Senior Electrical Engineer

Real Time Recruitment Solutions (RTRS); Reston (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Real Time Recruitment Solutions (RTRS) seeks a Senior Electrical Engineer - Hardware to lead the design, integration and validation of custom electronics for microdisplay-based solutions, including driver boards, interface modules, imaging electronics, and rugged embedded platforms in a defense-oriented environment.

You will own complex PCB designs from concept to production, mentor engineers, conduct trade studies, and collaborate across Systems, FPGA, optics, and manufacturing.

Qualifications

• ITAR compliance: US citizen or permanent resident required.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 8–12 years of PCB-level hardware development experience.
• Proficiency with Altium Designer for schematic/layout.
• Experience with power design, high-speed digital interfaces, and mixed-signal hardware.

Responsibilities

• Lead PCB layout definition, routing, grounding, EMI/ESD considerations.
• Define electrical interfaces to optics, firmware, FPGA, and system teams.
• Lead board bring-up, validation, and test; manage environmental and ruggedization tests.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive design reviews and trade studies.
• Prepare design artifacts: schematics, BoMs, ICDs, ECOs, and test procedures.
• Support supplier interactions, DFx reviews, and transition to production.

Skills

Embedded hardware

Power design

High-speed digital

Mixed-signal design

SWaP-optimized design

Lab debugging

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Job description

The Senior Electrical Engineer - (Hardware) leads the design, integration, and validation of custom electronics used in microdisplay-based solutions. This includes microdisplay driver boards, interface modules, imaging electronics, sensor/camera interface boards, and system-level hardware for weapon sights, HMDs, medical viewers, FPV goggles, and related embedded platforms.

The role owns complex PCB-level designs from concept through prototype validation and production transition, leads hardware trade studies, mentors less experienced engineers, and serves as a technical lead with Systems, Embedded Software, FPGA, Optics, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and suppliers. Strong embedded hardware, power, high-speed digital, mixed-signal, SWaP-optimized design, and hands‑on lab debug experience are required.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide technical direction for PCB layout in Altium, including stack‑up definition, controlled‑impedance routing, high‑speed placement, grounding, shielding, thermal management, manufacturability, testability, and rigid‑flex/flex considerations where applicable.
• Define and document electrical interfaces to optics, mechanical, firmware, FPGA, and system teams, including pinouts, timing, power budgets, connector/harness requirements, EMI/ESD concerns, and interface constraints.
• Lead board bring‑up, integration, and debug activities, including:
• Power‑on sequencing, functional validation, and margin evaluation
• Signal integrity, timing, interface reliability, and noise investigations
• Integration with firmware, FPGA logic, optics modules, microdisplays, sensors, and host systems
• Environmental, thermal, vibration, EMI/EMC, and ruggedization testing
• Build and characterize prototypes, development boards, evaluation setups, and test fixtures for concept evaluation, verification, and troubleshooting.
• Lead design reviews, peer reviews, risk reviews, and trade studies; identify technical risks early and drive closure through analysis, prototyping, simulation, or test.
• Generate and maintain schematics, BoMs, design reports, ICDs, ECOs, test procedures, verification records, and revision‑controlled hardware artifacts.
• Mentor junior and mid‑level electrical engineers, review designs, and help establish practical design guidelines, reusable circuits, and hardware best practices.
• Support DFM/DFT reviews, NPI, supplier and contract manufacturer interactions, failure analysis, sustaining engineering, and transition from prototype into production.
• Contribute technical inputs to estimates, schedules, proposals, customer discussions, and program planning involving hardware scope, risk, or architecture.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Defense contractor and is subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). You must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident (green card holder) to be considered for this position.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 8 to 12 years of PCB-level hardware development experience for embedded systems, including ownership of complex designs from concept through prototype validation and production release.
• Proficiency with Altium Designer or comparable schematic/​layout tools, with the ability to create, review, and release high-quality design packages.
• Demonstrated experience with:
• Power supply design, sequencing, protection, power budgeting, grounding, and noise control
• High-speed digital interfaces, mixed-signal board design, and embedded interface validation
• FPGA/MCU/SoC-based board implementation, bring‑up, and hardware/software integration
• Component selection, trade studies, margin analysis, and lifecycle/availability risk management
...