Electrical Engineer

Job Title: Electrical Engineer

Job Description

The Electrical Engineer will be responsible for hardware design work, conducting root cause investigations, performing worst-case analysis, assessing electrical derating performance, supporting hardware-software integration, and enhancing manufacturing scalability for an electromechanical propulsion product. This product involves components such as motors, motor drivers, solenoids, sensors, and power electronics up to 300 watts.

Responsibilities

This individual will be responsible for the electrical design, rigorous analysis, test, and integration of propulsion-subsystem electronics from concept to production, while ensuring alignment with strategic business goals. The engineer will also be involved in managing key vendor relationships, and ensuring performance, thermal management, and reliability in our cutting-edge propulsion technologies.

• Full Cycle PCB Design: Translate system-level propulsion requirements into robust designs. Perform schematic capture and high-density PCB layouts (with a strong preference for Altium), component selection, bring-up, test, debug, and integration with the propulsion system.

• Engine System Electronics: Design and optimize flight controller circuits, power distribution/supplies, motor controller circuits, and electromagnetic actuator circuits.

• Rigorous Analysis: Conduct circuit simulations, worst-case analysis (WCA), thermal analysis, DFMEA, and component derating to ensure reliability under extreme vibration and temperature environments.

• Comprehensive Testing: Lead board bring-ups, Design Verification Testing (DVT), qualification (Qual) testing, and functional testing.

• Collaborative Design: Provide electrical support and collaborate closely with mechanical, thermal, software, test, quality, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams for development.

• Peer Reviews: Conduct peer-level and cross-discipline design reviews.

• Root Cause Analysis: Perform root cause and failure analysis in support of engine test and field operations.

Essential Skills

• Education & Experience: Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with 5+ years of experience designing, testing, and troubleshooting complex board designs.

• Technical Fundamentals: Solid engineering fundamentals across Analog, Digital, and Power Electronics.

• Software & Tools: Deep proficiency with electronic design tools, specifically Altium Designer (or equivalent for schematic and layout) and LTSpice (or equivalent for circuit simulation).

• Laboratory Equipment: Competence with laboratory test equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, thermal chambers, spectrum analyzers, function generators, DMMs, electronic loads, power supplies, and test automation.

• Interfaces & Protocols: Familiarity with standard interfaces (CAN, I2C, SPI, Ethernet) and common MCU/CPU architectures.

• Security Clearance: Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE).

• Experience designing power electronics up to 300 watts.

Work Environment

The role supports Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) programs. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to multiple propulsion-based programs.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Costa Mesa, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $89.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Costa Mesa,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 12, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.