Lead Electrical Systems Engineer

Jobtailor; Alabama; On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks an experienced Hardware Architect to lead avionics and missile-system electronics design. You will drive multi-disciplinary IPTs, ensure compliance with MIL-STD standards, and collaborate with systems engineering to translate military requirements into concrete hardware specifications.

You will act as the technical authority, support CAMs with schedule estimates and EVM data, and contribute to test plans, HWIL integration, and launch-readiness activities in a fast-paced,

Qualifications

• Active Top-Secret clearance required.
• U.S. Citizenship is strictly required.
• 10+ years hardware architecture experience with flight-worthy electronics/military systems.
• Experience with MIL-STD-461/704/1472/IPC-D-620/IPC-D-630.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-disciplinary Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) for electronics, cabling, grounding, and bonding.
• Serve as primary internal technical authority and host weekly technical interchange meetings with subcontractors.
• Translate military standards into rigorous hardware requirements in collaboration with systems engineering.
• Support Earned Value Management (EVM), CapEx initiatives, and major competitive proposals as CAM liaison.
• Lead verification and test planning across HWIL, environmental stress screening, and launch-readiness actions.

Skills

Top-Secret clearance

Hardware architecture

SoC/FPGA systems

RTOS environments

Agile leadership

U.S. Citizenship

Travel 10-20%

Education

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Xilinx/AMD Zynq SoCs

Altera FPGAs

MicroBlaze

PCIe

RF modems

UDP/IP Stacks

Weapon Open System Architecture

Job description

• Architect, lead, and deliver state-of-the-art avionics, electrical weapon interfaces, and custom/COTS Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) for missile systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and fieldable launch platforms.
• Support complex system co-designs utilizing high-performance Xilinx/AMD Zynq SoCs, Altera FPGAs, soft-core processors (MicroBlaze), and complex network architectures (bare-metal, RTOS-based, UDP/IP stacks, and Weapon Open System Architecture/WOSA messaging frameworks).
• Oversee complex Multi-Layer Power Distribution Network (PDN) definitions, multi-rail low-noise regulation circuits, rigid-flex PCBA layouts, and high-speed digital interfaces (PCIe, multi-Gbps transceivers, ADCs/DACs, and RF modems).
• Direct multi-disciplinary Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) for electronics, cabling, grounding, and bonding.
• Act as the primary internal technical authority, hosting weekly technical interchange meetings with external subcontractors to maintain design consistency.
• Partner with systems engineering teams to translate military standards into rigorous hardware requirements.
• Support Control Account Managers (CAMs) by providing precise technical write-ups, work breakdowns, and schedule estimates for Earned Value Management (EVM), CapEx initiatives, and major competitive proposals.
• Act as a certified test conductor or lead verification engineer to establish comprehensive system-level test plans, environmental stress screening, HWIL integration, and launch-readiness countdown actions.

Requirements

• Active Top-Secret Clearance
• Master’s degree in electrical engineering or related STEM discipline with 10+ years of hardware architecture experience; OR a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or similar with 12+ years of relevant engineering experience
• Proven background as a hardware architect or technical lead creating flight-worthy electronics, avionics assemblies, and custom PCBAs
• Extensive experience with SoC/FPGA systems, RTOS environments, and high-frequency digital/analog hardware interfaces
• Comprehensive working knowledge and implementation history with defense standards, including MIL-STD-461 (EMI/EMC), MIL-STD-704 (Aircraft Power), MIL-STD-1472 (Human Factors), IPC-D-620 Class 3 (Cabling/Harnessing), and IPC-D-630
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams, acting as an IPT Lead, product owner, or scrum master within an agile framework
• U.S. Citizenship is strictly required
• Candidate must possess an active Top-Secret security clearance
• Ability to travel 10–20%

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in hardware architecture, specifically in avionics and missile systems, with a strong background in SoC/FPGA systems and compliance with defense standards. Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage complex engineering projects within an agile framework.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Active Top-Secret Clearance
• Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering
• Hardware Architecture Experience
• Experience with SoC/FPGA Systems
• Leadership in Multi-Disciplinary Engineering Teams

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Hardware Architecture
• Avionics Assemblies
• Custom PCBAs
• High-Frequency Digital Interfaces
• RTOS Environments
• Multi-Layer Power Distribution Network
• Complex Network Architectures
• Environmental Stress Screening
• System-Level Test Plans
• Earned Value Management

Soft Skills

• Technical Leadership
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Team Management
• Problem Solving

Industry Keywords

• MIL-STD-461
• MIL-STD-704
• MIL-STD-1472
• IPC-D-620 Class 3
• IPC-D-630
• Defense Standards
• Integrated Product Teams
• Agile Framework

Tools & Technologies

• Xilinx/AMD Zynq SoCs
• Altera FPGAs
• MicroBlaze Soft-Core Processors
• Weapon Open System Architecture
• PCIe
• RF Modems
• UDP/IP Stacks