Electrical Engineer - UAS

T3i Inc.•San Antonio, TX

About The Position

T3i builds mission-critical unmanned systems designed to improve US forces operational and lethal capabilities on the battlefield. Our Blackfoot platform is a tactical FPV drone system engineered for reliability, adaptability, and rapid deployment. We operate in tight feedback loops between design, build, and field use, where hardware decisions directly impact mission outcomes. We are a small, fast-moving team that values ownership, technical depth, and execution. We're looking for an Electrical Engineer (EE) to own the electrical architecture of our drone systems, from concept through production. The EE will design, build, debug, and iterate on complete electrical systems including flight controllers, ESCs, power systems, and RF integration. The EE will work hands-on at the bench, in integration, and in-flight testing, closing the loop between design and real-world performance. The EE will be responsible for the design, integration, testing, and continuous improvement of unmanned aircraft system electronics supporting the Blackfoot platform. This role emphasizes hands-on development, rapid iteration, and system-level ownership across the full hardware lifecycle. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments, is comfortable working across hardware and firmware boundaries, and contributes to building reliable, field-ready systems.

Requirements

3–7 years of hands-on electrical engineering experience
Proven experience building and debugging real hardware systems
Strong PCB design experience (multi-layer, mixed-signal, power electronics)
Deep understanding of embedded systems and communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, PWM)
Experience with drone systems, robotics, or similar embedded platforms
Comfortable working with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, etc.)
Experience troubleshooting across hardware, firmware, and system integration boundaries
Ability to operate independently and take ownership of ambiguous problems

Nice To Haves

Experience with flight controllers and FPV drone ecosystems
ESC design or motor control experience (BLDC/FOC)
RF system integration (ELRS, Crossfire, telemetry links, video systems)
Experience taking hardware from prototype to production
Familiarity with EMI/EMC mitigation and power integrity design
Scripting or programming (C/C++/Python) for debugging or automation
Experience working in fast-paced R&D or defense environments

Responsibilities

Own electrical system design across flight controllers, ESCs, and power distribution
Design and bring up multi-layer PCBs for high-performance drone systems
Architect and integrate embedded electronics: MCUs, IMUs, GPS, RF links, and sensors
Debug hardware issues at the system level (power, EMI/EMC, signal integrity, RF)
Work directly with firmware engineers to define and validate hardware/software interfaces
Integrate and tune flight controller stacks (Betaflight, PX4, ArduPilot, etc.)
Design and validate BLDC motor control systems and ESC architectures
Build, test, and iterate hardware rapidly using real-world feedback
Support environmental and flight testing (vibration, thermal, field use)
Drive designs from prototype through production (DFM, test procedures, build improvements)
Evaluate new components and technologies and make practical implementation decisions