Electrical Engineer

Sperry Rail, Inc.; Shelton (CT); On-site; USD 126,000 - 154,000; Full time

Job summary

Sperry Rail, Inc. in Shelton, CT is seeking a hands-on electrical engineer who designs circuits, boards, cable systems and test fixtures from requirements to production.

You will own the design, write documentation, and debug hardware with limited supervision while traveling for field support as needed. The role demands 5+ years of hardware design, strong analog/digital skills, PCB layout expertise and hands-on bench testing; domestic and international travel is required, with a passport

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering or related field; or equivalent hands-on design experience.
• 5+ years designing and debugging electronic hardware.
• Analogue and digital circuit design, including power, interfaces and mixed-signal circuits.
• Multi-layer PCB schematic capture and layout in a professional ECAD tool.
• Cable and harness design and documentation: interconnect diagrams, cable drawings and BOMs.
• Expert use of bench test equipment: power supplies, multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal/function generators, logic analyzers, and JTAG/SWD debuggers.
• Hand soldering and rework of through-hole and SMT boards for prototypes and repairs.
• Clear technical writing: specifications, test procedures, reports and design documentation.
• Able to travel domestically and internationally; passport required.

Responsibilities

• Design analog and digital circuits from requirements through schematic, PCB layout, BOM and release documentation.
• Design cable assemblies, wiring harnesses and vehicle wiring systems with interconnect diagrams and BOMs.
• Specify components and select alternates by technical specification and lifecycle status.
• Build and bring up prototypes: assemble, rework, power up and debug.
• Design production and engineering test fixtures and associated circuitry.
• Write test procedures and acceptance criteria for boards, cables, harnesses and vehicle installations.
• Diagnose failures at system, board and component level; document root causes and fixes.
• Visit suppliers and customer sites for on-site support when needed.
• Release designs to production with documentation and first-article review.
• Provide drawings and technical support to technicians assembling cables, fixtures and installations.
• Review as-built markups and keep drawings/BOMs current.
• Review schematics, layouts, BOMs and drawings for other engineers.
• Specify and justify lab equipment and tools.

Skills

Circuit design

PCB layout

Hardware debugging

Technical writing

Travel

C/C++ basics

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Altium Designer

SolidWorks

Embedded Linux

Job description

Sperry Rail is on a mission-critical journey to revolutionize the Rail Flaw Detection industry. Through the continuous development of cutting-edge diagnostic technologies and AI-assisted analysis, we are transforming railway safety worldwide. Our global engineering teams work collaboratively to develop step-change technologies that define Sperry as the unparalleled market leader.

For nearly a century, we have repeatedly modernized and improved rail diagnostics through our relentless pursuit of improvement. Determined is an understatement. We are obsessed with advancing science and raising the bar on what’s possible with our ever-improving suite of products and service offerings.

Emboldened through the shared values of honesty, accountability, passion, integrity, and teamwork, we are driven by the challenge and bridging concepts with fruition. Each technologist entering Sperry imprints themselves into our brand and further galvanizes a culture of innovation and advancement. Allow us to be clear, Thought Leaders are welcome!

We are agile and hungry and invite those with similar passions to join us in challenging the status quo and bringing new ideas to the market. Fast-paced, high-touch with a distinct sense of purpose. We offer more than a job; we offer an opportunity to be part of something different.

Position summary

We are looking for a hands-on electrical engineer who designs circuits, boards, cable systems and test fixtures, and takes them from requirements to production. The engineer owns the design and documentation; the engineering technicians build to it. The engineer still builds, debugs and fixes hardware personally when a prototype, a schedule or a field problem calls for it. The right person is a problem-solver who takes a vague symptom to a root cause and a working fix with little supervision.

The position reports to the Engineering Manager. Some domestic and international travel is required.

Key responsibilities

• Design analog and digital circuits from requirements through schematic, PCB layout, BOM and release documentation.
• Design cable assemblies, wiring harnesses and vehicle wiring systems: interconnect diagrams, cable drawings, BOMs, wire sizing, circuit protection and grounding.
• Specify components and select alternates by technical specification, application requirements, availability and lifecycle status.
• Build and bring up prototypes when needed: assemble, rework, power up, debug and verify against requirements.
• Design production and engineering test fixtures, including their circuitry and mechanical parts.
• Write test procedures and acceptance criteria for boards, cables, harnesses and vehicle installations.
• Characterize designs on the bench and record results clearly enough for others to repeat.
• Diagnose failures at the system, board and component level, in the lab and on deployed equipment and vehicles.
• Find root cause, define corrective action, and document findings in written reports with photos and data.
• Develop practical fixes, modifications and workarounds when a schedule or field situation demands it.
• Serve as technical contact for PCB, assembly and cable suppliers: answer their questions, approve deviations, resolve build issues.
• Visit suppliers and customer or field sites when on-site support is needed.
• Release designs to production, including documentation, first-article review and test.
• Give engineering technicians the drawings, direction and technical support they need to build cables, fixtures and vehicle installations.
• Review as-built markups from technicians and keep drawings and BOMs current.
• Review schematics, layouts, BOMs and drawings for other engineers.
• Specify and justify lab equipment and tools.

Required qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or a related field, or equivalent hands-on design experience.
• 5+ years designing and debugging electronic hardware.
• Analog and digital circuit design, including power, interfaces and mixed-signal circuits.
• Multi-layer PCB schematic capture and layout in a professional ECAD tool.
• Cable and harness design and documentation: interconnect diagrams, cable drawings and BOMs.
• Expert use of bench test equipment: power supplies, multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal and function generators, logic analyzers, and JTAG/SWD programmers and debuggers.
• Hand soldering and rework of through-hole and SMT boards for prototypes and repairs.
• A demonstrated record of solving hard technical problems. Candidates should be ready to walk through examples in detail.
• Clear technical writing: specifications, test procedures, reports and design documentation.
• Able to travel domestically and internationally. A valid passport, or the ability to obtain one, is required.

Desired skills

• Altium Designer for schematic and multi-layer PCB layout.
• SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD for enclosures, brackets and test-fixture mechanics.
• Vehicle 12/24 V electrical system design: power distribution, circuit protection, grounding and noise control.
• Knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620 (cable and harness) and IPC-A-610 (PCB assembly) workmanship requirements.
• Experience with, or general familiarity with, embedded firmware (C/C++), embedded Linux and scripting (e.Python), enough to work closely with software and firmware engineers.
• Design for manufacturing and test, including working with contract manufacturers.

Travel and working conditions

• Domestic and international travel to suppliers, customer sites and field locations, sometimes on short notice. Expected travel when needed.
• Work is mainly in the engineering lab and office, with occasional shop and field work in and around vehicles that may require personal protective equipment.

The pay range for this role is:

140,000 - 140,000 USD per year (Shelton CT (HQ))