Principal Electrical Engineer

Job Title:

Electrical Engineer Job Description This role focuses on the design, development, modification, and analysis of advanced electronic systems that support C4I network computing, integrated situational awareness, embedded diagnostics, vehicle power management, and combat vehicle integration. You will take ownership of complex circuit card assemblies and electronic subsystems from concept through delivery, ensuring reliable, margin-aware designs that meet performance, cost, and manufacturability goals. The position combines hands-on laboratory work with analytical design, simulation, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver robust, long-life solutions in demanding environments. Responsibilities + Design, develop, analyze, document, and support testing of electronic products, systems, and subsystems, including circuit card assemblies and related hardware. + Use computer-aided engineering tools and design/analysis software, such as Cadence schematic capture and circuit simulation tools, to create and refine electronic designs. + Troubleshoot and diagnose malfunctions in existing products or systems and implement design modifications as needed to resolve issues and improve performance. + Compile and evaluate design and test data to validate design approaches and ensure compliance with technical requirements and performance specifications. + Analyze, develop, and recommend design approaches that balance performance, reliability, cost, and manufacturability, with a focus on conservative, margin-aware, long-life design choices. + Review customer specifications and requirements and, under direction, develop designs that best support these requirements, explicitly considering cost as a key design variable. + Provide input on budgets, costs, and schedules for design assignments and ensure technical tasks are completed on time and within budget. + Specify and evaluate supplier components, subsystems, and services, including identifying suitable alternates and supporting procurement and fabrication activities. + Support design-to-cost and design-for-manufacture objectives by collaborating with manufacturing and supply chain teams and addressing PCB and contract manufacturer technical questions. + Develop prototypes to mitigate key development risks, bring up new circuit card assemblies from scratch, and differentiate between hardware and firmware/software issues during debugging. + Perform and document laboratory testing, including thermal testing and measurements using oscilloscopes and other test equipment, and ensure test results are clearly recorded and communicated. + Define rework procedures and write clear, detailed instructions for technicians to implement design changes and board-level modifications. + Communicate design decisions clearly in both written and oral form, including explaining trade-offs related to size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C). Essential Skills + Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent experience. + Minimum of 2 years of experience in electronics design, development, or related engineering roles. + Hands-on electronics design experience with direct ownership of circuit card assembly designs, including designing, building, bringing up, debugging, testing, and delivering on time and within budget. + Proficiency with Cadence schematic capture and the ability to navigate Allegro for board-level design activities. + Ability to simulate circuits using SPICE or similar circuit simulation tools to validate and refine design performance. + Demonstrated experience working comfortably in a development laboratory environment, including use of test equipment such as oscilloscopes and other electronic measurement tools. + Ability to perform fine-pitch rework and soldering under a microscope as needed to modify and repair circuit card assemblies. + Experience designing high-speed digital circuits involving processors, FPGAs, microcontrollers (MCUs), DDRx memory, flash, and EEPROM. + Familiarity with high-speed interfaces such as PCIe, USB, Ethernet up to 10G, serial interfaces, LVDS, DisplayPort, and HDMI. + Experience with point-of-load power design, including switch-mode power supplies (SMPS) and linear regulators. + Strong understanding of conservative, margin-aware design practices and long-life product design considerations. + Ability to explain design decisions clearly in both written and oral form, including justification of SWaP-C trade-offs. + Competent technical expertise and application domain knowledge relevant to electronic systems and C4I-related applications. + Ability to work independently, manage assigned tasks, and complete technical activities on time and within budget. + Experience supporting procurement and fabrication activities by selecting component alternates and answering PCB and contract manufacturer technical questions. Additional Skills & Qualifications + Experience with Allegro PCB layout and creation of PCB drawings. + Experience in rugged cable design and preparation of associated design and drawing notes. + Familiarity with VHDL and Verilog for FPGA-related development or support. + Experience mentoring other engineers or providing task-level technical leadership. + Participation in preparing technical content for proposals and supporting business development activities. + Exposure to ruggedized electronic systems, vehicle power management, or combat vehicle integration is beneficial. + Experience with electromagnetic considerations, power electronics, integrated circuits, or component-level engineering is advantageous. Work Environment You will work in a professional engineering environment that combines office-based design work with frequent hands-on activities in a development laboratory. Daily work involves the use of computer-aided engineering tools, including Cadence schematic capture, Allegro, and circuit simulation software such as SPICE. In the lab, you will use oscilloscopes, thermal test setups, and other electronic test and measurement equipment to bring up, debug, and validate circuit card assemblies and electronic systems. The role emphasizes collaboration with other engineers, technicians, procurement, manufacturing, and program teams, and includes participation in engineering and customer meetings. The environment values clear communication, disciplined engineering practices, and a culture that supports the organization's mission and values while delivering reliable, long-life electronic solutions. Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Melbourne, FL. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $85.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Melbourne,FL.

Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on May 27, 2026. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.