Electrical Engineer - PCB Design & Embedded Systems

IST Precision Inc.; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

IST Precision Inc., Mooresville, NC, is seeking an Electrical Engineer with expertise in PCB design and embedded systems. The role focuses on space-grade electronics, molecular imaging, and advanced instrumentation, requiring collaboration with electronics and precision mechanics teams.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in PCB design/layout, hands-on debugging, and programming in C/C++ or Python. This is a full-time, onsite position in the Charlotte area with competitive salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-university experience in PCB design, layout, and routing (SMT, BGA, mixed-signal).
• Strong understanding of electrical circuits with hands-on troubleshooting.
• Experience with Altium, PADS or Cadence Allegro for schematics and layout.
• Proficiency in C, C++, and Python for embedded firmware.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, and route analog and digital PCBs using Altium Designer.
• Maintain and update schematics, BOMs and drawings with version control.
• Review and validate PCB design packages for manufacturability.
• Develop and test prototype firmware on ST microcontrollers.
• Troubleshoot PCB assemblies in lab settings and support tests.
• Collaborate with electronics and mechanical teams for high-performance boards.
• Create PCB test fixtures and support systems for precision applications.
• Assist in sourcing components and coordinating with vendors as needed.
• Integrate complex instrumentation systems for alpha/beta development.
• Contribute to space-grade hardware development for reliability under extreme conditions.

Skills

PCB design

Embedded systems

C/C++

Python

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Altium Designer

PADS

Cadence Allegro

Git

Job description

Electrical Engineer – PCB Design & Embedded Systems (US Citizen Only)

This position is in Mooresville, NC just north of Charlotte, North Carolina

This position will not sponsor H1B or TN VISA and is intended for US Citizen only

IST Precision Inc. is an advanced R&D engineering firm specializing in high-precision instrumentation, sensors, actuators, and diagnostics. With over 25 years of experience, we develop innovative electronic solutions using state-of-the-art processors and FPGAs across a wide range of industries from space and telecommunications to life sciences.

We are currently seeking a skilled Electrical Engineer to join our team and contribute to pioneering projects in satellite based electronics, molecular imaging and telecommunications. This is an exciting opportunity. The ideal candidate will have experience in PCB design and layout, circuit routing, and embedded programming. This role requires close collaboration with our electronics and precision mechanics teams to design and implement cutting-edge electronic systems.

Learn more about our electronic engineering capabilities and the types of systems we build:

https://istprecision.com/engineering-services/electronics-design/

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, simulate, and route analog and digital printed circuit boards (PCBs) using Altium Designer.
• Maintain and update design documentation, including schematics, BOMs, and detail drawings, with appropriate version control.
• Review and validate PCB design packages created by team members to ensure design integrity and manufacturability.
• Develop and test prototype firmware using development platforms such as ST microcontrollers.
• Troubleshoot and debug PCB assemblies in lab settings, supporting both in-house testing and client feedback.
• Collaborate with electronics and mechanical teams to develop high-performance circuit boards for advanced instrumentation.
• Design PCB test fixtures and support systems for high-value, precision applications.
• Support sourcing and coordination of electronic components and manage vendor relationships as needed.
• Assist in assembling and integrating complex instrumentation systems for alpha and beta-stage product development.
• Contribute to space-grade electronic hardware development, ensuring reliability and performance under extreme conditions.

Required Qualifications and Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-university experience in PCB design, layout, and routing (including surface mount, BGA, and mixed-signal designs).
• Strong understanding of electrical circuits, with hands-on experience troubleshooting and diagnosing electronic systems.
• Proficient in PCB design tools for schematic capture and PCB layout such as Altium (preferred), PADS, or Cadence Orcad / Alegro.
• Experience with mixed analog/digital signal layouts.
• Proficiency with industry-standard interfaces such as i2c, SPI, UART, and SDRAM.
• Familiarity with version control tools like git, Perforce or Subversion (git preferred).
• Programming experience in C, C++, or Python.
• Strong analytical, experimental, and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail.
• Effective communicator and collaborator; comfortable working across engineering disciplines.
• Self-motivated, innovative, and capable of working independently in a fast-paced R&D environment.
• Willingness to work overtime when needed to meet project deadlines.

Nice to have:

• Experience designing and laying out PCBs with FPGAs, microprocessors, ADCs, DACs, DRAM, and other high-density components.
• Experience with high-speed digital (1+ Gbps) data lines and RF PCB design (preferred).
• Familiarity with designing circuit boards for higher voltages (up to 200V) and wireless components.
• Experience with DDR3, Ethernet, JESD, LVDS, and PCIeis a plus.
• Experience working with board fabrication vendors for both bare board and turnkey production.
• Embedded systems and signal processing (e.g., digital filters) experience is a plus.
• Familiarity with EMC testing, IEC standards, and PCB manufacturing standards such as J-STD001.

IST Precision Inc. offers a competitive salary and benefits package, as well as the opportunity to work with a talented team of over 30 engineers, make a real impact on the company and its customers, and work in a fast-paced and challenging environment.

We are now accepting resumes for a full-time position. Competitive salary and benefits package will depend on skill level and educational background.

Read why IST is a great workplace.

• https://www.istprecision.com/what-makes-ist-precision-a-great-workplace/

Follow us on linkedin and youtube to review a few industries that we serve.

• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC--3ZgNdcZ8R3lZKgt3JLJg