Sr. Electrical Design Engineer III

Aquent; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is seeking a Senior Electrical Design Engineer to join our client’s Inter-Satellite Link Avionics team in Redmond, WA. You will lead the hardware development lifecycle for advanced satellite networks, from concept to deployment, driving high-reliability avionics hardware and cross-functional collaboration across spacecraft teams.

Responsibilities include schematic capture, board bring-up, DVT, and high-speed signal integrity work, with a focus on power, analog, and mixed-signal domains.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering required.
• 3+ years in hardware development across product lifecycle.
• Strong background in power, analog, or mixed-signal hardware.
• PCB design, bring-up, and debugging with microprocessors, FPGAs.
• Schematic capture and PCB layout ECAD tools.
• Bench testing and DVT with oscilloscopes and lab equipment.

Responsibilities

• Own schematic capture, board design, and layout reviews.
• Lead board bring-up and root-cause analysis across interfaces.
• Perform lab testing and DVT on new boards.
• Support satellite optical subsystem hardware design.
• Collaborate with cross-functional hardware/software teams.

Skills

Power electronics

Mixed-signal design

PCB layout

Schematic capture

High-speed signals

Lab testing

Python/C++ scripting

FPGA/SoC familiarity

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Siemens Xpedition (Mentor Graphics)

LTspice

MATLAB

Job description

Partnering with Aquent, a leading talent solutions company, our client is a pioneering organization at the forefront of innovation, dedicated to extending reliable broadband connectivity to underserved communities globally. This mission directly impacts households, small businesses, schools, hospitals, and government agencies, bringing essential internet access to places without dependable networks. As a Senior Electrical Design Engineer, you will be instrumental in designing and developing critical avionics hardware for advanced satellite networks, directly enabling groundbreaking communication solutions that bridge digital divides and empower countless individuals and organizations.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to become a core member of our Inter-Satellite Link Avionics team, where your expertise will directly contribute to the development of cutting-edge optical subsystems. You will drive the entire hardware development lifecycle, from initial concept to deployment, ensuring the highest standards of performance and reliability for our advanced satellite network. We are seeking an outstanding engineer who combines solid technical capabilities with a demonstrated ability to deliver effectively. You will collaborate with multiple spacecraft design and integration teams, operating with a high degree of autonomy to solve novel hardware problems at scale and make a tangible impact on global connectivity.

Key Responsibilities

• Own a variety of tasks from schematic capture, board design, component selection, and layout review/guidance.
• Lead board bring-up, system testing, and root-cause analysis for production issues at both subsystem and system levels across spacecraft interfaces.
• Conduct hands-on laboratory testing and design verification testing (DVT) for new boards using high-speed digital oscilloscopes and advanced electrical laboratory equipment.
• Support satellite optical subsystem development, including initial hardware design work and component placement in coordination with the PCB layout department.
• Make sound design decisions by thoroughly reading datasheets, reference manuals, and user guides.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with hardware, software, firmware, mechanical, systems, and integration teams.

Must-Have Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering.
• 3+ years of experience in hardware development across multiple phases of the product life cycle in consumer electronics, power electronics, robotics, aerospace, automotive, communications, or a combination thereof.
• Demonstrated technical background in hardware design within power, analog, or mixed-signal domains, or a combination thereof.
• Experience with PCB design, board bring-up, and debugging involving components such as microprocessors, SoCs, FPGAs, memories, power supplies, ADCs, DACs, or sensors.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB-layout ECAD tools.
• Hands-on experience performing bench design-verification testing and debug using oscilloscopes and common electrical laboratory equipment.
• Demonstrated ownership of a complex board from schematic through bring-up and validation.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• M.S. or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with FPGA memory architecture design and high-speed digital design or high-speed serial interfaces.
• Experience with signal integrity, transmission line theory, controlled-impedance routing, or signal-integrity simulation.
• Understanding of EMI/EMC design principles.
• Proficiency with Siemens Xpedition (Mentor Graphics) ECAD toolchain.
• Experience designing precision analog circuits involving ADCs, DACs, low-noise amplifiers, transimpedance amplifiers, sensors, or filters.
• Experience with power regulation, power supplies (buck converters, LDOs), motor drivers, current sensing, or actuator control.
• Experience with circuit simulation tools (e.g., LTspice, MATLAB) or scripting for test automation and data analysis (Python, C, C++).
• Background in aerospace, satellite bus systems, semiconductor, or rugged/harsh environment hardware design.