UAV Electrical Engineer

Swift Engineering; San Clemente (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 Schedule

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance - 100% covered for Em

Dental Insurance - 100% covered for Em

Life Insurance - 100% covered by Swift

401k with company match

Holiday calendar & PTO

16 weeks Caregiver & Wellness Leave

Family Planning & Parenting Support

Job summary

Swift Engineering in California seeks a UAV Electrical Engineer to own the complete electrical architecture of advanced UAV systems. You will design, integrate, and validate electrical networks, PCBs, and radio links, collaborating across avionics, software, mechanical, and systems teams.

You will take end-to-end ownership of E/E design from concept through flight test, ensuring performance, reliability, and scalability of the platform.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering required.
• 5+ years in UAVs, aerospace, robotics or embedded systems.
• Strong PCB design, schematic capture and layout.
• Solid UAV comms and RF integration knowledge.
• Experience with power distribution, power electronics and batteries.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and validate the complete electrical network of the UAV.
• Design and review PCBs for avionics, power, payloads and comms.
• Own all radio communication systems including C2, telemetry and payload links.
• Integrate and manage BMS and power electronics.
• Support payloads and sensors integration.
• Collaborate with avionics, software, mechanical and systems teams.
• Support system integration, ground and flight testing.
• Perform troubleshooting, root-cause analysis and iterative improvements.
• Develop and maintain electrical documentation, schematics, wiring diagrams and interfaces.

Skills

Electrical Eng

PCB Design

RF Integration

Power Electronics

BMS

Systems Ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated UAV Electrical Engineer to design, integrate, and own the complete electrical architecture of advanced unmanned aerial vehicle systems. This role is critical to the performance, reliability, and scalability of the UAV platform and requires close collaboration with a small, high-performance engineering team.
The ideal candidate is hands-on, self-driven, and comfortable taking full ownership of complex electrical systems from concept through flight.
Salary Range: $130,000 to $150,000
Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and validate the complete electrical network of the UAV
• Design and review custom circuit boards (PCB design) for avionics, power distribution, payloads, and communication systems
• Own all radio communication systems, including command & control, telemetry, and payload data links
• Integrate and manage battery management systems (BMS) and power electronics
• Support integration of onboard payloads and sensors
• Collaborate closely with avionics, software, mechanical, and systems engineering teams
• Support system integration, ground testing, and flight testing activities
• Perform troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and iterative design improvements
• Develop and maintain electrical documentation, schematics, wiring diagrams, and interface definitions

What We Offer

• Full system ownership and technical leadership responsibility
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge UAV platforms
• Collaborative, high-performance engineering culture
• Direct impact on vehicle capability and mission success

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering
• 5+ years of experience in electrical engineering for UAVs, aerospace, robotics, or complex embedded systems
• Strong experience with circuit board design, schematic capture, and layout
• Solid understanding of UAV communication systems and RF integration
• Experience with power distribution, power electronics, and battery systems
• Ability to work effectively in a small, fast-paced, high-performance team environment
• Self-motivated, proactive, and capable of owning systems end-to-end

Preferred Qualified

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or related field
• Familiarity with solar power systems, energy harvesting, or long-endurance platforms
• Experience with avionics integration and EMI/EMC considerations
• Background in UAV, aerospace, or high-reliability systems
• Experience supporting flight test and operational deployments

Benefits

• 9/80 Schedule
• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance - 100% covered for Employees
• Dental Insurance - 100% covered for Employees
• Life Insurance - 100% covered by Swift, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• 401k with company match
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a holiday hiatus in December, and highly competitive PTO plans.
• 16 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting.

About Swift Engineering
If you’re passionate about engineering, innovation and making a difference, we invite you to join the Swift Engineering family. Together, we are shaping the future of aerospace and creating technologies that will change the world.
The Pay Range For This Role Is
130,000 - 150,000 USD per year (Swift Engineering)