Senior Staff Electrical Engineer

Great Bay Staffing Group; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Great Bay Staffing Group is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join an R&D team developing electro-optical systems and laser products for NASA and DoD applications. The role involves circuit board design, embedded firmware, and field testing to advance laser research in aerospace.

Ideal candidates hold a BSEE with 10–20 years of experience, plus skills in FPGA/CPLD design, C/C++, and hi-rel military/space electronics.

Qualifications

• B.S.E.E. required with 10–20 years of experience.
• Experience designing, laying out, integrating and troubleshooting circuit boards.
• Willingness to participate in field tests and experiments.
• Proficient with lab equipment for embedded systems development: oscilloscope, signal generators, power supplies, DMMs.
• Strong technical documentation skills and ability to manage multiple projects.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency may be required for government contracts.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, verify electronics for electro-optical and laser systems.
• Lead PCB development from concept through integration and testing.
• Develop and troubleshoot firmware for FPGA and microcontroller-based systems.
• Design cable assemblies and wire harnesses for electro-optical systems.
• Perform board/system integration, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Create and maintain detailed documentation for electronics design and testing.
• Participate in hands-on field tests and experiments to validate performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects.

Skills

Circuit board design

Embedded systems firmware

LIDAR design

Hi-rel space electronics

C/C++ programming

Technical documentation

Project management

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

M.S. in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Xilinx Vivado

Intel Quartus

Job description

Senior Electrical Engineer - Electro-Optical Systems | NASA & DoD Projects

Are you ready to push the boundaries of aerospace technology? We are seeking an experienced Senior Electrical Engineer to join our cutting-edge R&D team developing advanced electro-optical systems and laser products for NASA and Department of Defense applications. In this role, you'll leverage your electrical engineering expertise to bring groundbreaking laser research to the aerospace industry through both short-term and long-term innovative projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and verify electronics for advanced electro-optical and laser systems used in aerospace and defense applications
• Lead circuit board development from concept through integration, including PCB design, layout, and testing
• Develop and troubleshoot firmware for FPGA and CPU/microcontroller-based embedded systems
• Design cable assemblies and wire harnesses for electro-optical systems
• Conduct board-level and system-level integration, testing, and troubleshooting of electronic assemblies
• Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation for electronics design and testing procedures
• Participate in hands-on field tests and experiments to validate system performance
• Manage multiple concurrent engineering projects with varying timelines and complexity levels
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams while exercising independent decision-making in your area of expertise
• Support both quick-turn prototype development and extensive long-term research initiatives

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) required
• 10-20 years of applicable electrical engineering experience
• Proven experience with circuit board design, PCB layout, integration, and troubleshooting
• Hands-on engineering approach with willingness to participate in field tests and experimental activities
• Demonstrated proficiency using electrical lab equipment including oscilloscopes, signal generators, power supplies, and DMMs as part of embedded system development
• Strong technical documentation skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with competing priorities
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency may be required due to government contract requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE)
• Experience developing high-reliability (hi-rel) military electronics and/or space-flight electronics
• Expertise in FPGA/CPLD design, simulation, synthesis, and troubleshooting using tools such as Xilinx Vivado or Intel Quartus
• Proficiency with embedded systems firmware development for CPU/microcontroller platforms, including C/C++ programming
• Background in LIDAR systems design, integration, or testing
• Experience with power electronics, analog/digital circuit design, or RF systems
• Familiarity with aerospace/defense industry standards and testing protocols

Why This Is a Great Opportunity

This is your chance to make a meaningful impact on the future of aerospace and defense technology. You'll work on pioneering electro-optical systems and laser technologies that directly support NASA missions and Department of Defense initiatives. Our collaborative R&D environment empowers you to make critical technical decisions while providing the support of experienced team members and engaged senior leadership.

We offer a manageable workload that respects work-life balance, along with the opportunity to work on diverse projects ranging from rapid prototypes to long-term research programs. You'll have the autonomy to innovate while contributing to uncharted laser research applications in the aerospace sector. This role combines hands-on engineering with advanced system development, allowing you to continuously expand your technical skillset in cutting-edge technologies.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $190,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications