Principal Electrical Engineer

AV; Leesburg (VA); On-site; USD 154,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment seeks a Principal Electrical Engineer in Leesburg, VA to lead RF sensing systems for UAS detection. You will design circuits and PCBs, select components, and guide hardware integration from bring-up to testing.

The role requires deep experience in RF, SDR, FPGA-based subsystems and embedded control, with strong collaboration across RF, DSP, and software teams. ITAR compliance is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering; advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with electrical circuit design, schematic capture, PCB layout, component selection, and hardware integration.
• Experience with RF systems, embedded control, FPGA-based systems, or related subsystems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the electrical design and development of RF sensing and UAS detection systems.
• Develop system architectures, electrical interfaces, schematics, and PCB layouts.
• Select components based on performance, availability, reliability, and environmental requirements.
• Support PCB layout, design reviews, prototype fabrication, board bring-up, integration, and verification.
• Design and analyze power distribution, embedded control, RF interfaces, and related subsystems.
• Use SDR platforms for RF signal acquisition, experimentation, characterization, and validation.
• Troubleshoot complex electronic, RF, embedded, and integrated systems.
• Support hardware and software integration, laboratory testing, and field testing activities.
• Document designs through drawings, schematics, PCB files, test procedures, and descriptions.
• Assess root causes of issues and contribute to reliability and maintainability.
• Collaborate with RF, FPGA, DSP, and software teams.

Skills

Electrical circuit design

Schematic capture

PCB layout

RF systems

FPGA-based systems

Embedded control

SDR platforms

Hardware integration

Troubleshooting

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Altium Designer

RF test equipment

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

We are seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to lead and support the development of systems that detect and classify Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) using their Radio Frequency (RF) links. This role combines traditional electrical engineering responsibilities, including circuit and board design for Software Defined Radio (SDR) systems, board bring-up, and integration and testing.

The ideal candidate will have experience designing electronic systems, selecting components, developing schematics and printed circuit board layouts, and supporting hardware through integration and testing. Experience with SDR-based systems, RF signal detection, wireless communications, and software development is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the electrical design and development of RF sensing and UAS detection systems.
• Develop system architectures, electrical interfaces, schematics, and printed circuit board layouts.
• Select components and equipment based on performance, availability, reliability, environmental requirements, and system specifications.
• Support PCB layout, design reviews, prototype fabrication, board bring-up, integration, and verification.
• Design and analyze power distribution, embedded control, RF interfaces, and related electronic subsystems.
• Use SDR platforms for RF signal acquisition, experimentation, characterization, and system validation.
• Troubleshoot complex electronic, RF, embedded, and integrated systems.
• Support hardware and software integration, laboratory testing, and field testing activities as needed.
• Document designs through engineering drawings, schematics, PCB files, test procedures, analysis, and written technical descriptions.
• Assess root causes of critical issues and contribute to product reliability, sustainability, and maintainability.
• Collaborate with RF, FPGA, DSP, and software teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering. An advanced degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of professional engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience with electrical circuit design, schematic capture, PCB layout, component selection, and hardware integration.
• Experience using Altium Designer or comparable tools for schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Experience with RF systems, embedded control, FPGA-based systems, or related electronic subsystems.
• Knowledge of common hardware and communication interfaces, such as LVDS, I2C, HDMI, UART, SPI, CAN, USB, and MIPI.
• Experience troubleshooting complex electronic systems and supporting laboratory and field-test operations.
• Expertise in engineering fundamentals, mathematics, physics, and electrical system analysis.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment where small teams share a broad range of responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with RF signal detection, demodulation, characterization, and analysis.
• Experience with Software Defined Radios and RF test equipment.

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$153,500 - $234,250

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data,sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required