Principal Staff Electrical Engineer

Astronics; Lake Zurich (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company contribution

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Quarterly profit-sharing bonus

Paid holidays

Job summary

Astronics in Illinois is seeking a Principal Staff Electrical Engineer to design EMI/EMC compliant hardware, lead PCBA-level layouts, BOM management, debugging, and mentor engineers. The role focuses on high-speed, RF-enabled systems and power management across complex architectures.

The candidate will drive product verification, regulatory testing, and cross-functional programs, with onsite work in Lake Zurich, IL and occasional travel to Chicago-area laboratories.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering from an accredited university program.
• ECAD experience for schematic capture and layout, preferably Altium Designer.
• Experience designing for EMI/EC qualification tests following DO-160, Boeing, and Airbus standards.
• Experience generating qualification test procedures and setup diagrams for EMC qualification testing.
• Experience reviewing board level and system level design for grounding techniques and EMI/EMC mitigation.

Responsibilities

• Complete PCBA level design including BOM management and revision control.
• Design multilayer PCBs with high-speed data, RF, microcontroller circuits, and power management.
• Product verification and test development, including scripts and reports.
• Develop electrical system architectures and manufacturing transfer.
• Provide direction to technicians and support PCBA assembly and rework.
• Mentor engineers and interns; collaborate with Ukraine engineers and CAD specialists.
• Lead cross-functional programs and participate in design reviews.

Skills

EMI/EMC design

High-speed PCB design

RF design principles

MCU/MPU circuits

Power management

C/C++ Python Linux Bash

Schematic capture & layout

Mentoring

Project management

Regulatory testing

Education

BS in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Job description

Join the Astronics team as a Principal Staff Electrical Engineer!

Job Summary:

Experienced developer with proven ability to design for passing EMI/EMC tests and to troubleshoot and diagnosis EMC/EMI qualification testing issues. Development of electrical system architectures, including PCBA level design, BOM management, de-bugging, etc. Also serves as a mentor to the electrical engineers and interns as well as providing direction to the UKR team where needed.

Local 100% onsite position primarily in Lake Zurich, IL. May require occasional travel, < 25% of time, to laboratories in the Chicago region.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Complete PCBA level design including BOM management, revision control, configuration management, hardware bring-up/debug, and issue tracking.
• Design of multilayer PCBs that include the following functions: 1. High-speed communication supporting up to10Gbps speeds, 2. Wireless modules or discrete design for 802.11 b/g/n/ac, BTLE, RFID/NFC, and LTE, 3. Microcontroller/Microprocessor circuits, 4. Power management including budgeting, analysis and characterization as it relates to current draw and thermal characteristics, 5. Serial/Peripheral interfaces.
• Product verification/testing including final analysis and development of tests, reports, and programming scripts.
• Develop electrical system architectures.
• Use of and selection of test equipment—oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, meters, supplies, etc.
• Provide direction to Engineering Technician and on occasion direct support of PCBA assembly, rework, and changes using soldering irons, heat guns, hot plates, etc.
• Mentor interns and engineers.
• Provide direction to Ukraine engineers and CAD specialists.
• Develop and review the creation and evolution of the electrical engineering design process.
• Support the transfer of design files into the manufacturing process.
• Support regulatory compliance testing.
• Become Subject Matter Expert for the manufacturing team on all electrical engineering designs.
• Lead all level complexity programs including multiple programs concurrently.
• Subject Matter Expert in all level of complexity programs for technical design reviews.
• Project management/engineering on cross-functional programs.
• Working knowledge and awareness of ISO/9001/14000/13485 and AS9100 processes.
• Support ISO and internal audits of electrical engineering processes.
• Other duties & functions assigned to this position as necessary

Education and/or Experience Requirements:

• BS in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering from an accredited university program with a minimum of 20 years’ experience.
• ECAD experience for schematic capture and layout, preferably Altium Designer.
• Experience designing for EMI, lighting, pin-injection and other qualification test following DO-160, Boeing, and Airbus standards.
• Experience generating qualification test procedures and setup diagrams for EMC qualification testing.
• Experience reviewing board level design and system level design for appropriate grounding techniques and implementation of design techniques to pass EMC qualification tests.
• Experience troubleshooting and resolving failed EMI/EMC tests, including creating documentation and deviation requests.
• Board-level and system-level experience implementing RF design principles on RF and/or high-speed digital signals.
• Software experience in languages or environments such as C/C++, Python, Linux, Bash, Arduino and Raspberry Pi to assist with troubleshooting and engineering evaluation activities
• Team player and methodical self-starter able to complete projects in a timely manner.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Competencies:

• Problem Solving- Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions.
• Analytical- Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data; parse large amounts of data and distinguish the pieces with a large impact; uses intuition and experience to complement data; designs work flows and procedures; employs logic when solving problems.
• Technical Skills- Strives for continuous expansion of knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others; builds knowledge base from research and experience.
• Interpersonal Skills- Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; maintains confidentiality; remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things; takes responsibility and ownership for mistakes.
• Oral Communication- Listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; participates in meetings.
• Teamwork- Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit.
• Ethics- Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works in an ethical manner and with integrity; upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support– Disciplined in thought and action; follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization’s goals and values.
• Planning/Organizing- Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; sets goals and objectives; strives to increase productivity.
• Professionalism- Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
• Quality- Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Safety and Security- Observes safety and security procedures; reports potentially unsafe conditions.
• Adaptability- Manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Attendance/Punctuality- Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; communicates conflicting work/personal needs in a timely manner.
• Dependability- Follows instructions, responds to management direction; follows up on assigned tasks; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals.

Compensation:

• Base salary: $120,000 through $150,000, influenced by several factors including experience, skill set, education, certifications, market conditions, and business needs.
• The salary range specified is applicable to positions within the State of Illinois and reflects various factors considered in compensation decisions. These factors include, but are not limited to, individual skill sets, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and the specific needs of our business and organization. At Astronics CSC, it is uncommon for new hires to receive an offer at or near the top end of the range for their role. Compensation decisions are made based on the unique facts and circumstances of each candidate.
• All employees are eligible for our highly competitive Quarterly Profit-Sharing Incentive program.
• An offer of employment is contingent on successfully passing a pre-employment background screen anddrug test.
• This position may involve access to items subject to U.S. export-control laws. Employment is contingent upon the employee’s authorization to access such items under applicable law. The company does not guarantee and is under no obligation to seek such authorization if it would be necessary.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• Stay Healthy– Health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, FSA, HSA, as well as voluntary life/AD&D, voluntary critical illness, accident prevention and hospital indemnity.
• Rewards That Matter:Competitive compensation, quarterly bonuses tied to company profitability, a 401(k) with a 3% company contribution with additional annual discretionary contribution, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan to secure your financial future.
• Find Balance– Employee Assistance Program & Wellness Program
• Time for You– Generous Paid Time Off (PTOS), Volunteer Time Off Program (VTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave.
• Professional Growth- Tuition Reimbursement Program

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.