Electrical Engineer - Unmanned Systems

Peraton Labs; Maryland; On-site; USD 104,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

Health savings account

401(k)

PTO and holidays

Job summary

Peraton Labs, Inc. at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, seeks an embedded hardware engineer to design and reverse-engineer embedded systems and to work on small UAS/drone platforms. You will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams and advance capabilities with FPGA/SoM and SDR tools.

The role requires strong hardware debugging skills, experience with UART/SPI/I²C/CAN and PID control, and proficiency in Python, C/C++, or Rust for firmware tooling. A security clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Active Secret security clearance with ability to obtain TS/SCI.
• 5 years of experience with BS/BA; 3 years with MS/MA; 0 years with PhD.
• Degree in Electrical, Computer, or related Engineering.
• Strong circuit troubleshooting skills using scopes, analyzers, and meters.
• Solid understanding of UART, SPI, I²C, CAN and control systems basics (e.g., PID).
• Programming experience in Python, C/C++, and or Rust for custom firmware and tooling.
• Proven teamwork, technical communication, and ability to work independently.
• Ability to prioritize and support multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Design custom embedded hardware using microcontrollers and SoMs or FPGAs
• Reverse-engineer circuit boards and embedded systems
• Set up and work with basic embedded Linux environments
• Evaluate and integrate new technologies into embedded platforms
• Collaborate with cross-discipline engineering teams
• Develop and integrate capabilities into small UAS/drone platforms and ground software
• Capture and analyze RF signals using SDR tools
• Document designs and communicate results clearly in writing and presentations

Skills

Active Secret clearance

Hardware debugging

Python/C/C++, Rust

UART/SPI/I2C/CAN, PID

Teamwork & communication

Project prioritization

Embedded hardware design

BS/BA in Electrical or Computer Eng

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, or related Engineering

Tools

KiCAD

Ghidra

USRP/SDR

Embedded Linux tooling

Job description

About Peraton

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees solve the most daunting challenges that our customers face. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

About Peraton

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees solve the most daunting challenges that our customers face. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

About The Role

Peraton Labs delivers innovative solutions and revolutionary new capabilities to solve the most difficult and complex challenges for government agencies, utilities, and commercial customers. With a distinguished heritage tracing back to Bell Labs, Bellcore, DHPC, and Telcordia, our experts pave the way.

• This position is 100% on site on-site in Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

Responsibilities

• Design custom embedded hardware using microcontrollers and SoMs or FPGAs
• Reverse-engineer circuit boards and embedded systems
• Set up and work with basic embedded Linux environments
• Evaluate and integrate new technologies into embedded platforms
• Collaborate with cross-discipline engineering teams
• Develop and integrate capabilities into small UAS/drone platforms and ground software
• Capture and analyze RF signals using SDR tools
• Document designs and communicate results clearly in writing and presentations

#plabs26

Qualifications

Required

• Active Secret security clearance with ability to obtain TS/SCI
• 5 years of experience with BS/BA; 3 years with MS/MA; 0 years with PhD
• Degree in Electrical, Computer, or related Engineering
• Strong circuit troubleshooting skills using scopes, analyzers, and meters
• Solid understanding of UART, SPI, I²C, CAN and control systems basics (e.g., PID)
• Programming experience in Python, C/C++, and or Rust for custom firmware and tooling
• Proven teamwork, technical communication, and ability to work independently
• Ability to prioritize and support multiple projects

Desired

• TS/SCI clearance
• Hands-on embedded system design with ARM SoMs and microcontrollers
• PCB design experience (KiCAD preferred), including library management
• Experience with reverse-engineering hardware, firmware, or protocols
• Docker use for build and deployment workflows
• Knowledge of cryptography, secure boot, and Linux/U-Boot signing
• Cybersecurity and networking background; familiarity with Ghidra/Binary Ninja
• RF/SDR experience (USRP, HackRF; modulation and signal processing)
• Additional EDA tools (Altium) and protocols (Ethernet, USB, RS-485, wireless)
• Experience with custom protocol analyzers and bus sniffers
• UAS/drone experience: PX4/ArduPilot/Betaflight, MAVLink, flight dynamics
• PID tuning, control loops, and autonomous flight/terminal guidance
• Familiarity with RC/telemetry/video links (SBUS, PPM, CRSF, etc.)
• Experience with JTAG/SWD, motor control, ESCs, PWM, and sensors (IMU, GPS, etc.)
• Understanding of battery management, power distribution, and load analysis for mobile systems

Details

Target Salary Range: $104,000 - $166,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

Benefits Statement: Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.

Application Statements: The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate's own.

EEO

EEO:Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.