Senior Electrical Engineer

Delta Black Aerospace Inc•McKinney, TX

About The Position

This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Electrical Engineer to play a key role in the development of our next-generation UAV platforms. You will take ownership of the electronics hardware and avionics for a clean sheet UAV platform, with responsibilities including: Design, development, integration, testing, and ongoing support of VTOL UAV hybrid power distribution and avionics systems Sourcing, qualifying, and integrating commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and custom avionics components Architecture and implementation of low- and high-voltage/current systems, including high-voltage battery interfaces, ESCs, and power management units Electrical thermal analysis of high-power components to ensure safe operation under worst-case environmental and loading conditions Designing new printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) for long-range VTOL hybrid UAV Developing cost-effective and reliable interconnect solutions Refining existing designs for improved reliability, usability, and maintainability Collaborating with procurement to ensure timely component delivery Performing make-vs-buy assessments and overseeing outsourced engineering efforts Defining system and component-level requirements Creating and executing test procedures to verify and validate your designs, at the prototype stage and in production Ensuring compliance with internal, regulatory, and customer requirements Supporting and/or leading root cause analysis (RCA) activities Developing leadership skills as a senior member of the engineering team

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and 10+ years of experience (a plus)
Demonstrated experience in the design and analysis of low- and high-voltage/current electrical systems, including insulation, creepage/clearance, and thermal considerations
Experience conducting electrical thermal analysis to ensure cooling, enclosure, and heat dissipation requirements are met
Proficiency with ECAD design tools for PCB development, including schematics, layout, aerospace standards, and troubleshooting
Ability to design manufacturable, reliable, lightweight, tightly packaged and cost-effective PCBAs, peripherals and cable and wire assemblies
Experience designing and testing power distribution architectures on UAV platforms
Experience integrating avionics, datalink, and payload subsystems on UAV platforms
Knowledge of electric propulsion, electronic speed controllers, and battery systems, as well as integrating ICE engines and power management of charging systems
Understanding of RF and datalink hardware selection, analysis, integration, and testing
Familiarity with lab equipment like multimeters, oscilloscopes, and network analyzers
Working knowledge of embedded communication protocols (including CAN), avionics components, autonomous systems, and rapid manufacturing tools
Strong understanding of design methodologies for reliability, usability, and manufacturability
Excellent communication skills across all levels (internal/external)
Understanding of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and mitigation techniques
Experience with embedded software/firmware development (preferred)

Nice To Haves

Enthusiastic and responsible team player with a meticulous attention to detail
Strong work ethic and ability to manage demanding projects
Thrives in a fast-paced, safety-critical environment with a focus on quality
Excellent communication skills across disciplines, leadership, and external contacts
Self-motivated and independent with a positive and collaborative approach
Experience in aerospace electronics preferred, with mechatronics experience also considered
Curiosity and self-motivation to understand how electronics affect other aspects of the RPAS such as mechanical packaging, weight budget, manufacturing costs and user experience

Responsibilities

Design, development, integration, testing, and ongoing support of VTOL UAV hybrid power distribution and avionics systems
Sourcing, qualifying, and integrating commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and custom avionics components
Architecture and implementation of low- and high-voltage/current systems, including high-voltage battery interfaces, ESCs, and power management units
Electrical thermal analysis of high-power components to ensure safe operation under worst-case environmental and loading conditions
Designing new printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) for long-range VTOL hybrid UAV
Developing cost-effective and reliable interconnect solutions
Refining existing designs for improved reliability, usability, and maintainability
Collaborating with procurement to ensure timely component delivery
Performing make-vs-buy assessments and overseeing outsourced engineering efforts
Defining system and component-level requirements
Creating and executing test procedures to verify and validate your designs, at the prototype stage and in production
Ensuring compliance with internal, regulatory, and customer requirements
Supporting and/or leading root cause analysis (RCA) activities
Developing leadership skills as a senior member of the engineering team