Electrical Design Engineer

Whelen Engineering; Chester (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Whelen Engineering in Chester, CT seeks an Electrical Design Engineer to design, develop, test, and certify aerospace electronic and lighting systems. The candidate should have experience with RTCA DO-160, DO-178 and FAA FAR Part 23/25/27/29 certification requirements.

This role focuses on circuit design, system integration, and compliance with aerospace standards. Responsibilities include leading analog/digital/mixed-signal design, coordinating FAA certification activities, and mentoring junior

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in aerospace electrical design.
• Proficient with RTCA DO-160/DO-178; FAA FAR certification processes.
• Schematic capture, PCB layout, and circuit simulation tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits for aerospace applications.
• Develop architectures meeting performance and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure DO-160 and DO-178 compliance; support FAA certification.
• Prepare test plans and certification reports.
• Interface with DERs and FAA during design reviews.
• Mentor junior engineers and perform design analyses.
• Coordinate with mechanical and software teams for integration.
• Perform electrical analyses, simulations, validation testing.

Skills

DER liaison

FAA certification audits

DO-254

aerospace lighting

power distribution

avionics systems

embedded systems

hardware-software co-design

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

Altium

OrCAD

LTSpice

Job description

Description

The Electrical Design Engineer will be responsible for the design, development, testing, and certification of advanced aerospace electronic and lighting systems. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in developing hardware compliant with RTCA DO-160, DO-178, and applicable FAA FAR Part 23/25/27/29 certification requirements.

Department: WAT Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Chester, CT

Reporting To: Mike Medica

Description

The Electrical Design Engineer will be responsible for the design, development, testing, and certification of advanced aerospace electronic and lighting systems. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in developing hardware compliant with RTCA DO-160, DO-178, and applicable FAA FAR Part 23/25/27/29 certification requirements.

This role requires deep technical expertise in circuit design, system integration, and compliance with aerospace environmental and software/hardware development standards.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of analog, digital, and mixed-signal electronic circuits for aerospace applications.
• Develop system and hardware architectures that meet performance, reliability, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure design compliance with DO-160 (Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment) and DO-178 (Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification).
• Support and coordinate FAA certification activities for projects under FAR Part 23, 25, 27, and 29.
• Perform electrical analyses, simulation, and validation testing.
• Prepare technical documentation, including design specifications, test plans, and certification reports.
• Collaborate with mechanical, software, and systems engineers to ensure seamless integration of electronic systems.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers.
• Support root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and corrective action for design or field issues.
• Interface with DERs, FAA representatives, and certification authorities during design reviews and compliance demonstrations.

Requirements

• Experience with DER liaison and FAA certification audits.
• Familiarity with DO-254 (Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware).
• Experience in aerospace lighting, power distribution, or avionics systems.
• Knowledge of embedded systems and software/hardware co-design.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor\'s or Master\'s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in electrical design for aerospace or related industries.
• Proven working knowledge of RTCA DO-160 and DO-178 standards.
• Hands-on experience with FAA FAR Part 23, 25, 27, and/or 29 certification processes.
• Proficiency in schematic capture, PCB layout, and circuit simulation tools (e.g., Altium, OrCAD, LTSpice, etc.).
• Strong understanding of EMI/EMC design principles and test methods.
• Familiarity with power electronics, LED drivers, or lighting control systems is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail.

Physical Demands And Abilities

• Ability to sit and interact with a computer for extended periods of time
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

All Employees Shall

• Comply with the EH&S Policy and applicable regulatory and company EH&S rules and requirements
• Report to supervision conditions or practices that are either unsafe or that may adversely impact the environment, to ensure prompt resolution of potential hazards
• Attend scheduled EH&S training program
• Actively support the organization\'s efforts to meet or exceed EH&S goals and plans
• Recommend improved EH&S practices

Must be able to communicate effectively with co-workers, supervisors, and third parties. This ability to communicate requires the employee to be conversant in English as the majority of our workforce and the third parties that we encounter only speak English.

The incumbent is responsible for complying with the policies in Whelen\'s "Employee Handbook."

This Job Description is to serve as a guide. It is intended to be flexible and will continue to evolve over time with business needs and demands and may be updated periodically and at the Company\'s discretion. Nothing in this position description changes or is intended to change the employment at-will relationship with the Company. Employment at-will means that an employee or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason or no reason at all, with or without notice.