The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Principal Avionics Electrical Engineer

Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 10+ years of experience in electrical engineering.
  • Proficient in electronic design and able to write detailed design specifications.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a thorough understanding of engineering theories and procedures.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Translates project and system requirements into hardware architectures with cross-functional teams.
  • Innovatively solves issues and drives projects to completion on schedule.
  • Builds, debugs, and tests prototypes and hardware deliverables.
  • Prepares documentation for manufacturing and provides ongoing support.
  • Researches innovative solutions for cutting-edge designs.
  • Independently develops and proposes solutions to complex problems.

Benefits

  • Flexible work environment including in-office support.
  • Access to employee clubs, wellness workshops, and social events.
  • Discounts to local museums and cultural activities to enhance work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Job Description Summary:
We are seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to support our growing demand for the design of avionics solutions across numerous programs. This position will require extensive knowledge and experience designing complex electronic solutions that are integrated into large-scale systems. The engineer develops the architecture, designs circuits, performs simulations, assists ECAD with layout, verifies and tests the designs. The engineer also performs a variety of engineering activities throughout the life cycle to support planning, requirements development, documentation, test, and deployment. Example designs performed under this position may include single-slot flight computers including FPGAs and processors, memory support modules, communication interface designs, backplane interconnect designs, along with common power and timing circuits used in these scenarios. Understanding of signal integrity and power integrity are extremely valuable in these types of complex, multi-card avionics systems, especially as designs move toward miniaturization. While flexible based upon project timelines, the nature of this role will require being able to support in-office work most days. As a principal engineer, it is expected that some level of leadership and mentorship will be provided toward junior staff earlier in their careers.

Job Description:

Duties/Responsibilities
  • Translates project and system requirements into well-defined hardware architectures working with cross-functional teams.
  • Innovatively solves issues, drives completion of the project to schedule, and collaboratively works with other technical contributors.
  • Builds, debugs, and tests prototypes and deliverable hardware.
  • Prepares documentation for manufacturing, and provides continuous support.
  • Researches and enables innovative solutions for cutting-edge designs.
  • Builds collaborative and multidisciplinary teams to develop reliable, cost effective end solutions.
  • Independently drives solutions to complex problems - develops requirements, proposes ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapts appropriately to changes in requirements.
  • Supports business development activities including leading the development of proposals and engaging with sponsors.
  • Identifies program/system-level technical risks and develops and executes mitigation strategies.
  • Manages multi-disciplinary tasks with a cross functional team and effectively communicates status to project leadership and customers.
  • Develops, documents, and teaches best practices to less experienced teammates.


Skills/Abilities
  • Proficiency in electronic design.
  • Ability to write detailed design specifications.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Excellent time management skills with the proven ability to meet deadlines.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks.
  • Thorough understanding of engineering theories and procedures.
  • Strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals.


Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field. Advanced Degree preferred.

Experience

10+ years experience in electrical engineering or related field.

Additional Job Description:

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a US government security clearance.

Connect With Draper for Future Opportunities! If you don't find the right posting in our Career Opportunities, you may submit your resume for future consideration.

Job Location - City:
Cambridge

Job Location - State:
Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code:


The US base salary range for this full-time position is
$95,000.00 - $237,500.00
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

About The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Draper Laboratory is an American non-profit research and development organization, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts; its official name is The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. The laboratory specializes in the design, development, and deployment of advanced technology solutions to problems in national security, space exploration, health care and energy. The laboratory was founded in 1932 by Charles Stark Draper at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop aeronautical instrumentation, and came to be called the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory. During this period the laboratory is best known for developing the Apollo Guidance Computer, the first silicon integrated circuit based computer. It was renamed for its founder in 1970, and separated from MIT in 1973 to become an independent, non-profit organization. The expertise of the laboratory staff includes the areas of guidance, navigation, and control technologies and systems; fault-tolerant computing; advanced algorithms and software systems; modeling and simulation; and microelectromechanical systems and multichip module technology.
Learn more about The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

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