Aircraft Electrical Interconnect (EWIS) Lead

Redwire Defense Tech•San Luis Obispo, CA

11d•$132,000 - $195,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Aircraft Electrical Interconnect (EWIS) Lead functions as a system-level technical leader responsible for architecting, designing, integrating, and validating electrical interconnect across multiple UAS platforms. This role defines electrical architecture, guides subsystem trade studies, ensures seamless cross-discipline integration, and provides deep subject-matter expertise in avionics, power systems, harnessing, and communication networks. This role leads and supervises the team defining interconnect, balancing signal integrity, physical robustness, mass, and manufacturability of harnessing and related interfaces. The EWIS Lead drives high-impact technical decisions, leads multi-disciplinary investigations, supports major program milestones, and ensures that electrical interconnect designs meet safety, reliability, manufacturability, and sustainment requirements. This role represents electrical engineering in strategic discussions, mentors teams across levels, and plays a key role in developing long-term technology standards and roadmaps. This role also supervises the team of engineers and specialists responsible for delivery of released design and support.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field required, or equivalent experience delivering electrical interconnect designs to production in mass sensitive applications
5+ years of progressive experience in electrical, avionics, or embedded hardware development.
Demonstrated leadership of small engineering/specialist teams.
Experience supporting full product lifecycle: concept → prototype → test → flight → production.
Generate and maintain wiring schematics, connector pinouts, and harness assembly drawings using CAD tools.
Coordinate with manufacturing, test, and quality teams to ensure harness manufacturability, testability, and reliability.
Deep expertise with avionics integration, power systems, harness architecture, and communication interfaces.
Advanced proficiency with Altium Designer or equivalent schematic tools.
Strong knowledge of interconnect design principles, signal integrity, shielding, physical robustness, and environmental qualification constraints.
Expert-level troubleshooting using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and advanced diagnostic equipment.
Sound technical judgment and ability to navigate ambiguity in complex system designs.
Strong communication skills, capable of influencing decisions and presenting to engineering leadership.
Demonstrated leadership mentoring engineers across multiple levels and disciplines.
Strong ownership, accountability, and bias toward resolving high-impact issues.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading interconnect design for full avionics and power systems.
Hands-on experience with environmental qualification tests (DO-160, MIL-STD-810).
Cross-site or multi-program technical leadership experience.
Experience defining automated test architectures, Python/LabVIEW scripting, or hardware test frameworks.
Strong command of communication protocols such as CAN, Ethernet, MIPI, RS-422/485, and UAV-specific data buses.
Advanced proficiency with Altium Designer.
Ability to shape engineering standards, guidelines, and design methodologies across teams.
Strong ability to coordinate with external partners, customers, and certification authorities.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate emerging technologies and guide long-term product evolution.

Responsibilities

Design and develop complex wire harnesses, including signal, power, data, and RF lines for UAS systems.
Evaluate complex design trade-offs involving prformance, reliability, environmental constraints, cost, manufacturability, and qualification requirements.
Develop and maintain bills of materials (BOMs) and support release of drawings into the product lifecycle system.
Lead high-impact troubleshooting efforts, root-cause analyses, and technical investigations that affect aircraft safety or mission performance.
Coordinate with software, GNC, mechanical, test, and production teams to ensure seamless electrical integration throughout the product lifecycle.
Champion electrical engineering best practices, standards, and review processes across multiple programs and sites.
Represent electrical engineering during major program reviews (CoDR, PDR, CDR, TRR), providing expert-level insight and recommendations.
Mentor and supervise more junior electrical engineers, supporting their technical development and execution.
Support supplier management, component selection, and assessment of new technologies relevant to future UAS platforms.
Drive continuous improvement efforts for test methods, documentation standards, workflow efficiency, and integration strategies.