PCB Electrical Engineer III / IV

Brightpath Associates LLC; Burbank (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightpath Associates LLC in Burbank, CA seeks an experienced PCB Electrical Engineer (Level III/IV) to lead the research, design, and development of complex aerospace electronic systems within an IPT. You will own end-to-end hardware design tasks, drive problem solving, and mentor junior engineers to ensure safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

You will decompose requirements for PCB and analog/digital systems, collaborate across manufacturing, quality, and operations, and oversee

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field; Master’s or PhD preferred.
• 8+ years hardware/electrical experience in aerospace/defense/high-reliability electronics.
• U.S. Person required for ITAR/compliance to access controlled data.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Hardware Design: Architect and develop complex PCB and electronic systems to meet customer specs for cost, schedule, producibility, and reliability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with manufacturing, quality, operations, and business teams within an IPT to build design for manufacturability and quality into every product.
• Testing & Validation: Lead functional, acceptance, and qualification testing for new products and legacy designs.
• Root Cause & Sustaining Engineering: Use structured problem-solving to diagnose failures and implement corrective actions for sustaining and R&D.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Guide junior engineers, lead design reviews, and author engineering documentation.
• Project & Process Management: Estimate, prioritize, and manage workloads; support Kaizen, 5S, and safety compliance.

Skills

Circuit & System Design

Power & Magnetics

Programmable Logic

Aerospace Standards & Compliance

Communication & Modeling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering preferred

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, self-directed PCB Electrical Engineer (Level III/IV) to lead the research, design, and development of complex aerospace electronic systems. Working within a cross-functional Integrated Product Team (IPT), you will own end-to-end hardware design tasks, drive technical problem-solving, and mentor junior engineers to ensure our products meet stringent safety, reliability, and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Hardware Design: Decompose system requirements to architect, design, and develop complex PCB and electronic systems that meet strict customer specifications for cost, schedule, producibility, and reliability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with manufacturing, quality, operations, and business teams within an IPT structure to build Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and quality into every product.
• Testing & Validation: Direct functional, acceptance, and qualification testing for both new product introductions and legacy design modifications.
• Root Cause & Sustaining Engineering: Apply structured problem-solving and analytical modeling to quickly diagnose technical failures, implement corrective actions, and support ongoing product sustaining and R&D initiatives.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Provide technical guidance to junior engineers, lead design reviews, and author comprehensive engineering documentation, including proposals, technical reports, and test procedures.
• Project & Process Management: Estimate, prioritize, and manage engineering workloads to keep programs on schedule and within budget, while actively supporting continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen, 5S) and strict safety compliance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline (Master’s or PhD preferred).
• Experience: 8+ years of relevant hardware/electrical engineering experience, ideally within aerospace, defense, or high-reliability electronics.
• Security & Compliance: Due to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Department of Defense contract requirements, candidates must qualify as a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or protected individual) to access controlled data.

Required Technical Expertise

• Circuit & System Design: Strong background in analog, digital, micro-electronics, and high-power circuit design, including microprocessor core integration and hardware/software integration.
• Power & Magnetics: Hands‑on experience with magnetics design and diverse switching power supply topologies.
• Programmable Logic: Proficiency in VHDL design, VHDL test bench development, and ASIC design principles.
• Aerospace Standards & Compliance: Working knowledge of DO-254 hardware development processes, DO-160 environmental testing requirements, and design practices for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and lightning protection.
• Communication & Modeling: Strong circuit analysis/modeling capabilities paired with clear verbal and written technical communication skills.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Setting: Hybrid office/cubicle, electronics lab, and manufacturing floor environment in Burbank, CA.
• Lab & Manufacturing: Occasional work with small‑to‑medium hand/power tools and standard PPE (ESD heel/wrist straps, safety glasses, gowning, hearing protection) in environments that may involve noise, dust, or temperature variations.
• Physical Demands: Primarily desk‑and‑lab‑based (approx. 90% sitting, 10% standing/walking) with occasional lifting or pushing up to 20 lbs.
• Travel: Up to 10% domestic and international travel to customer sites, external test labs, and technical seminars.