Electrical Design Engineer - Real-Time Hardware for Optical Systems

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks an Electrical Design Engineer to design, integrate, and test advanced hardware for real-time optical sensing systems. You will work with cross-disciplinary teams to deliver bench- and field-ready electronics, emphasizing timing accuracy and robust interfaces.

The role requires 5+ years of hardware experience, proficiency with PCB design tools, and hands-on lab skills with standard test equipment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in electronic hardware design, development, integration, or testing.
• Experience designing analog, digital, and/mixed-signal electronics.
• Hands-on experience with schematic capture and PCB development.

Responsibilities

• Design analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits for real-time hardware-in-the-loop and optical test systems.
• Develop PCBs from concept through schematic capture, layout, fabrication, assembly, bring-up, and integration.
• Perform PCB design using Altium Designer and KiCad.
• Integrate electronics with sensors, optical systems, FPGA-based hardware, embedded processors, and lab equipment.
• Conduct hands-on testing and troubleshooting with oscilloscopes and lab instruments.
• Develop verification and characterization methods for board- and system-level tests.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Schematic capture

Circuit design

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

KiCad

Oscilloscope

Multimeter

Power supply

Function generator

Logic analyzer

Job description

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks an Electrical Design Engineer to design, integrate, and test advanced hardware for real-time optical sensing systems. You will work with cross-disciplinary teams to deliver bench- and field-ready electronics, emphasizing timing accuracy and robust interfaces.

The role requires 5+ years of hardware experience, proficiency with PCB design tools, and hands-on lab skills with standard test equipment.