Principal Electrical Engineer

Astronics Corporation; Kirkland (WA); Hybrid; USD 152,000 - 243,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Quarterly profit sharing bonus

PTO 120 hours + 12 holidays annually

Health & welfare benefits

Job summary

Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems (AES) in Kirkland, WA is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to lead the design and development of in-seat power supplies and USB outlets for commercial aircraft. You will guide the electrical design through certification, mentoring the EE team, and driving innovation in power conversion technologies.

The role requires extensive experience with resonant converters and digitally controlled power supplies, plus strong leadership, testing, and presentation

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) required.
• 12+ years in electrical design; power supply/power conversion experience.
• Experience with resonant power converter topologies and digital control.
• Experience with aerospace standards (DO-160), Airbus and Boeing specs.
• Strong ability to generate high-quality technical docs and lead teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of aerospace-grade in-seat power supplies and USB outlets through concept to certification.
• Translate requirements into robust architectures and detailed designs.
• Plan and execute R&D to advance power supply capabilities and evaluate new topologies.
• Apply knowledge of resonant converters and digital control techniques.
• Perform simulations and trades using tools like OrCAD, SPICE, SABER.
• Develop test procedures, reports, and compliance evidence for design reviews.
• Lead and mentor EE team to meet performance, schedule, and certification goals.
• Coordinate with systems/compliance/test teams for certification activities.
• Troubleshoot development hardware issues and implement corrective design changes.

Skills

Power conversion

Resonant converters

Digital control

OrCAD

SPICE

SABER

Leadership

Technical documentation

Education

BSEE

Tools

OrCAD

SPICE

SABER

Job description

Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems (AES) is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer with a strong track record of implementing advanced power conversion technologies into aerospace-grade power supply and power conversion products.

Join our accomplished Cabin Electronics Power Team in Kirkland, WA and help us transform modern flight.

This is an on-site position that offers flexibility to work from home 2–3 days per week, depending on project needs.

Job Summary

The Principal Electrical Engineer will provide technical leadership for the design and development of in-seat power supplies and USB outlet units for commercial aircraft. You will lead the electrical design based on functional requirements, guide the engineering team through product certification, and drive technology innovation through targeted R&D activities.

This role requires extensive knowledge of power conversion technologies—including resonant converter topologies and digitally controlled power supplies—along with strong leadership, mentoring, and presentation skills. You will independently apply a high degree of creative ability, engineering skill, and judgment to solve complex problems and move programs to successful completion.

Role Objectives

• Design power supplies and outlet units that meet defined functional and certification requirements.
• Produce high-quality electrical design documentation to support development, test, and certification.
• Perform electrical simulations and trade studies to optimize designs for performance, reliability, and cost.
• Lead the electrical technical team to achieve successful product certification to DO-160, Airbus, and Boeing requirements.
• Conduct R&D activities and evaluate emerging power conversion technologies for potential integration into future products.
• Diagnose and resolve development hardware failures, implementing robust corrective design changes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the electrical design of aerospace-grade in-seat power supplies and USB outlet units for commercial aircraft from concept through certification.
• Translate functional and system-level requirements into robust electrical architectures and detailed designs.
• Propose, plan, and execute R&D activities that advance the group’s power supply and power conversion capabilities, including evaluation of new technologies and topologies.
• Apply extensive knowledge of power conversion technologies, with emphasis on resonant converters and digital control techniques.
• Perform electrical simulations and trade studies using advanced tools (e.g., OrCAD, SPICE, SABER) to determine optimal design approaches.
• Stay current with industry trends in power electronics and incorporate relevant advancements into new product development.
• Ensure designs meet applicable aerospace industry standards, including DO-160 as well as Airbus and Boeing requirements.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive electrical design documentation, including schematics, design descriptions, analyses, and compliance evidence.
• Create clear, technically rigorous test procedures, test reports, and requirements documents, and present them as a subject‑matter expert at internal and external design reviews.
• Prepare and present technical analyses, design justifications, and trade study results to internal stakeholders and customers.
• Lead and mentor the electrical engineering (EE) team on projects, providing technical direction and oversight to achieve performance, schedule, and certification objectives.
• Support product certification activities, coordinating closely with systems, compliance, and test teams to demonstrate requirements verification and validation.
• Troubleshoot development hardware issues, perform root‑cause analysis, and implement corrective design changes.
• Support bid and proposal efforts and assist with new business and follow‑on opportunities as a technical leader.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE required).
• Typically, 12 or more years of relevant experience in electrical design, with direct experience in power supply and/or power conversion product development.
• Demonstrated expertise with resonant power converter topologies and digital control of power supplies.
• Broad experience with advanced electrical engineering simulation tools (such as OrCAD, SPICE, SABER) and conducting trade studies.
• Experience designing to DO-160 and other applicable aerospace requirements, including Airbus and Boeing specifications.
• Proven ability to generate high‑quality technical documents: design descriptions, requirements, test procedures, test reports, and presentations.
• Experience leading electrical engineering teams or providing technical leadership on complex product development or research programs.

Employment Eligibility Requirements

• This role may involve access to items subject to U.S. export‑controls laws or other applicable U.S.-government legal or contractual requirements. To assess whether any licenses, authorizations, or other exceptions are required, please indicate below whether you are a U.S. Person. If you are not a U.S. Person, the company does not guarantee and is under no obligation to seek such authorization if it would be necessary. This information is collected solely for this compliance purpose.
• An offer of employment is contingent upon successfully passing a pre‑employment background screen and drug test, including cannabis screening.
• Salary range: $152,072 – $242,920 per year (midpoint: $197,496).
• Quarterly Profit Sharing Bonus eligible.
• Factors such as experience in comparable roles, skill set, training, education, certifications, other qualifications, market conditions, and business needs influence the actual salary offered. It is not typical to be hired at or near the top of the range.
• Health & Well‑Being: Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, plus optional critical illness, accident prevention, and hospital indemnity coverage.
• Financial Security: 401(k) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Work–Life Balance: Flexible hybrid work arrangements for eligible positions, Employee Assistance Program, and a supportive culture encouraging balance.
• Generous PTO: Starting at 120 hours annually, plus 12 paid holidays per year.

Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO) serves the world’s aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries with proven, innovative technology solutions. Astronics works side‑by‑side with customers, integrating its array of power, connectivity, lighting, structures, interiors, and test technologies to solve complex challenges. For over 50 years, Astronics has delivered creative, customer‑focused solutions with exceptional responsiveness. Today, global airframe manufacturers, airlines, militaries, completion centers and Fortune 500 companies rely on the collaborative spirit and innovation of Astronics. The Company’s strategy is to increase its value by developing technologies and capabilities that provide innovative solutions to its targeted markets.

For more information on Astronics and its solutions, visit www.Astronics.com .

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

Voluntary Self‑Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Astronics Corporation’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.