Senior Avionics Hardware Engineer

Castelion; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge defense company seeks a Senior Avionics Hardware Engineer to design, test, and optimize systems for advanced hypersonic missile projects. This dynamic role involves hands-on collaboration with experienced engineers and includes responsibilities like schematic capture, PCB layout, and working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure high-quality standards. Ideal candidates will hold a relevant bachelor’s degree and have experience with hardware testing and design tools.

Qualifications

• Experience designing hardware PCBs from concept through production.
• Familiarity with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and lab equipment.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly.

Responsibilities

• Assist in design and development of hardware components and systems.
• Support testing and validation through simulation and laboratory testing.
• Collaborate with teams to meet performance and quality standards.

Skills

Problem Solving

Attention to Detail

Collaboration

Analytical Skills

Basic Principles in Hardware Design

Familiarity with Programming Languages

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering

Tools

Altium

Eagle

OrCAD

NX

SolidWorks

MATLAB

SPICE

Job description

About Castelion

Castelion is bringing a new approach to defense development and production: one that focuses on short, iterative design cycles, rapid testing in development, and modern commercial manufacturing strategies for production at scale. We’re designing, building, and testing next generation long range strike weapons systems to give America and its Allies a definitive edge and deter future conflicts.

Avionics Hardware Engineer

As a Senior Avionics Hardware Engineer, you will play a vital role in designing, testing, and optimizing hardware systems for cutting-edge hypersonic missile avionics projects. You will contribute to the development and production of high-quality, reliable hardware components for hypersonic missiles. This role provides a hands-on opportunity to work alongside experienced engineers, gain practical experience, grow your technical skills in a fast-paced and innovative environment, and experience a rapid cadence of test flights where your hardware will be tested in the field.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design and development of hardware components and systems, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and component selection.
• Support the testing and validation of hardware designs through simulation, prototyping, and laboratory testing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that hardware designs meet performance, quality, and reliability standards.
• Participate in troubleshooting and debugging hardware issues, including root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Contribute to the development of test plans, procedures, and reports to verify that hardware meets all required specifications and standards.
• Assist in documenting hardware designs, test results, and any modifications made during the development process.
• Support the manufacturing process by working with suppliers and production teams to ensure the smooth transition from design to production.
• Stay up to date with industry trends and emerging technologies to contribute innovative ideas to hardware development projects.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with schematic design and PCB layout tools such as Altium, Eagle, or OrCAD.
• Experience with CAD tools such as NX or SolidWorks
• Electronic product experience designing hardware PCBs from concept through production and testing of your design.
• Familiarity with hardware testing and validation techniques, including the use of oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other lab equipment.
• Understanding of basic principles in hardware design, such as signal integrity, power distribution, and thermal management.
• Experience with one or more of the following industries: aerospace, missile systems, space, defense, or consumer electronics.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate technical concepts clearly.
• Familiarity of computers and programming languages (Python, C/C++)
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly cross-functional role.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in hardware development within aerospace, missile systems, space, defense, or consumer electronics industries.
• Professional experience testing, troubleshooting, and debugging electronic
• Professional experience with embedded systems, microcontrollers, or FPGA design.
• Familiarity with industry standards and regulatory requirements relevant to the specific industry, such as MIL-STD for defense, DO-254 for aerospace, or FCC regulations for consumer electronics.
• Proficiency with simulation tools like SPICE, MATLAB, or similar software for circuit analysis and modeling.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and considerations for mass production of hardware components.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to new challenges in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Leadership Qualities

Bias to Action and Creative Problem Solving. Desire and experience questioning assumptions in ways that lead to break through ideas that are ultimately implemented. Successfully bring in applicable processes/concepts/materials from other industries to achieve efficiency gains. Ability to personally resolve minor issues in development without requiring significant support.

High Commitment, High Initiative. A successful candidate will have a genuine passion for Castelion’s mission and consistently look for ways to contribute to the company’s technical goals and prevent hardware blockers. Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere. Strong sense of accountability and integrity.

Clear Communicator. Proactively communicates blockers. Trusted in previous roles to be voice of company with regulators, suppliers, gate keepers and customers. Capable of tactfully managing relationships with stakeholders to achieve company-desired outcomes without compromising relationships. Emails, IMs and verbal interactions are logical, drive clarity, and detailed enough to eliminate ambiguity.

ITAR Requirements:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Employment with Castelion is governed on the basis of competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.