Power Distribution Engineer — Multi-Rail Systems & Debug

i3; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 103,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent insurance coverage

401(k) match

Generous PTO

Health and wellness incentives

Tuition reimbursement

Certification reimbursement

Job summary

i3 is seeking a Power Distribution Engineer to design and implement reliable power architectures for complex electronics and test systems. You will own power sequencing, PCB-level distribution, and relay/contactor control to ensure safe bring-up, robust operation, and clean shutdown across electro-mechanical assemblies.

This role blends analog power, digital control, and system integration. You will perform schematic and PCB work, debug with lab instruments, and collaborate with firmware and

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Experience designing power distribution and sequencing for multi-rail electronics (startup/shutdown timing, dependencies, fault behavior).
• PCB schematic capture & layout for power and mixed-signal boards.
• Hands-on relay/contactor or load-switch control and protection (inrush, fusing, current limiting, isolation).
• Strong debugging with standard lab tools; diagnose intermittent and transient power issues.

Responsibilities

• Design power distribution and sequencing architectures for multi-rail systems (define rail order, timing, dependencies, and safe-state behavior).
• Develop relay/contactor control logic and interlocks to support controlled power-up/down, fault isolation, and emergency-off behaviors.
• Create schematics and PCB layouts for power distribution, load switching, and protection circuits (fusing, current limiting, TVS/ESD, reverse polarity, inrush control).
• Select and integrate power components (DC/DC converters, LDOs, hot-swap/controllers, power monitors, relays/contactors, connectors, harnessing).
• Implement and validate power health monitoring: voltage/current sensing, sequencing status, fault flags, and telemetry for troubleshooting and preventive maintenance.
• Perform bring-up and debug using lab instrumentation (oscilloscope, DMM, current probes, power analyzers, electronic loads); characterize transients, inrush, droop, and EMI contributors.
• Define and execute verification plans for sequencing and safety requirements; develop test procedures and acceptance criteria.
• Support system integration: grounding/bonding strategy, cable/harness design, connector pinouts, and environmental/field readiness considerations.
• Document designs and changes clearly: schematics, layouts, timing diagrams, logic truth tables/state machines, and troubleshooting guides.

Skills

Power distribution

Power sequencing

PCB design

Relay control

Lab debugging

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

Job description

i3 is seeking a Power Distribution Engineer to design and implement reliable power architectures for complex electronics and test systems. You will own power sequencing, PCB-level distribution, and relay/contactor control to ensure safe bring-up, robust operation, and clean shutdown across electro-mechanical assemblies.

This role blends analog power, digital control, and system integration. You will perform schematic and PCB work, debug with lab instruments, and collaborate with firmware and