Electrical Engineer - Robotics

WingXpand; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

WingXpand is expanding What's Possible with autonomous systems, developing drone and robotics platforms for defense, public safety, and commercial missions. An early-career Electrical Engineer will help design, prototype, and refine electronic systems meeting aerospace and military standards.

You will work with senior engineers across hardware, software, and AI-driven autonomy to deliver robust, low-SWaP electronics for multi-domain platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering with robotics/system focus.
• 0-3+ years of electrical engineering experience, preferably in aerospace or robotics.
• Hands-on hardware debugging, signal integrity analysis, and system integration experience.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment and take ownership.
• Strong problem-solving, reliability, and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Electrical system design for robotics (UAS, UGV, USV) including controllers and sensors.
• Design and develop PCBs with high-speed digital, analog, power, and RF circuits.
• Collaborate with mechanical and software engineers for airframe integration.
• Hands-on work with robotics hardware, iterating designs for mission-critical needs.
• Support full product lifecycle from rapid prototyping to production.
• Evaluate components for high-performance, low-SWaP UAS and IPXX ruggedization.
• Support environmental testing (thermal, EMI/EMC, vibration) and validation.
• Contribute to system-level architecture integrating avionics and AI autonomy.
• Participate in testing and flight operations with test engineers.

Skills

Hardware debugging

Signal integrity analysis

System integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium

KiCad

Job description

WingXpand is Expanding What's Possible with Autonomous Systems, building long-endurance, backpackable smart plane drones and robotics systems that support defense, public safety, disaster response, and commercial missions. Our platforms operate across air, ground, and maritime domains, integrating autonomy, AI-powered sensing, edge computing, and networked systems to deliver real-world intelligence and threat detection. We design, build, and deploy complete systems - hardware, software, and data - and we move fast. As WingXpand scales, we are seeking high performers to grow with our team.

Job Description

An early career electrical engineer with experience in PCB (Printed Circuit Board) development, prototyping, electrical design, and system troubleshooting. The successful candidate will support efforts to design, develop, and refine electronic systems that meet our rigorous standards for quality and innovation. This position will work closely with WingXpand's senior engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Electrical system design for robotics (UAS, UGV, and USV), including controllers, power distribution, sensor interfaces, and embedded systems.
• Design and develop PCBs, including high-speed digital, analog, power electronics, and RF circuits.
• Collaborate with mechanical and software engineers to integrate electrical systems into airframes, ensuring performance, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Work hands-on with robotics hardware, troubleshooting and iterating designs to meet mission-critical needs.
• Support full product lifecycle, from rapid prototyping to full-scale production, ensuring compliance with aerospace and military standards.
• Evaluate and select components for high-performance, low-SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) UAS, along with IPXX ruggedization
• Support environmental testing (thermal, EMI/EMC, vibration) and system validation efforts.
• Contribute to system-level architecture, ensuring seamless integration of avionics, communications, and AI-driven autonomy.
• Participate in testing and flight operations, working closely with test engineers and operators.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, with a focus on robotics, manufacturing, systems engineering, or a related field.
• 0-3+ years of experience in electrical engineering, preferably in aerospace or robotics.
• Hands-on experience with hardware debugging, signal integrity analysis, and system integration.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment and take ownership of assigned tasks.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities, with a keen eye for detail and a focus on reliability and efficiency.

Additional Qualifications

• Proficiency in hardware design tools (Altium, KiCad).
• Experience designing electrical systems from prototypes, low-rate to high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with assembly techniques, soldering, and prototype development.
• Strong communication skills, capable of leading projects and collaborating with teams across disciplines.

What Else You Need to Know

To conform to U.S. Government aerospace technology export regulations,

applicant must be a 'U.S. Person' (U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder).