Lead UAV Electrical Engineer
Redwire Defense Tech
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Qualifications
- 8–12+ years of progressive experience in aircraft or UAS electrical system design.
- Demonstrated experience leading electrical system or power architecture development.
- Strong expertise in aircraft electrical power systems and wiring architectures.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the electrical engineering lead for the Air Vehicle IPT.
- Define and maintain the aircraft electrical system architecture.
- Act as the technical authority for electrical system design reviews.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
San Luis Obispo, CA
Exempt
The anticipated salary range for this role is $175,000 to $201,000 annually. This range reflects a good faith estimate based on the targeted level for the role and typical compensation benchmarks across U.S. locations. Actual compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, geographical location, and internal alignment.
The Electrical Systems Lead serves as the electrical engineering lead for the Air Vehicle Integrated Product Team (IPT), supporting the Air Vehicle IPT Lead with end-to-end technical leadership for the aircraft’s electrical architecture, power distribution, wiring systems, and electrical integration. This role owns the electrical systems technical baseline and ensures that power, signal, and grounding architectures are robust, safe, manufacturable, and fully integrated with all air vehicle subsystems.
The Electrical Systems Lead acts as the primary technical authority for electrical system decisions, interfaces closely with avionics/Flight Systems, systems engineering, manufacturing, and test teams, and translates vehicle-level requirements into a cohesive and producible electrical system design.
The following job functions are a basic requirement but are not limited to and may be assigned other duties.
- Serve as the electrical engineering lead for the Air Vehicle IPT, owning electrical system architecture and technical decision-making.
- Define and maintain the aircraft electrical system architecture, including power generation, distribution, protection, and grounding.
- Own electrical requirements flowdown, trade studies, and system-level design margins.
- Act as the technical authority for electrical system design reviews, change control, and configuration decisions.
- Lead design of electrical power distribution systems, wiring harnesses, connectors, and electrical enclosures.
- Ensure proper electrical integration of avionics, propulsion, payloads, sensors, and auxiliary systems.
- Define interface requirements between electrical systems and airframe structures.
- Ensure compliance with electrical safety, EMI/EMC, and environmental requirements.
- Guide electrical system analysis including power budgets, load analysis, fault protection, and redundancy strategies.
- Define electrical test strategies including continuity, insulation resistance, power‑on testing, and system‑level verification.
- Support ground and flight test activities by troubleshooting electrical system issues and supporting anomaly resolution.
- Own closure of electrical system discrepancies, test findings, and nonconformances.
- Partner with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure electrical designs are producible and scalable.
- Support wiring harness fabrication, routing, installation, and inspection processes.
- Drive design‑for‑manufacturing (DFM) and design‑for‑assembly (DFA) improvements for electrical systems.
- Support production readiness reviews and transition to sustained production.
- Serve as the primary electrical systems interface to airframe, avionics, propulsion, systems engineering, and program leadership.
- Communicate electrical system risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations clearly to stakeholders.
- Mentor electrical engineers and specialists through technical guidance and design reviews.
The following are non-exhaustive qualifications for the position:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field required.
- 8–12+ years of progressive experience in aircraft or UAS electrical system design.
- Demonstrated experience leading electrical system or power architecture development on complex aerospace systems.
- Experience working within IPT or program‑based engineering environments.
- Strong expertise in aircraft electrical power systems and wiring architectures.
- Proficiency with electrical CAD and harness design tools (e.g., Capital, Zuken, SolidWorks Electrical, or similar).
- Experience developing power budgets, load analysis, and protection schemes.
- Familiarity with EMI/EMC considerations and electrical safety standards.
- Understanding of aerospace manufacturing and installation practices.
- Technical authority with strong engineering judgment.
- Ability to lead through influence rather than formal people management.
- Strong systems‑thinking mindset with attention to interfaces and failure modes.
- Clear communicator capable of explaining complex electrical concepts.
- Bias toward execution, risk identification, and practical solutions.
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
- Experience with UAV or small/medium aircraft electrical systems.
- Prior ownership of electrical system baselines through flight test.
- Experience supporting certification, qualification, or military airworthiness processes.
- Experience with Altium.
- Proven ability to balance performance, reliability, weight, and manufacturability.
- Strong mentoring capability for developing electrical engineers.
- Comfort operating in fast‑paced, prototype‑driven environments.
- Matching 401(k)
- Paid PTO
- Paid holidays
- Medical, vision, and dental insurance
- Group Short‑Term & Long‑Term Disability
- HSA and FSA Options
- Critical Care Plan
- Accident Care Plan
This position may require access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). To comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants will be asked to provide specific documentation to verify a US person’s status under the ITAR and the EAR.
The work environment may involve a standard office setting while also incorporating elements of a production area. Employees will use standard office equipment, including computers, and must demonstrate stamina to sit or stand while maintaining attention to detail despite potential interruptions. The role may require occasional activities such as walking, climbing, stooping, crouching, and bending. Vision is necessary for reading printed materials and a computer screen, while hearing and speech are essential for effective communication both in person and over the telephone. Additionally, the position may necessitate travel by air or automobile. Employees may be required to use personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, safety shoes, and shop coats, to ensure safety in the production environment. Employees may be able to lift up to 30 pounds as needed.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Redwire Defense Tech is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Human Resources. Continued employment remains on an “At‑Will” basis.
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