Electrical Engineer

Job Title:

Principal Electrical Systems EngineerJob Description The Principal Electrical Systems Engineer serves as the technical authority for electrical system architecture, cable and harness design, wiring schematics, and subsystem electrical integration across complex defense-related platforms. You will lead electrical design activities from initial concept through system integration, testing, and deployment, ensuring that all solutions meet stringent performance, reliability, safety, manufacturability, and maintainability requirements. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who has designed and documented complex electrical systems and supported integration efforts in military, aerospace, aviation, robotics, autonomous systems, or similarly demanding environments, and who enjoys collaborating closely with multidisciplinary engineering and program teams. Responsibilities + Serve as the technical authority for electrical system architecture, including power distribution, signal integrity, grounding and bonding, and EMI/EMC considerations. + Lead the design and development of cable assemblies and wiring harnesses for complex defense-related systems, from concept through deployment. + Create, review, and maintain detailed electrical schematics and wiring diagrams, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and compliance with applicable standards. + Develop and document cable and harness architectures, including routing, signals, connections, and cable termination details. + Select appropriate connectors, cables, and related components to meet environmental, electrical, and mechanical requirements. + Use electrical CAD and schematic capture tools to model, document, and update electrical designs throughout the product lifecycle. + Support hardware integration activities by collaborating with Systems, Hardware, Software, Integration & Test, Cyber Security, and Program teams. + Troubleshoot electrical system issues during integration and test, and implement effective corrective actions. + Communicate with subcontractors regarding cable design requirements, changes, routing, signals, and connections, ensuring alignment with program objectives. + Incorporate EMI/EMC shielding and other mitigation techniques into cable and system designs to meet performance and compliance requirements. + Support system safety and airworthiness activities by providing electrical design input, documentation, and analysis. + Contribute to and lead electrical design efforts across multiple programs, balancing priorities and ensuring consistent design practices. + Ensure electrical designs support manufacturability and maintainability, including clear documentation for production and field support. + Participate in reviews, design walkthroughs, and technical discussions to validate and refine electrical architectures and implementations. + Support DoD-related program requirements, including adherence to applicable military standards and documentation expectations. Essential Skills + Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline. + 10+ years of electrical engineering experience. + Experience developing electrical architectures for complex systems in domains such as defense, aerospace, aviation, robotics, or autonomous systems. + 5+ years of cable design experience, including cable assemblies and wiring harnesses. + Proficiency in designing cable assemblies and wiring harnesses, including routing, signals, connections, and cable termination. + Experience creating and updating electrical schematics and wiring diagrams. + Hands-on experience with electrical CAD and schematic capture tools. + Strong understanding of power distribution in complex systems. + Strong understanding of signal integrity and its impact on system performance. + Strong understanding of grounding and bonding practices in electrical systems. + Strong understanding of EMI/EMC considerations and shielding techniques. + Experience supporting hardware integration and troubleshooting activities. + Experience communicating with subcontractors on cable design and changes. + Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Additional Skills & Qualifications + Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance. + Experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD) programs. + Experience with military vehicles, aviation platforms, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), robotics, or autonomous systems. + Experience using Altium Designer for electrical design and schematic capture. + Experience using Zuken E3 or similar tools for cable and harness design. + Experience using AutoCAD Electrical for electrical documentation. + Experience using SolidWorks Electrical for electrical system modeling. + Experience using Mentor Graphics Capital for harness and cable design. + Experience using Creo Cabling for 3D cable and harness design. + Familiarity with

MIL-STD-461

for electromagnetic interference and compatibility requirements. + Familiarity with

MIL-STD-810

for environmental engineering considerations and testing. + Familiarity with

MIL-STD-464

for electromagnetic environmental effects. + Familiarity with

MIL-STD-1275

for vehicle electrical power characteristics. + Familiarity with

IPC/WHMA-A-620

for requirements and acceptance of cable and wire harness assemblies. + Experience supporting system safety and airworthiness activities. + Experience leading electrical design efforts across multiple programs and coordinating with cross-functional teams. + Experience with aircraft cable design and related standards. Work Environment This role is primarily onsite in Huntsville, with a hybrid schedule that includes three days in the office and two days that can be worked remotely. Core working hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., providing some flexibility for start and end times outside of this window. You will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering and program teams in a collaborative, office-based environment that relies on modern electrical CAD, schematic capture, and 3D design tools to support complex defense-related systems. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Huntsville, AL. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $64.00 - $91.00/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 hybrid position in Huntsville,AL.

Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Jun 30, 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 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. 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.