Electrical Engineer, Cable and Harness Design

General Atomics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 188,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) in Rancho Bernardo seeks an Electrical Engineer to design and integrate aerospace cables and harnesses with a primary focus on electrical design and a supporting role in mechanical integration. You will work under the EWIS Design Team Manager with cross-functional teams to advance high-power electromagnetic and space systems.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, DoD/NASA standard familiarity, and hands-on experience in harness

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering from an accredited institution.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance is required.
• Experience in aerospace harness design and space applications is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and integrate electrical cables and harnesses for aerospace and satellite systems.
• Define electrical interconnects including connectors, grounding, and shielding.
• Prepare design packages and support design reviews with schematics and harness drawings.
• Coordinate with mechanical engineers to ensure compatibility with structures and packaging.
• Lead or contribute as IPT lead for cable and harness design efforts.

Skills

Harness design

System design

Cabling & interconnect

RF & EMC

DoD/NASA standards

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CREO

Zuken

3D CAD

Job description

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS’ expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Electrical Engineer (EE) to join our Electrical Technologies team located in Rancho Bernardo. We are looking for someone with drive, talent, and experience in aerospace cable and harness design with a primary focus on electrical design (approximately 75%) and a supporting focus on mechanical integration who also thrives in a fast-paced, Research and Development (R&D) prototype environment. The successful candidate will report to the Electrical Wiring and Interconnect System (EWIS) Design Team Manager and, alongside high-caliber staff, will support and develop high-power electromagnetic systems, high-energy laser systems, advanced airborne sensors, laser and electro-optical payloads for space vehicles, space-based optical communications, command and data handling electronics, and other disruptive technologies in the GA-EMS portfolio.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with GA-EMS engineering staff in the prototype design, manufacturing, and integration of electrical cables and harnesses for high-reliability aerospace and satellite applications (primary focus).


• Participate in system-level design across all project phases, through subsystem architectural design and hardware development, with emphasis on electrical interconnect architecture and implementation.


• Define and document electrical interconnects through coordination with system, subsystem, and unit engineers, including connector selection, pin assignments, grounding, shielding, and power/signal distribution.


• Incorporate requirements and electrical architecture into harness, cable, and interconnect design, ensuring compliance with applicable military, NASA, and industry standards.


• Prepare design packages and support design reviews, including electrical schematics, harness drawings, and associated documentation.


• Establish routing and segmentation of harnesses and cables in systems, including mechanical integration activities such as 3D routing, clamping, strain relief, and protection against vibration, thermal, and launch loads.


• Coordinate with mechanical engineering staff to ensure that harness and cable designs are compatible with structural, packaging, and maintainability constraints.


• Monitor procurement, manufacturing, and delivery of components through purchasing and manufacturing departments to ensure that schedules are met.


• Create clear, releasable documents and provide guidance to less experienced professional staff.


• Generate electrical cabling and harness solutions for new project needs, contribute to CAD library construction and management, perform electrical engineering analyses, document findings, and communicate results to engineering and program management staff.


• Serve as, or grow into, an IPT lead for cable and harness design efforts, coordinating inputs from systems, electrical, RF, mechanical, manufacturing, and test, and driving technical decisions to meet cost, schedule, and performance objectives.


• Guide the successful resolution of engineering problems, applying current technological advancements and functioning in a project leadership role as required.


• Lead or contribute to cross-functional engineering efforts involving the design and integration of aerospace-grade cables and harnesses for satellite and space systems and other applications.


• With limited direction, plan and execute technical efforts quickly and strategically. Assignments will normally be outlined in terms of broad specifications, objectives, possible results anticipated, and critical reference points requiring special attention.


• Represent the organization as a technical contact on projects as required.


• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows: nine (9) or more years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, seven (7) or more years of experience with a master’s degree, or four (4) or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.


• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required.

Required Experience – Electrical (primary focus, approximately 75%)

• Electrical cable and harness design and integration for aerospace and satellite systems, including power distribution, signal integrity, grounding, and shielding for high-reliability applications.


• Successful design and delivery of spacecraft or aerospace harnesses and RF cables, including routing, termination, and integration into complex electrical architectures.


• Extensive knowledge of military and NASA standards for harnesses, connectors, wires, contacts, and workmanship for space applications, such as:




• MIL-DTL-38999, MIL-DTL-5015, MIL-DTL-24308, MIL-DTL-83513


• MIL-HBK-83575, IPC/WHMA-A-620 Space, NASA-STD-8739.4


• ANSI/NEMA WC 27500




• Experience interpreting electrical schematics and block diagrams and translating them into detailed harness and cable designs.

Required Experience – Mechanical (supporting focus, approximately 25%)

• Mechanical integration of electrical harnesses and RF cables into aerospace and spacecraft structures, including 3D routing, clamping, strain relief, and protection against vibration, thermal, and launch loads.


• Familiarity with mechanical design practices for brackets, backshells, strain relief hardware, and harness support features.


• Basic structural and packaging considerations to ensure maintainability and manufacturability of harness installations.

Desirable Experience

• Guiding designs through development and into prototyping for future production, including design for manufacturability and test.


• Familiarity with DoD technical review processes (at a minimum, SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and preparation of electrical design artifacts for these reviews.


• Familiarity with unmanned spacecraft electrical system design and implementation practices, including power, command/data handling, and RF subsystems.


• Experience serving as an IPT lead or technical lead for cross-functional hardware development efforts.

Desired Skills

• Strong experience with cable and harness design tools, including both ECAD and MCAD, for electrical and mechanical modeling, design, and drawing (e.g., SolidWorks, CREO, Zuken, etc.).


• Ability to perform electrical trade studies (connector families, wire types, shielding schemes) and document design rationale.


• Working knowledge of configuration management and drawing control for electrical harnesses and cables.


• Ability to collaborate with electrical, RF, mechanical, and systems engineers to ensure harness designs meet electrical performance, EMC, mechanical integration, and reliability requirements.


• Competence in basic mechanical modeling of harness routing and supports in 3D CAD to verify fit, clearance, and installation.


• Ability to read and interpret PCB schematics and layouts to determine, influence, and drive cable and harness design decisions, including connector selection, pin assignments, and signal routing.


• Ability to design 3D-printed jigs, fixtures, and tooling to support manufacturing, assembly, and integration of electrical harnesses and RF cables, improving repeatability, quality, and efficiency.

Job Type: Full-Time Salary

Salary range: 109,500 - 187,875