Principal Electrical Engineer

Airswift; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Airswift is seeking a Senior Lead/Principal Electrical Design Engineer to establish the electrical engineering capability within a growing energy organization. You will define electrical architecture for a standardized product platform while supporting customer-specific development in a hands-on role.

This role emphasizes product engineering, systems integration, and first-of-a-kind technology development, requiring senior technical leadership, mentoring, and delivery across multiple projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• Approximately 10+ years of relevant technical experience, unless discipline-specific requirements indicate otherwise.
• Hands-on technical leadership with experience in AutoCAD, EPLAN and ETAP.
• Experience leading complex technical work, projects, or engineering teams.
• Experience in highly regulated, safety-critical environments preferred.
• Strong technical problem-solving and decision-making capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical design across product development and integration.
• Develop system architectures and power distribution designs.
• Define electrical interfaces between equipment and subsystems.
• Lead testing, validation, and issue resolution.
• Mentor junior engineers and grow the electrical capability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.

Skills

Hands-On Leadership

Electrical Design

Systems Integration

Project Leadership

Technical Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

EPLAN

ETAP

Job description

LEAD / PRINCIPAL ELECTRICAL DESIGN ENGINEER Deployable Energy Position Summary

Senior, hands‑on technical leader responsible for establishing and developing the electrical engineering capability within a growing advanced energy organization. Reporting directly to the Head of Engineering, this individual will serve as the company's foundational electrical engineering leader, responsible for defining electrical architecture, supporting product development, and enabling successful development of technology into customer environments. This role is heavily focused on product engineering, systems integration, and first‑of‑a‑kind technology development rather than traditional site‑based project engineering. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership while remaining actively involved in engineering execution, system development, technical problem‑solving, design integration, and project delivery.

Functional Scope

• Electrical Engineering - Provide technical leadership and execution across all electrical engineering design activities supporting product development, integration, and development.
• Electrical Systems Design - Develop and oversee electrical system architectures, designs, specifications, and performance requirements for complex engineering applications.
• Power Distribution - Design and integrate AC/DC power‑distribution systems to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation.
• Equipment and System Interfaces - Define and manage electrical interfaces between equipment, subsystems, and multidisciplinary engineering functions.
• Electrical Schematics and Documentation - Develop, review, and maintain electrical drawings, schematics, specifications, and controlled engineering documentation.
• Instrumentation and Controls Interfaces - Support integration of instrumentation, monitoring, automation, and control‑system interfaces within the overall electrical architecture.
• Testing and Technical Validation - Lead testing, verification, validation, troubleshooting, and technical issue‑resolution activities to ensure system performance and compliance.
• Supplier and Equipment Support - Collaborate with suppliers and equipment manufacturers on technical specifications, qualifications, procurement, and issue resolution.
• Engineering Configuration and Change Management - Maintain design integrity through disciplined configuration control, change management, and document‑governance processes.
• EPCM Support - Support engineering, procurement, construction, and management activities as required during development.
• High‑Speed Rotating Machinery / Generators - Provide technical expertise related to generator systems, rotating equipment, and associated electrical‑integration requirements.
• Safety‑Critical System DC Electrical Architecture – Develop, design and oversee robust DC electrical architectures supporting safety‑critical functions within highly regulated environments.
• FOAK Technology Development - Support the design, integration, and maturation of innovative first‑of‑a‑kind technologies from concept through development, testing, and technical validation.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as the senior electrical engineering design subject matter expert for the organization.
• Establish electrical engineering function, technical standards, methodologies, tools, and engineering practices.
• Lead development of electrical architecture for a standardized product platform while supporting customer‑specific development requirements.
• Provide technical leadership across product development, systems integration, testing, and technical validation activities.
• Lead and personally execute complex engineering work across multiple projects and programs.
• Participate in and lead technical reviews, design reviews, hazard analyses, and engineering decision‑making activities.
• Drive resolution of multidisciplinary technical challenges involving electrical, mechanical, controls, and systems engineering disciplines.

Engineering / Technical Execution

• Perform and review electrical engineering calculations, specifications, schematics, and technical evaluations.
• Lead development and integration of electrical systems, equipment, and interfaces.
• Support power‑distribution, equipment‑selection, electrical‑architecture, and multidisciplinary integration.
• Support instrumentation, controls, monitoring, and related interfaces as applicable to project needs.
• Develop and maintain controlled electrical design documentation.
• Support procurement, supplier engagement, testing, installation, and troubleshooting activities as required.
• Operate effectively within a matrixed engineering environment supporting multiple projects simultaneously.

Team & Capability Development

• Help establish and grow the electrical engineering capability within the organization.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and early‑career personnel.
• Support technical assessment of future team members.
• Develop repeatable technical practices and workflows that support continued organizational growth.
• Promote knowledge transfer, accountability, and continuous technical development.

Technical Governance

• Lead development and integration of electrical systems, subsystems, and components associated with advanced energy technologies.
• Define and maintain system‑level electrical architecture, including DC power architectures and safety‑related electrical functions.
• Perform and review electrical engineering design calculations, analyses, specifications, schematics, and design documentation.
• Support electrical‑system design associated with power conversion and distribution, generator and rotating‑equipment integration, industrial control systems, instrumentation and monitoring systems, and safety‑critical systems.
• Support first‑of‑a‑kind development programs and product maturation efforts.
• Support procurement, supplier selection, factory acceptance testing, installation, and troubleshooting of electrical systems and equipment as required.
• Develop and maintain controlled electrical design documentation and engineering deliverables.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with engineering leadership, project leaders, and adjacent technical disciplines.
• Collaborate with quality, safety, licensing/regulatory, testing, manufacturing, supply chain, and project‑delivery functions.
• Support multidisciplinary technical integration across concurrent projects.
• Interface with suppliers, manufacturers, laboratories, engineering partners, and other external stakeholders as required.

Safety & Quality

• Champion a strong nuclear safety culture and disciplined engineering execution.
• Promote quality‑focused technical work and risk‑informed decision‑making.
• Maintain technical rigor while operating effectively in a fast‑moving, evolving organization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• Approximately 10+ years of relevant technical experience, unless discipline‑specific requirements indicate otherwise.
• Demonstrated hands‑on technical experience within the assigned discipline with knowledge of current design and drafting software such as AutoCAD, EPLAN and ETAP.
• Experience leading complex technical work, projects, workstreams, or engineering teams.
• Experience within the nuclear industry or another highly regulated, safety‑critical engineering environment preferred.
• Strong technical problem‑solving, engineering judgment, and decision‑making capability.
• Ability to operate successfully within a growing organization where processes and capabilities are still being developed.
• Demonstrated adaptability, comfort with ambiguity, hands‑on ownership, and ability to contribute immediately in a lean, entrepreneurial organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct power, advanced reactor, SMR, microreactor, or naval nuclear experience.
• Experience serving as the senior or lead electrical engineer responsible for a product, platform, facility, or major system.
• Experience building or establishing an electrical engineering function, discipline, or technical capability within a growing organization.
• Experience supporting first‑of‑a‑kind technology development, complex engineering programs, or customer‑specific technical outcomes.
• Experience supporting customer‑facing projects when a standard product requires adaptation for site‑specific or application‑specific requirements.
• Experience working within matrixed organizations and influencing technical outcomes without direct authority.
• Experience supporting customer‑facing projects where product architecture interfaces with customer requirements.
• Professional Engineer registration, Chartered Engineer status, or equivalent where applicable.
• Experience working directly with regulatory bodies, licensing organizations, or highly regulated compliance frameworks.
• Demonstrated success balancing technical rigor, schedule, cost, and execution within fast‑paced development environments.
• Track record of delivering complex product, system, or infrastructure projects from design through testing and technical readiness.
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary engineering organizations undergoing rapid growth and organizational scaling.

Core Competencies

• Hands‑On Technical Leadership
• Electrical Engineering
• Systems Integration
• Engineering Design & Analysis
• Technical Problem‑Solving
• Technical Governance
• Nuclear Safety Culture
• Quality Assurance
• Talent Development
• Configuration Management
• Project Execution