Electrical Engineering Manager, Space Systems

General Atomics; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 158,000 - 277,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics' Mission Systems group in Herndon, VA, seeks an Electrical Engineering Manager to lead a team of electrical engineers. This role focuses on RF, FPGA-based, embedded electronics, and related firmware development for high-security national programs.

You will plan, prioritize, and execute design, integration, test, and delivery of advanced electrical systems while coordinating with program management, software, and manufacturing teams; U.S. citizenship and TS clearance are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor, Master or PhD in engineering or related technical field with 13+ years of progressively complex engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams, programs, or projects, including assigning work, managing priorities, coordinating technical activities, and delivering results.
• Extensive technical expertise in electrical engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice, with hands-on design involvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop electrical engineering personnel, including setting performance expectations and building a high-performing team.
• Plan, organize, and manage engineering activities, staffing, schedules, budgets, priorities, and deliverables for multiple programs.
• Maintain hands-on involvement in digital/analog hardware design, schematic development, board layout, testing, and system integration.
• Provide technical leadership for RF, FPGA-based, embedded electronics, and related firmware/software.
• Review and approve technical approaches, designs, analyses, test plans and reports.
• Establish and maintain engineering processes, standards, and best practices for quality and configuration control.
• Direct technical objectives and resolve advanced engineering problems involving electrical hardware and integrated systems.
• Coordinate with program management, systems engineering, software, manufacturing, and QA to drive execution.
• Serve as technical point of contact for customers, government reps, and subcontractors.
• Support proposal development, customer briefings, reviews, and new business activities.
• Develop short and long-term plans for deployment and sustainment of engineering solutions.

Skills

Leadership experience

Electrical engineering

FPGA development

C programming

Embedded systems

RF circuitry

Linux

Satellite programs

Education

Bachelor/Master/PhD in engineering or related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

PCB layout

Lab equipment

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. 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 supports critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

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 supports 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 Engineering Manager to join our Mission Systems group located in Herndon, VA. The Mission Systems group provides innovative, cutting-edge security solutions for the United States Government. Our employees use a multidisciplinary, sometimes non-traditional, approach to generate innovative solutions to challenging technical problems in the national security arena. Our areas of expertise include spacecraft payload and system development—particularly the implementation of substantial functionality in extremely small, power-constrained environments—unique system development, ground control and operational software development, embedded software development, and specialized cyber capabilities. Key customers include the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. The Electrical Engineering Manager will lead and develop a team of electrical engineers while remaining actively engaged in the technical execution of programs. This position will provide technical direction, manage engineering priorities and resources, support hiring and employee development, and contribute directly to the design, integration, test, and delivery of advanced electrical and electronic systems.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, mentor, and develop electrical engineering personnel, including setting performance expectations, providing coaching, supporting career development, and building a high-performing technical team.
• Plan, organize, and manage engineering activities, staffing, schedules, budgets, priorities, and technical deliverables to support multiple programs and projects.
• Maintain hands-on technical involvement in electrical engineering development, including digital and analog hardware design, schematic development, board layout, board functional testing, and system integration.
• Provide technical leadership for the design, development, implementation, and testing of RF electronics, FPGA-based systems, embedded electronics, and associated firmware and software, as applicable.
• Review and approve technical approaches, designs, analyses, test plans, procedures, reports, and other engineering documentation.
• Establish and maintain engineering processes, standards, and best practices to ensure product quality, technical rigor, configuration control, and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Determine technical objectives and direct the resolution of advanced engineering problems involving electrical hardware, embedded systems, spacecraft payloads, and integrated systems.
• Evaluate the integration of electrical engineering solutions within the overall system architecture and ensure that appropriate documentation, testing, maintenance, and engineering updates are completed.
• Work closely with program management, systems engineering, software engineering, manufacturing, test, quality, security, and other functional organizations to coordinate technical execution.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for customers, government representatives, subcontractors, and other stakeholders.
• Support proposal development, customer briefings, program reviews, cost and schedule estimates, and new business activities.
• Formulate short- and long-term plans for the development, documentation, deployment, sustainment, and future application of engineering solutions.
• Identify technical risks and opportunities; develop mitigation plans and communicate status, issues, and recommendations to leadership.
• Provide direction and guidance to less experienced professional staff and contribute to the development of engineering capability across the organization.
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant engineering technologies, tools, methods, and industry practices.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Work in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.
• 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.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelors, Masters or PhD in engineering or a related technical field as well as thirteen or more years of progressively complex engineering experience. May substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams, programs, or projects, including assigning work, managing priorities, coordinating technical activities, and delivering results.
• Extensive technical expertise in electrical engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice, with the ability to remain hands‑on and contribute to the design and development of advanced systems.
• Experience managing engineering resources, schedules, technical risks, and deliverables across multiple projects or programs.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines and milestones.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interface with other departments, customers, government representatives, and technical professionals.
• Ability to represent the organization as a senior technical contact and communicate complex technical information clearly to both technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately in an evolving technical and mission environment.
• Experience with digital and analog electronics, including schematic capture, circuit design, printed circuit board layout, hardware bring‑up, debugging, and functional testing.
• Experience designing, developing, and debugging small‑scale circuitry that performs sensing, digital data manipulation, and electromechanical control.
• Proficiency working with schematics and laboratory testing of electronics hardware and embedded systems, including the use of oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, signal generators, power supplies, and related laboratory tools.
• Experience with hardware and system integration and test, including the development of test plans, procedures, troubleshooting methods, and technical reports.
• Experience with satellite programs is strongly desired, including exposure to the design, integration, and test of satellite buses and a basic understanding of launch and flight operations for space vehicles.
• Experience with FPGA development is strongly desired.
• Experience with RF circuitry and principles is a plus.
• Proficiency in the C programming language is desired.
• Experience with software development and the Linux operating system environment is desired.
• Experience working with embedded firmware, hardware/software interfaces, and associated development tools is desired.
• Must be customer-focused and able to work independently, take initiative, and contribute effectively in a team environment.
• Must be able to work extended hours and travel as required.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as is the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.

Job Type: Full-Time Salary
Salary range: 158,000 - 276,500