in the precise flow-down to Printed Wiring Assemblies (PWAs), FPGAs, and software components.
• Design Development: Develop and review PWA and FPGA designs, coordinating the interdependencies between hardware and firmware to ensure seamless integration.
• Component Selection: Support the selection and replacement of Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) parts, ensuring compliance with space-grade reliability standards.
• Technical Analysis: Perform and validate electrical analyses to ensure they are accurate and sufficient to verify system requirements.

Integration, Test & Verification

• Integration Support: Execute the physical and functional integration of the electronics box.
• Test Strategy: Develop and verify box test plans and procedures to ensure they are comprehensive and capable of verifying all requirements.
• STE Development: Support the design and review of Specific Test Equipment (STE) required for verification.
• Anomaly Resolution: Perform root-cause analysis and debug efforts for technical anomalies, contributing to the implementation of corrective actions.
• Documentation: Generate the Requirements Verification Matrix (RVM) and associated technical delivery documentation.

Program & Project Support

• Execution Planning: Assist in reviewing project schedules and forecasting technical scope to help develop robust box execution plans.
• Risk Identification: Identify and communicate technical and schedule risks to leadership to prevent program slippage.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Maintain productive working relationships across Strategic Business Units (SBUs), Strategic Capabilities Units (SCUs), and the wider organization.

Mentorship & Team Development

• Technical Guidance: Provide technical mentoring and peer reviews for early-career engineers, fostering professional growth and technical proficiency.
• Team Collaboration: Promote a collaborative team environment through active participation in project milestones and the support of junior staff.

Work Environment & Conditions

• On-Site Engagement: This position requires regular in-person engagement, working on-site three or more days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.
• Working Conditions: Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or cleanroom, outdoors, or in a remote research environment.
• Safety: May occasionally work in production work centers where the use of protective equipment and gear is required; may access facilities in various weather conditions.

Education & Experience

• Degree: Bachelor of Science (BS) or higher in Engineering or a related technical field from an accredited institution.
• Experience: 4+ years of related professional experience.
  • Substitution Note: A Master’s degree or Ph.D. may substitute for two years of experience each. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.

Technical Skills

• Systems Engineering:
  • Proficiency in system-level and box-level requirement analysis and flow-down (to PWAs, FPGAs, and Software).
  • Experience contributing to box architectures and electrical designs.
  • Ability to develop and maintain Requirements Verification Matrices (RVM) and technical delivery documentation.
• Hardware & Design:
  • Strong experience in electronic circuit design and electronic systems.
  • Ability to support PWA and FPGA designs and manage technical interdependencies.
  • Knowledge of Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) part selection and replacement strategies.
• Integration & Testing:
  • Experience executing integration activities and developing comprehensive test plans.
  • Ability to design, support, and review Specific Test Equipment (STE).
  • Proficiency in verifying test procedures to ensure requirements buy-off.
  • Strong skills in anomaly debugging, root cause analysis, and the implementation of corrective actions.
• Lab Proficiency:
  • Hands-on experience with lab equipment, including power supplies, oscilloscopes, function generators, and logic analyzers.

Leadership & Professional Skills

• Project Support:
  • Ability to assist in forecasting technical scope and providing input on execution plans.
  • Capable of identifying and communicating technical and schedule risks to leadership.
• Mentorship:
  • Ability to provide technical guidance and peer reviews to early-career engineers to foster team development.
• Communication:
  • Strong verbal communication and professional presentation skills.

• Aerospace & Defense: Prior experience with space-based or military-grade electronic design.
• Radiation Hardening: Knowledge of space radiation effects and the design of radiation-hardened (rad-hard) electronics.
• Specialized Electronics: Experience in the design of control electronics, precision instrumentation, or detector low-noise analog electronics.
• Electrical Design: Proficiency in designing mixed-signal analog/digital/FPGA electronics and power systems.
• Analysis Tools: Experience utilizing Matlab, Mathcad, and simulation tools such as PSPICE or LTSPICE.
• ECAD Tools: Experience with industry-standard schematic capture tools, specifically Mentor/Siemens, OrCad, or Altium.