Principal Electrical Engineer

Job Title: Principal Electrical Engineer

Job Description

This role leads the development, design, system integration, and maintenance of embedded hardware platforms that support space orbital missions, lunar missions, aerospace, and defense projects. The Principal Electrical Engineer drives complex electronic system architectures from concept through deployment, ensuring robust performance in demanding environments. This position provides technical leadership across digital and analog electronics, guides full product lifecycles, and mentors engineering teams while collaborating closely with customers and cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and oversight of microcontroller-operated digital and analog electronic systems for embedded hardware platforms.
• Drive the design of hardware solutions, including architecture definition, circuit design, and detailed review of digital and analog circuitry.
• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for hardware issues, ensuring long-term reliability and performance.
• Oversee packaging, board layout, and design feasibility discussions to ensure manufacturability, reliability, and compliance with project requirements.
• Own new product development from initial requirements definition and system design through parts selection, qualification, documentation, release, and subsequent upgrades.
• Interface directly with customers to clarify and define technical requirements, ensuring that designs meet mission and performance objectives.
• Lead the creation and review of design documentation, test plans, test procedures, and qualification reports for embedded hardware systems.
• Define and support the development of test stands and test setups for validation, verification, and qualification of hardware designs.
• Mentor and guide engineers, providing technical direction, code and design reviews, and knowledge sharing across the team.
• Lead product definition and design review activities, ensuring alignment with quality, cost, schedule, and milestone objectives.
• Apply advanced electrical and software engineering concepts to optimize performance, reliability, and efficiency of electronic systems.
• Perform or oversee worst case circuit analysis to validate design robustness under extreme operating conditions.
• Manage engineering activities using project management methodologies to track progress, mitigate risks, and ensure timely delivery.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including systems, software, and test engineering, to ensure seamless system integration.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering processes, tools, and design practices across the organization.

Essential Skills

• At least 15 years of electronics design experience, including responsibility for complex digital and analog systems.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Strong expertise in analog design, including power electronics, signal conditioning, and precision circuitry.
• Proficiency in schematic capture tools, preferably OrCAD, for creating and maintaining detailed circuit schematics.
• Deep knowledge of microprocessors and microcontrollers used in embedded hardware platforms.
• Experience managing the full product lifecycle from requirements definition through design, testing, qualification, and release.
• Hands-on experience with digital and analog electronics, including design, debug, and validation.
• Capability to perform worst case circuit analysis to ensure design robustness and compliance with mission requirements.
• Knowledge of power devices such as IGBTs, MOSFETs, power drivers, and current sensors.
• Familiarity with A/D and D/A converters and their integration into embedded systems.
• Understanding of DSP concepts, control systems, and digital filters as applied to embedded and power electronics applications.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with customers, leadership, and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in guiding engineering teams and leading technical reviews.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities for complex hardware and system-level challenges.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Advanced electrical and software engineering concepts applied to embedded systems and hardware platforms.
• Experience with schematic capture using OrCAD or similar EDA tools.
• Knowledge of microprocessor-based systems and sensorless motor control applications.
• Familiarity with TCP/IP networking concepts and C/C++ programming is a plus.
• Experience with DSP-based control systems and digital filter implementation.
• Exposure to project management methodologies for planning, tracking, and delivering engineering projects.
• Experience in power supply design and integration within embedded systems.
• Background in aerospace, defense, or space-related hardware development is highly beneficial.
• Ability to mentor and develop less experienced engineers, fostering a collaborative and learning-oriented environment.

Work Environment

This role supports advanced space, lunar, aerospace, and defense programs, working on embedded hardware platforms that operate in demanding and mission-critical environments. The position follows a 9/80 work schedule, offering a compressed workweek that provides regular extended weekends. The work environment emphasizes technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement, with access to modern electronic design automation tools, laboratory test equipment, and hardware integration facilities. Engineers typically work in a combination of office, lab, and integration settings, focusing on design, analysis, testing, and system validation. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package and performance-based bonus eligibility, reflecting a commitment to supporting employees' well-being and recognizing high performance. The culture values innovation, accountability, and teamwork, providing opportunities to lead complex projects and contribute directly to high-impact missions.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Simi Valley, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $180000.00 - $220000.00/yr.

Medical PTO 9/80 schedule

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Simi Valley,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 20, 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.