Electrical Hardware Design Engineer

Transmission & Distribution World; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Defense Electrical Systems Department in Huntsville, AL is seeking Electrical Hardware Design Engineers to join a multidisciplinary team. You will design power electronics, safety-critical circuits, and complex multi‑layer PCBs for aerospace and defense systems across all life-cycle phases.

The role requires collaboration with embedded processors and FPGAs, plus hands-on testing and environmental qualification activities in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Electrical/Computer Engineering from ABET-accredited program.
• 4+ years of electronics design and test from architecture through implementation.
• Advanced knowledge of digital/analog/mixed-signal electronics and interfaces.
• Experience in digital PCB design and FPGA-based designs.
• Proven experience in design, test, troubleshooting, and manufacture of complex multi-layer PCBs.
• Hands-on lab experience with instrumentation and debug methods.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop power electronics circuits for missile and avionics systems.
• Develop safety-critical electronics including firing sets and initiators.
• Create detailed schematics and PCB layouts using ECAD tools.
• Perform analog circuit design with high reliability and fail-safe architectures.
• Collaborate with hardware, embedded processors, and FPGAs.
• Support environmental qualification testing and reliability verification.
• Design and implement board-level and system-level test setups.
• Troubleshoot and validate with lab equipment.

Skills

Digital/analog/mixed-signal

Embedded processors/FPGAs

Troubleshooting & test methods

Root cause analysis

Schematic interpretation

Education

ABET-accredited program

Bachelor's in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

ECAD: Mentor DX/Expedition, Altium

HyperLynx

Oscilloscope / multimeter / function generators

Job description

Description

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

Your greatest work is ahead!

The Leidos Defense Electrical Systems Department is seeking talented Electrical Hardware Design Engineers at multiple technical experience levels to join an experienced, high performing, multidisciplinary team to create unique solutions to complex engineering challenges in our Huntsville, AL location. The Electrical Systems Department is a design-focused group specializing in advanced hardware products. The individual selected for this position will be an electrical engineer with project engineering, design engineering, and production skillsets. The individual must be a self-starter with experience working with inter-disciplinary teams to solve challenging technical problems. The engineer will work closely with hardware integrated into a diverse range of aerospace and military systems including manned/unmanned ground/air vehicles, missiles, radars, and space systems.

The selected candidate will be expected to execute in a fast-paced, small team environment through all phases of the hardware life cycle from conceptual development and detailed design through manufacturing, qualification testing, and post-delivery support. With a product focus, the individual is also expected to actively partner with other engineers, project managers, technicians, and customers to develop solutions that adhere to a diverse set of requirements. The ideal candidate will thrive in a learning environment that encourages leadership and technical growth.

Leidos Defense Systems Sector provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with "can’t fail" missions. To explore and learn more, click here!

Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop power electronics circuits including switching regulators, 3-phase AC-to-DC converters, DC-DC converters, and power distribution architectures for missile and avionics systems.
• Design and develop safety-critical electronics including low-voltage firing sets, initiator safety circuits, power filtering, interlocks, and reliable stimulus sensing systems.
• Design CDU and safety circuits for LEEFI and NSI initiators. Create detailed schematics and PCB layouts using ECAD (Mentor Graphics DX Designer / Expedition or Altium Designer).
• Perform analog circuit design with emphasis on high-reliability, including filtering, protection, sensing, interfacing with A/D converters, and fail-safe architectures.
• Design for grounding, isolation, bonding, shielding, ESD, and EMI/EMC performance.
• Develop cable and harness designs with attention to grounding, shielding, isolation and signal integrity.
• Collaborate on co-design of power systems with embedded processors and FPGAs (Xilinx/AMD Zynq, MicroBlaze, and similar platforms).
• Support environmental qualification testing of avionics power hardware, including thermal cycling, shock and vibration, vacuum / pressure, salt fog and humidity, pyro-shock, resonant plate / beam testing, acceleration, and EMI/EMC testing.
• Design and implement board-level and system-level test setups for developed hardware and safety electronics.
• Perform hands‑on troubleshooting, debug, and validation using oscilloscopes, multimeters, function generators, and related lab equipment.
• Work effectively in a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary development environment with evolving priorities and tight schedules.

Basic Qualifications

• Candidate must possess a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent degree from an ABET‑accredited institution.
• Candidate must have 4+ years experience in electronics design and test from architecture through implementation.
• Candidate must have advanced knowledge of digital/analog/mixed signal electronics, components, and interface/communication standards.
• Candidate must have expertise in digital PCB design and troubleshooting including embedded processor, microcontroller, or FPGA-based designs.
• Candidate must have proven experience in design, test, troubleshooting, and manufacture of complex multi‑layer electronic circuit card assemblies.
• Candidate must have hands‑on laboratory experience with instrumentation, test equipment, and debug/test methods.
• Candidate must have experience with technical problem solving and root cause analysis.
• Candidate must demonstrate an ability to decompose system‑level considerations (i.e. requirements) to lower design levels.
• Candidate must have the ability to interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, and system block diagrams.
• Candidate must have demonstrated experience effectively communicating within a team environment.
• Candidate must be a resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama, AL area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preference shown to candidates who possess a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent degree from an ABET‑accredited university.
• Preference shown to candidates who have experience and/or working knowledge of:

Experience with military/aerospace environmental testing and qualification, autonomous flight safety systems, or similar applications.

• Experience designing low‑voltage firing sets, initiator safety electronics, and reliable stimulus sensing circuits.
• Familiarity with FPGA/SoC platforms (Xilinx/AMD Zynq family, MicroBlaze, etc.).

Python and/or C programming for test automation, scripting, or board bring‑up and debug.

Hands‑on soldering, board‑level rework, and hardware debug skills.

Cable and harness design experience.

Experience designing automated or semi‑automated test systems for safety electronics boards.

Prior work on missile, munitions, or high‑reliability avionics power systems.

• Multiple high‑speed serial communication standards and memory interfaces (e.g. GigE, 10 GigE, Aurora, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, JESD204B, PCIe, SATA).
• High‑speed design analysis tools such as HyperLynx.
• Rigid‑flex, microvia, blind via, and buried via printed circuit board design.
• Switched‑mode power supply (SMPS) design.
• Siemens electrical engineering development tools (formerly Mentor Graphics).
• Altium electrical engineering development tools.

Active DOD S, TS or DOE Q Clearance.

Security Requirements

Candidate must be a US Citizen and possess (and be able to maintain) a Final Secret Clearance or meet the eligibility to obtain (and maintain) a Secret Clearance.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Pay Range

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.