Senior Electrical Engineer | Pay: $60 - $80/hr | Onsite in Herndon, VA | 9-month contract-to-hire

Job Description

This Electrical Engineer role focuses on designing and building advanced electro-optical systems that support cutting-edge laser and lidar applications for aerospace, NASA, and DoD programs. You will join an R&D team in Herndon, VA and contribute to the development, verification, and enhancement of laser products, working across both short-term and long-term projects. The position offers a collaborative, innovation-driven environment where you are empowered to make decisions in your area of expertise, supported by a manageable workload, strong team collaboration, and accessible Senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electronics for advanced electro-optical systems used in laser, lidar, and laser communication applications.
• Lead circuit board development activities, including schematic design, layout support, and design reviews for high-reliability aerospace and defense systems.
• Develop, verify, and upgrade firmware for FPGA and CPU-based embedded systems, ensuring robust performance and compatibility with electro-optical hardware.
• Create and refine cable and harness designs to support system-level integration of lasers, lidars, and related electronics.
• Perform board-level and system-level integration and testing, including bring-up, validation, and troubleshooting of complex electronic assemblies.
• Use electrical lab equipment extensively to support embedded system development, characterization, and performance optimization.
• Participate hands-on in field tests and experiments, supporting deployment, data collection, and evaluation of electro-optical systems in operational environments.
• Document designs, test procedures, test results, and system configurations to ensure traceability, repeatability, and compliance with project requirements.
• Work on multiple concurrent projects, balancing small, quick-turn efforts with more extensive, long-term development programs.
• Collaborate closely with R&D team members and Senior leadership to define requirements, review designs, and drive continuous improvement of laser and lidar products.
• Support troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for electronic and firmware issues encountered during lab testing, field experiments, and system operation.
• Contribute technical expertise to proposals, design trade studies, and technology roadmaps related to advanced laser and lidar systems.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with 15+ years of applicable work experience.
• Extensive experience with circuit board design, integration, and troubleshooting for complex electronic systems.
• Strong hands-on capability and willingness to work directly with hardware, including participation in field tests and experiments.
• Proficiency using electrical lab equipment as part of embedded system development, testing, and validation.
• Experience with PCB design workflows and tools, including platforms such as Altium.
• Ability to manage and contribute to both short-term and long-term engineering projects in a fast-paced R&D environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to diagnose and resolve issues at both board and system levels.
• Effective communication skills for documenting work, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and presenting technical findings.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience developing high-reliability military and/or space-flight electronics.
• Experience with FPGA and CPLD design, including simulation, integration, and troubleshooting of programmable logic devices.
• Experience with embedded CPU and microcontroller firmware development, integration, and troubleshooting.
• Background working with lidar systems or related electro-optical sensing technologies.
• Familiarity with advanced fiber and bulk solid-state laser systems.
• Comfort operating in a research and development environment that supports NASA and DoD programs.
• Ability to thrive in a culture that values innovation, professional challenge, and continuous learning.

Work Environment

The role is based in a modern, approximately 50,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility that supports advanced laser and lidar development. The environment includes 34 Class IV laser firing labs, electronics labs, wet labs, optical receiver labs, chemical labs, and a NASA-certified in-house printed circuit board assembly lab, providing extensive hands-on access to cutting-edge technologies and equipment. The culture emphasizes i