Senior Electrical Engineer

Protingent; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 125,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

Protingent is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer for a Direct Hire in Austin, TX. You will own the full lifecycle of electrical and instrumentation systems, drive embedded hardware and firmware development, and lead the build-out of proprietary embedded capabilities.

You will mentor junior engineers, set technical standards, and collaborate with mechanical, thermal, and nuclear teams to ensure robust, production-ready electrical designs in a fast-paced, safety-critical environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• 5+ years hands-on experience designing and building electrical systems, control panels, or instrumentation.
• Experience driving embedded hardware and firmware architecture with custom PCB design and real-time firmware.
• Ability to size electrical wiring to NEC standards.
• Experience with decentralized electronic hardware (I/O modules, power supplies, sensors, controllers).
• Strong knowledge of industrial instrumentation (thermocouples, RTDs, transducers, flow meters, sensors).
• Proficiency with electrical design tools (NX Electrical, SolidWorks Electrical, EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical).
• Experience with cybersecurity for control systems.
• Ability to use network protocols (Modbus, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, OPC-UA).
• Track record of driving electrical hardware through design, build, and commissioning milestones.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of electrical and instrumentation systems: architecture, detailed design, build, test, commissioning.
• Drive embedded hardware and firmware capabilities toward proprietary systems.
• Design and build control systems for reactor & balance-of-plant components with sensors, actuators, and PLCs/DCS hardware.
• Develop electrical schematics, loop diagrams, P&IDs, cable schedules, and panel layouts in CAD tools.
• Specify, procure, and qualify components; own BOM and supplier relationships.
• Collaborate with mechanical, thermal, and nuclear teams to integrate electrical systems into reactor design.
• Mentor junior electrical engineers and technicians; set technical standards.

Skills

Embedded hardware

Firmware architecture

Industrial instrumentation

Mentoring junior engineers

Systems integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

NX Electrical

SolidWorks Electrical

EPLAN

AutoCAD Electrical

Job description

Position Title

Senior Electrical Engineer

Position Description

Protingent Staffing has an exciting FTE Senior Electrical Engineer opportunity.

Job Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of electrical and instrumentation systems: architecture, detailed design, build, test, commissioning, and iteration
• Drive the architecture, development, and build-out of company's embedded hardware and firmware capabilities - defining the path from off-the-shelf I&C toward fully proprietary embedded systems
• Design and build control systems for reactor and balance-of-plant components including sensors, actuators, signal conditioning, and PLCs/DCS hardware
• Develop and maintain electrical schematics, loop diagrams, P&IDs, cable schedules, and panel layouts in CAD/EPLAN or equivalent
• Specify, procure, and qualify electrical components and instrumentation; own the BOM and supplier relationships
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, thermal, and nuclear engineering teams to integrate electrical systems into the overall reactor design
• Mentor junior electrical engineers and technicians; set technical standards for the electrical team

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience designing and building electrical systems, control panels, or instrumentation - not just simulating or specifying them
• Demonstrated experience driving embedded hardware and firmware architecture, including custom PCB design, microcontroller selection, real-time firmware, and hardware/software interface definition
• Ability to size electrical wiring to meet needs of systems and components in compliance with NFPA 70 (NEC)
• Experience with decentralized electronic hardware (such as I/O modules, power supplies, sensors, and controllers)
• Strong working knowledge of industrial instrumentation: thermocouples, RTDs, pressure transducers, flow meters, level sensors
• Proficiency with electrical design tools (NX Electrical, SolidWorks Electrical, EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical, or equivalent) and ability to produce production-ready drawings
• Experience working with cybersecurity for control systems
• Ability to use a variety of network protocols (Modbus, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, OPC-UA)
• Track record of independently driving electrical hardware through design, build, and commissioning milestones

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license in the State of Texas preferred. Experience in nuclear, aerospace, oil & gas, or other high‑consequence industries with strict quality and documentation requirements
• Hands‑on experience building and commissioning first‑of‑kind electrical systems in a fast‑moving R&D or startup environment
• Ability to use electrical test equipment including multimeters, oscilloscopes, data loggers, Hipot testers, and LCR meters
• Familiarity with IEEE, ISA, NEC, and/or nuclear I&C standards (IEEE 603, ISA‑84, etc.)
• Experience owning production schedules and driving hardware through manufacturing milestones
• Prior experience in a vertically integrated hardware company where engineers build what they design
• Experience scaling electrical systems from prototype to repeatable production builds
• Experience building systems for industrial safety, following NFPA79
• Hands‑on experience designing, shielding, and testing electronics for EMI/EMC compliance and/or operation in radiation, high‑temperature, or otherwise harsh environments
• Experience working with AI for writing code and documentation

Job Details

Job Type: Direct Hire

Salary Range: $125K - $158K (depending on experience and final leveling)

Location: Austin, TX

Export control regulations require candidates to be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Legal Permanent Resident, or of a protected person status.

About Protingent

Protingent is an Award‑Winning provider of top‑tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation — from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies. We’re passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.