Principal Electrical Engineer

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. • Billerica, MA

40d • $149,988 - $191,652 • Hybrid

About The Position

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer for their Billerica, MA office. This role involves performing electrical design for small, lightweight, helmet-mounted display equipment. The engineer will be part of a design team, utilizing advanced electrical engineering principles to create detailed designs in Altium, support prototype builds and testing, manage bills of materials, and provide supplier support. The ideal candidate will also lead project meetings and oversee product development from inception to production handoff.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• BSEE/MSEE in Electrical Engineering.
• 8+ years of experience in detailed circuit card design (board-level schematic design and capture), analysis and test.
• Extensive lab experience required- including hands-on design optimization, bringing boards up, and testing prototype/production designs.
• Digital design experience should include circuit card assemblies containing: PSoCs, Microprocessors, FPGAs/CPLDs, CODECs, USB drivers/switches and HUBs, RS-232/RS-485 drivers and switches, Low-EMI clocks/distribution (14.4MHz - 48MHz).
• Ability to analyze a design to meet technical requirements.
• Experience with DoD standards and practices (MIL-STD, ASTM, ANSI, DO-160 etc.).
• Proficiency in the use of schematic capture tools, ideally Altium Designer, Siemens/Mentor Xpedition, or OrCAD.
• Experience with Microsoft Office tools, such as, MSExcel, MSWord, Visio and MSProject.
• Strong communication skills both verbal and written.
• Ability to comply with all Company guidelines, policies, procedures and embrace Company Core Values.

Responsibilities

• Lead small digital engineering teams and/or work independently to define requirements, conceive, document (create schematics, interface control documents, hardware design documents, test plans/reports, etc.), analyze/simulate, build prototypes, oversee PCB layouts, perform verification testing, debug, and optimize digital circuit designs to meet requirements at the circuit, card, and product levels.
• Perform technical trade studies and analyses to select digital architecture and key components.
• Design, simulate, analyze and test a variety of analog and digital circuits and components commonly used in helmet mounted display equipment.
• Create electronic circuit schematics and lead PCB design/layout activities.
• Create documentation to manufacture printed wiring assemblies (PWAs) and transition designs to manufacturing.
• Write technical documents: test procedures, test datasheets, technical memoranda.
• Mentor and provide technical oversite to junior engineers.
• Verify product performance vs. predictions for prototype products and production hardware products.
• Develop detailed design specifications, test plans and test procedures.
• Analyze product failure data and malfunction testing trends, troubleshoot yield issues, and recommend product improvements, including test improvements.
• Participates in continuous improvement and team building activities. Maintains productive working relationships with all team members.
• Generate documentation for programming individual components, loading firmware on circuit card assemblies and loading firmware into fully assembled products.
• Effectively troubleshoot problems (define problem, collect data/facts, and draw conclusions), and implement solutions.
• Identify alternate components and perform qualification testing in order to replace obsolete components.
• Plan, design and manage PWB re-layout activities in order to replace obsolete components.
• Support test yield improvement activities in a manufacturing environment.
• Act as liaison between manufacturing diagnostic technicians and engineers on existing products and during transfer of new products manufacturing.
• Evaluate the effects of modified firmware on existing hardware platforms.
• Support R&D efforts and continuous process improvements.
• Complete assigned tasks in a quality and timely manner with minimal supervision.
• Effectively support and communicate to management status, issues, needs and ideas.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Yearly Incentive Compensation Plan
• Medical insurance for self and eligible family members
• Generous 401(k) program- up to 7% company contribution and 100% immediate vesting
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave
• Paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal