Principal Electrical Engineer

ABOUT OUR MISSION:

Join the forefront of innovation and make an impact at Safran Defense & Space, Inc.!

Safran Defense & Space Inc. (Safran DSI), headquartered in Arlington, Va., is a leading U.S. aerospace company dedicated to supporting national defense and space missions. As a trusted partner to the U.S. armed forces, government agencies, and commercial sectors, Safran DSI delivers advanced technology solutions through its specialized business units: Assured PNT, Geospatial AI, Optronics, Space Solutions, and Testing & Telemetry.

Headquartered in Bedford, NH, Safran DSI Optronics (formerly Optics 1) is a global leader in full-service design and production of electro-optic and navigation systems. Leveraging core competencies in defense technologies, Optronics provides unmatched, first-class mission solutions for military and law enforcement personnel.

We have a high-paced, high-energy environment focused on acknowledging individual and team successes, as well as overall growth. Optronics is a community that cares about the mission of our customers. Our team believes in supporting and enriching our community through engagement; whether that means giving back to our troops, veterans and their families, investing in next generation innovators through STEM education, or higher education initiatives, giving back is an important part of who we are as a team.

If you’re ready to join our mission and serve those who serve, Safran DSI is the perfect place for you to take your career to the next level. Make a real difference and be part of something extraordinary. Apply now and help us build the future of defense and space.

POSITION PROFILE:

The Principal Electrical Engineer is responsible for providing technical leadership and strategic direction for electrical engineering projects, with a focus on the design, development, and testing of advanced electrical and electronic modules and subsystems for defense and commercial applications. This role requires driving innovation, ensuring technical excellence, and guiding projects to meet performance, cost, and schedule objectives. By leveraging their expertise, the Principal Electrical Engineer ensures that all technical and strategic goals align with organizational and customer requirements.

In this capacity, the Principal Electrical Engineer leads the design, optimization, and analysis of electrical system architectures to ensure functionality, reliability, and compliance with project specifications. They oversee project milestones, strategically managing efforts to meet cost and schedule targets while delivering solutions that meet or exceed expectations. Their work spans all phases of the product life cycle, from early feasibility studies and system design to

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of electronic systems, ensuring they meet functional performance, reliability, and compliance requirements.
• Provide technical direction on complex electrical engineering challenges, driving innovative solutions while adhering to safety, regulatory, and industry standards.
• Detail schematic design including power conditioning, signal integrity analysis and high-speed video data transfer. Electrical layout and component placement for size/space claims of high-density PCBs.
• Define/direct/lead product specification conformance and validation testing, data collection, system integration, and debugging.
• Lead the electrical system architecture development and product specification definition / verification.
• Lead architectural design and electrical implementation of FPGA solutions from concept to deployment.
• Design lead responsibility from product concept to production support.
• Mentor and guide less experienced engineers, fostering a culture of collaboration, technical excellence, and proactive problem-solving within the team.
• Serve as a technical representative and liaison of the electrical group, maintaining clear and effective communication with stakeholders, program managers, and external partners.
• Interface with cross-functional teams, including software, mechanical, and systems engineering, to achieve seamless integration and comprehensive solutions.
• Lead the development and execution of detailed test plans to validate the performance and reliability of electrical components and systems.
• Conduct hands-on evaluations of prototypes, troubleshoot performance issues, and implement corrective actions to resolve design deficiencies.
• Ensure rigorous documentation of test results, including analysis and recommendations, to inform design improvements and ensure compliance with project specifications.
• Identify opportunities for technical innovation and design optimization in electronic systems and components.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices to improve the organization's capabilities and competitiveness.
• Promote continuous improvement initiatives by driving process efficiency and ensuring adherence to quality management systems.
• Other tasks as assigned

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:

• BSEE or equivalent with greater than 15 years of electronic HW design and development experience
• Exposure to analog and digital design with mixed signal interface and conversion circuit knowledge and the ability to specify components and/or sub-assemblies
• Experience in designing and testing complex digital systems, including signal processing, memory interfaces, digital video processing and high-speed communication
• Experience in FPGA electrical design and implementation
• Experience with power conversion for high efficiency, high reliability, battery-powered systems
• Experience with high efficiency laser driver topologies covering CW and pulsed lasers
• Experience with PCB layout, packaging, and test of low-noise, mixed-mode circuitry
• Strong design debug and troubleshooting skills with solid hands-on lab experience
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential
• U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain security clearance is required
• Familiarity with working in an ITAR environment
• Strong organization and presentation skills

IDEALLY, YOU’LL ALSO HAVE:

• Experience with high efficiency and high reliability power converters for battery-powered systems
• Familiarity with Altium PCB design software
• Familiarity with image sensor calibrations (thermal and/or visible)
• Previous exposure to Electro-Optics
• Experience with Qualcomm processors or other powerful, energy-efficient System-on-Chips (SoCs) that integrate CPUs, GPUs, and AI engines onto a single chip
• Experience with FPGA firmware development
• Experience in designing military products
• Experience with military standards (i.e. MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461)

TRAVEL: Travel outside the local area may be required

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

EEO STATEMENT & ACCESSIBILITY: 

EOE/AA/M/F/Vets – US Protected Individual status required (US citizen, lawful permanent resident, asylee, refugee or temporary resident (as defined at 8 USC 1160(a).