Staff Electrical Engineer

Firestorm

$120K — $145K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or related field.
  • 10+ years in electrical engineering with emphasis on avionics or UAV systems.
  • Strong hands-on knowledge of analog/digital circuit design and PCB design.
  • Proven project management skills overseeing technical projects from concept to delivery.
  • Experience leading technical projects or small teams in an engineering setting.
  • Strong problem-solving skills focused on innovative solutions.
  • Hands-on experience with safety-critical electromechanical systems.
  • U.S. Person status (Citizen or Permanent Resident) required due to ITAR regulations.

Responsibilities

  • Lead architecture, design, and development of avionics electrical systems for UAS.
  • Remain hands-on through schematic design, PCB development, integration, testing, and troubleshooting.
  • Conduct aircraft-level integration and root-cause investigations across avionics and subsystems.
  • Define and execute system-level verification and validation for hardware performance and safety.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve complex technical challenges.
  • Serve as technical contact for design reviews, system integration, and key stakeholder interactions.
  • Review engineering documentation, hardware changes, and ensure compliance with standards.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
  • Work on advanced technology projects in the aerospace sector.
  • Collaborative and innovative work environment.
  • Flexible working arrangements may be available.
  • Contribute to impactful projects in the defense and aviation industries.
Full Job Description
About the Role

As a Staff Electrical Engineer, you will lead the development of avionics hardware for Group 2 UAS across multiple launch modalities, from architecture and design through validation, production, and fleet support. You will work across electrical, mechanical, firmware, software, test, reliability, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations to deliver safe, robust, and manufacturable systems. This is a hands-on technical leadership role where you will drive key technical decisions, shape engineering processes, and guide complex hardware development across programs.

What You'll Do

  • Lead the architecture, design, and development of avionics electrical systems for Group 2 UAS across multiple launch modalities
  • Remain hands-on through schematic design, PCB development, bring-up, integration, testing, troubleshooting, and design iteration
  • Lead aircraft-level integration, root-cause investigations, and corrective actions across avionics, payloads, flight controls, propulsion, and other aircraft subsystems
  • Define and execute system-level verification and validation to ensure hardware meets performance, safety, and reliability requirements
  • Partner across firmware, software, mechanical, thermal, test, reliability, manufacturing, supply chain, operations, and program teams to resolve complex technical challenges
  • Serve as a technical point of contact for design reviews, system integration, flight test, suppliers, customers, and other key stakeholders
  • Own and review engineering documentation, hardware changes, test procedures, configuration records, and compliance with applicable standards and company processes
  • Work with suppliers on component selection, technical evaluation, availability, quality, and production readiness
  • Identify technical risks, drive key engineering tradeoffs, improve engineering processes, and provide technical guidance and mentorship to the broader team


Required Qualifications

  • Education: Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field
  • Experience: 10+ years in electrical engineering, with a focus on avionics, UAV systems, or similar industries
  • Technical Expertise: Strong hands-on knowledge of analog and digital circuit design, PCB design, and avionics systems
  • Project Management: Ability to oversee the technical aspects of projects from concept to delivery, ensuring that deadlines and specifications are met
  • Leadership Skills: Experience leading technical projects or small teams in an engineering environment
  • Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on delivering innovative solutions
  • Hands-on experience developing and validating safety-critical electromechanical systems
  • A strong electrical engineering foundation and the ability to reason from first principles about hardware behavior and failure
  • U.S. Person status (Citizen or Permanent Resident) required due to ITAR regulations


Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with developing for a safety-critical environment (human in the loop)
  • Experience working on products used in extreme environments (automotive, aerospace, defense, etc.)
  • Knowledge of software protocols for embedded development, including use of timers, interrupts, hardware peripherals such as SPI controllers and ADCs
  • Familiarity with avionics design standards like DO-254, MIL-STD-810, and others
  • Solid understanding of schematic design and PCB layout for analog, digital, RF, and power circuits
  • Demonstrated ownership and practical problem-solving ability, including driving technically complex issues through resolution

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