Electrical Engineer

Shift5; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical, Dental, Vision

HSA

Life/Disability Insurance

Unlimited PTO

Flexible work policy

Transit benefits

Job summary

Shift5 is seeking an Electrical Engineer to design rugged hardware for edge data collection and processing in defense and commercial fleets. You will own hardware lifecycle from schematic capture to multi-layer PCB layouts and power conversion circuitry.

You will collaborate with firmware and embedded teams to define interfaces (CAN, I2C, SPI, UART, USB, PCIe) and ensure MIL-STD-810/461/704/1275/DO-160 compliance, with hands-on validation and field deployments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 3+ years in schematic design and multi-layer PCB layout to military standards; 7+ for senior.
• Experience with power electronics/SMPS or high-speed digital boards.
• Ability to use test equipment for hardware verification and validation.
• Strong knowledge of CAN, I2C, SPI, UART, USB, and PCIe interfaces.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-810/461/704/1275/DO-160.
• Experience in defense/aerospace hardware integration and harness design.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to rugged hardware for mission-critical OT data.
• Lead hardware development lifecycle from schematic to PCIe interfaces.
• Design for harsh environments and MIL-STD compliance.
• Collaborate with firmware/embedded teams on interface specifications.
• Apply DFM/DFT for manufacturability and testability.
• Create and maintain production BOMs and documentation; draft automated tests (Python/Bash).
• Assist with production and assembly; travel to customer sites for validation.

Skills

PCB Layout MIL-STD

Power Electronics

High-speed Digital

Altium

CAN

I2C

SPI

UART

USB

PCIe

DFM/DFT

Field Validation

MIL-STD Standards

Schematic Capture

Firmware Collaboration

Education

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Oscilloscope

Spectrum Analyzer

Logic Analyzer

Thermal Chamber

Current Probes

Python

Bash

Job description

About Shift5

Shift5 is building the data platform for onboard operational technology (OT). We deliver cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and compliance capabilities that enable defense and commercial fleets to operate with greater readiness, resilience, and mission assurance.

We are seeking a mission-aligned Electrical Engineer to drive the design, development, and integration of cutting-edge rugged hardware for edge data collection and processing.

This role sits at the intersection of Electrical Design, Hardware Lifecycle Management, and Aerospace/Defense Compliance and will play a critical role in supporting Shift5’s next phase of growth.

This role requires technical fluency in CCA/PCB design, power electronics, FPGA integration, hands-on field validation, ownership of the hardware lifecycle, and strong collaboration across firmware and embedded systems teams.

What You’ll Do

• Contribute directly to the modernization of defense and commercial fleets by delivering resilient hardware for mission-critical OT data.
• Lead and execute the full hardware development lifecycle, from component selection and schematic capture to multi-layer PCB design and layout, focusing on high-speed digital interfaces and power conversion circuitry.
• Design for harsh environments and test against military/aerospace standards (MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-704, MIL-STD-1275, DO-160).
• Collaborate with firmware & embedded software engineers to define interface specifications for standard protocols (CAN, I2C, SPI, UART, USB, PCIe) and ensure seamless FPGA and MCU integration.
• Apply DFM/DFA/DFT principles to ensure high manufacturability, yield, and testability across production runs.
• Create and maintain production-ready BOMs, assembly documentation, and design revisions, while helping to develop automated test scripts (Python/Bash) to streamline board bring-up and verification.
• Assist with production and assembly to bridge engineering design and manufacturing.
• Travel to customer sites and field environments as needed to troubleshoot, validate hardware, and support hands-on deployment and system integration.

What We’re Looking For

Required:

• Experience in schematic design and multi-layer PCB layout to military standards (3+ years; 7+ years for Senior), with a focus on power electronics/SMPS or high-speed digital board design.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize advanced test equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers, thermal chambers, and current probes) for hardware verification and environmental validation.
• Strong technical skills in electrical CAD software (Altium preferred) and working knowledge of common communication interfaces including CAN, I2C, SPI, UART, USB, and PCIe.
• Familiarity with electrical design for defense/aerospace platforms, including electrical integration/harness design.
• Comfort operating in fast-paced, regulated environments involving MIL-STD-810, 461, 704, 1275, and DO-160 standards.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Highly self-motivated with a strong bias for action, proactive problem-solving skills, and willingness to travel as needed.
• Security & Citizenship: US Citizenship and an active (or ability to hold/obtain) US Government Top Secret security clearance.

Preferred:

• Hands-on experience with electrical prototyping, assembly, integration, and rework.
• System-level electromechanical integration experience for defense/aerospace platforms, including cable harness design and electrical load analysis.
• Vendor & Supply Chain Collaboration: Experience conducting vendor surveys, evaluating component supplier changes, and working closely with supply chain and manufacturing teams.
• Experience in an AS9100 certified environment and familiarity with IPC standards.

Compensation & Benefits

We are open to hiring for this position at the Mid-level or Senior level, depending on candidate experience and skill depth. The actual title and pay grade will be aligned during the interview process.

• Mid-Level: $110,000 – $155,000
• Senior Level: $135,000 – $200,000

Bonus program and equity in a fast-growing startup

Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage

Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions

Life and Disability Insurance

Uncapped paid time off policy

Flexible work & remote work policy

Tax-deferred public transit benefits with Metro SmartBenefits (DC/MD/VA)

Equal Opportunity Employer

Shift5 is committed to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.