Senior Electrical Engineer - NREC

Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & vision benefits

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) seeks a dynamic Senior Electrical Engineer to lead electrical design in robot development, fabrication, assembly, and testing. Collaborate with leadership and multidisciplinary teams to push advances across industries and government sectors.

You will design complex electrical subsystems, perform prototype fabrication, mentor junior engineers, and present results to sponsors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or higher required.
• 6+ years’ experience (or MS with 3+ years) in electrical engineering for robotics.
• Strong systems-level design and integration skills.
• Experience with motion control, sensors, and low-voltage systems.
• Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems; FPGA experience required.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and analyze complex robotic electrical subsystems and components.
• Fabricate prototype parts for robots as needed.
• Support junior engineers and review designs.
• Assemble and test electrical/electronic assemblies.
• Document analysis, fabrication, and test results; present to sponsors.

Skills

Electrical Eng

Systems engineering

Motion control

PCB design

Embedded C/C++

FPGA design

Sensor interfaces

Safety-critical

Python scripting

Matlab

MCU firmware

Verilog/VHDL

SolidWorks

Mentoring

UL Certification

NEC knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

MS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Verilog/VHDL tools

SOLIDWORKS

MATLAB

MCU tooling

Job description

At the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), it is our engineers and technicians who drive the breakthroughs that define our success. The members of our technical staff collaborate closely with leadership and multidisciplinary teams to design, build, and deploy sophisticated robotic solutions that address complex challenges in industrial, commercial and government sectors. Each project benefits from their expertise, creativity, and hands-on problem-solving, fueling progress and innovation across the organization. As part of our dedicated team, you will work alongside world-class robotics professionals committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and redefining ideas into solutions for real-world applications. We foster a culture of professionalism, respect, and collaboration, offering a flexible and encouraging environment where you can sharpen your skills, lead impactful projects, and take control of your career development. We are seeking a dynamic Senior Electrical Engineer to lead electrical design efforts in robot design, fabrication, assembly, and testing with a solid application of electrical engineering principles and practice. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced and innovative setting. In this role, you will be instrumental in advancing robotics design across multiple industries, ensuring our team delivers exceptional and ground-breaking results.

Responsibilities:

• Designing, developing, and analyzing complex/larger electrical/electronic robotic subsystems/components
• Performing light fabrication of prototype parts for robots
• Supporting junior engineers
• Assembling and testing electrical/electronic assembly
• Documenting analysis, crafting, and testing results
• Developing and making presentations to sponsors and other interested parties
• Performing other R&D tasks, such as researching new electrical components
• Administrative functions including purchasing materials and handling vendor relations
• Other duties as assigned, based upon the needs of the department

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and more than 6 years’ experience OR MS in Electrical Engineering and 3+ years’ experience
• Proficiency with systems engineering and project management with significant focus on systems level design and integration
• Strong understanding of motion control, brushed and brushless motors, and design of motion controllers
• Circuit design and multi-layer PCB layout experience using Altium Designer is required
• Experience with embedded system design implementing microcontrollers and FPGAs: strong experience programming in C/C++ for embedded systems; experience programming FPGAs (Verilog or VHDL)
• Extensive analog circuit and low-voltage system design experience
• Sensor interface design; experience with interfaces such as SPI, I2C, CAN, UART, and standard computer buses is a must
• Understanding of the design and debugging of safety-critical electrical systems and experience with electrical system fault detection, prevention, and mitigation
• An eagerness to work in a fast paced, rapid design, prototype, and build environment

Experience/Skills

• Experience with UL certification processes
• Extensive knowledge of NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC)
• Python/Bash scripting, Matlab, C, C++
• Experience with MCU firmware development, Atmel and STM32
• Experience around FGPA development
• Industrial IO systems
• Experience with High speed routing and fabrication considerations
• Imaging and optics
• Embedded and industrial computing
• Power supply design
• Motor controller design and specification
• Smart battery design
• Familiarity with 3D modeling software (SolidWorks or similar)
• Experience in mentoring junior engineers

Other Requirements: Successful pre-employment background check

Travel Requirements: You should be able to travel domestically and be willing to work outside of normal business hours as needed

This position will require work on a variety of projects, including projects that involve military/defense applications and/or are funded by military/defense sponsors.

Benefits

• Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions.
• Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.
• Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!
• For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

Culture

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

The future is awaiting your expertise and intellect. Come join the architects of what’s next.

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function Engineering, Research and Project Scientists

Position Type Staff – Regular Full Time/Part time Full time

Pay Basis Salary

Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.

Prospective Employee Disclosures

For technical assistance, email HR Services or call 412-268-4600.

We are committed to providing an accessible experience throughout our recruitment process. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the application, interview, or hiring process, please contact Equal Opportunity Services by email at [e-mail] or by phone at 412-268-5072.