Principal Electrical Engineer

Coherent Aerospace & Defense Inc; New Jersey; On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense technology firm in New Jersey is looking for a Principal Electrical Engineer. This role involves designing complex system circuit boards for laser-based products, executing circuit designs, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a minimum of 9 years of circuit design experience, with skills in high-density PCB designs and familiarity with tools like Altium and Orcad. This position also requires expertise in RF fundamentals and analog circuit design.

Qualifications

• 9+ years of circuit design experience for a Bachelor's degree, or 7+ for a Master's, or 4+ for a Ph.D.
• Proven expertise in high-density multi-layer PCB designs.
• Self-motivated team player with strong analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive electrical architecture of circuit boards meeting specifications.
• Design high-density PCBA from concept to completion.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams of engineers.

Skills

Designing high density multi-layer PCBAs

Strong RF fundamentals

Analog circuit design

Circuit theory

High-speed DACs/ADCs

Mixed-signal design

Schematic capture tools

PCB layout browsers

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical/electronic engineering

Master’s degree

Ph.D.

Tools

Altium

Orcad

PADS

Xpedition

Job description

Attalon is a leading technology partner to the global aerospace and defense industry, specializing in the physics of light and heat. With over 500 employees in the U.S., Attalon engineers critical optical, laser, and coating technologies that enable systems to see farther, target faster, and survive the harshest environments. From high-energy directed laser systems to satellite optics and hypersonic thermal protection, Attalon equips the warfighter with the advantage of precision.

Job Summary

Attalon is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to design complex system circuit boards required in challenging products for the Aerospace and Defense industry. Responsible for both system level and detailed circuit design, modeling, and simulation for laser-based products. Circuit designs will include laser diodes, photodetectors, modulator drivers, TIAs, temperature controllers, clock generators, matched RF signals and FPGA complexes.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Drive the electrical architecture of system circuit boards to meet customer specifications with minimal oversite.
• Design high-density multi-layer PCBAs from initial concept to completion.
• Execute circuit designs that utilize a high degree of E/O and O/E functions.
• Create schematic drawings/BOMs.
• Work with circuit layout and board assembly subcontractors.
• Perform electrical simulations and power analysis.
• Support customer reviews required to pass design development gates.
• Execute the integration of electronics, FPGAs and software/firmware supporting all phases of testing.
• Develop test specifications and bring up work instructions for designs
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams consisting of optical, mechanical and system engineers.
• Participates in writing proposals, providing cost and schedule estimates in support of new business.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in electrical/electronic engineering with 9+ years of circuit design experience or Master’s degree with 7+ years’ experience, or Ph.D. with 4+ years’ experience

Skills Required

• Proven expertise in designing high density multi-layer PCBAs.
• Strong RF fundamentals and analog circuit design skills required.
• Background in circuit theory, control loops, high-speed DACs/ADCs, and mixed-signal design.
• Experience with programmable logic devices and control system circuit design.
• Experience managing noise, jitter, crosstalk, signal integrity on PCB designs.
• Use of schematic capture tools (Altium, Orcad) and simulators
• Familiar with PCB layout browsers (Altium, PADS, Xpedition).
• Self-motivated, responsible and team player.

Desired

• Design experience with switching power supplies, TEC controllers, laser diode drivers and photodetectors strongly desired.
• Background in RF signal processing and/or optical fiber system design.
• Experience with RF circuit board design for isolation with high-speed small signals and decoupling of high-speed digital lines for A/D and D/A circuits.
• Mixed Signal and matched 50/100 ohm microstrip and strip line design practice.
• Knowledge of circuit board thermal and EMI management, and ESD protection
• Experience with government defense design processes.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Attalon, Inc. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Export Control Compliance

This role involves access to technology, materials, software, or hardware subject to U.S. export control laws. Therefore, to be considered, candidates must be classified as a “U.S. Person” under applicable regulations or be eligible for authorization under a U.S. government export license.