Lead Electrical Engineer (UAV/UAS)

Job Description

Job Description

Ideal Aerosmith is a leading supplier of precision inertial guidance test systems, flight motion simulators, innovative defense solutions in support of the warfighter, and a premier provider of aerospace test engineering services, ATE system engineering, and quality contract manufacturing services to the aerospace industry. We're experts and we earn that title everyday with our customers through innovative engineering, manufacturing, and sustainment of world-class motion and electric test solutions and services. 

Here, we don’t just solve complex problems - we redefine what’s possible. Every role at Ideal Aerosmith supports a lean culture through continuous improvement - ongoing, incremental enhancements to products, processes, or services aimed at reducing waste and boosting efficiency, customer service, and performance. With a team of skilled problem solvers and a culture that thrives on tackling challenges head-on, we are dedicated to our clients' success. Enjoy competitive benefits, a supportive work environment, and every other Friday off to recharge.

The Lead Electrical Engineer will provide hands-on technical leadership for the design, integration, and performance of complex electrical systems supporting Ideal Aerosmith’s unmanned platforms, including UAVs and USVs. We’re building the next generation of unmanned systems for the warfighter and are looking for an experienced electrical engineer who enjoys building things and still wants to work directly with hardware.

This role will help guide the electrical team and make system-level technical decisions while remaining directly involved in design, build, integration, testing, and troubleshooting. You might spend one day working through a power-distribution architecture and the next tracking down a noisy CAN bus, reviewing a circuit board, building a test harness, or troubleshooting an aircraft before flight test.

We value engineers who are naturally curious, work well across mechanical, software, manufacturing, supply chain, and flight-test teams, and can make sound decisions in a fast-moving development environment. If you want real technical ownership, interesting hardware, and the chance to see your work built, tested, and flown, this could be a great fit.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of UAV and USV electrical architectures, including power distribution, avionics, communications, controls, sensors, and payload integration.
• Own and guide end-to-end electrical system architecture, including power, data, RF, and control interfaces.
• Serve as a lead electrical system integrator across internal subsystems, external vendors, and program partners.
• Define and manage electrical interfaces and documentation, including ICDs, schematics, wiring diagrams, pinouts, BOMs, electrical specifications, test plans, and configuration-controlled design data.
• Lead system-level trade studies involving power budgets, bandwidth, thermal impacts, reliability, EMI/EMC, scalability, and cost.
• Design, review, debug, and redesign electrical circuits and printed circuit boards as needed to support development and integration.
• Support electrical systems involving BLDC motors and motor controllers, battery systems, chargers, battery management systems (BMS), cell-balancing circuits, DC/DC converters, MOSFET switching, power distribution, and protection circuits.
• Integrate and troubleshoot embedded systems and communications interfaces, including CAN, UART, SPI, Ethernet, microcontrollers, flight computers, radios, sensors, and payloads.
• Lead grounding, shielding, EMI/EMC, and transient-protection design and mitigation efforts, including resolution of issues identified during integration, pre-compliance testing, formal testing, and flight test.
• Perform hands-on electrical integration, system bring-up, checkout, and troubleshooting during prototype builds, ground testing, and flight testing using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, current probes, and other electrical test equipment.
• Provide technical direction, design reviews, and mentoring to electrical engineers and other technical team members without direct people-management responsibility.
• Drive component-selection decisions with consideration for performance, reliability, availability, manufacturability, scalability, and cost.
• Partner cross-functionally with mechanical, software, manufacturing, supply chain, systems, and flight-test teams to resolve integration issues and support program execution.
• Support development and execution of verification and validation plans, including environmental and performance testing.
• Support transition from prototype to production, including design for manufacturability, cost optimization, documentation maturity, and resolution of production issues.
• Contribute to program reviews, risk assessments, technical decision-making, engineering standards, design practices, and continuous improvement efforts.

Qualification Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field. Master's degree preferred. 
• 10+ years of electrical engineering experience involving complex electromechanical systems; aerospace, UAV, robotics, vehicle, or similar systems experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a technical lead or senior technical contributor on complex electrical development and integration efforts.
• Experience with avionics, power systems, communications, embedded systems, controls, and sensor integration.
• Experience working in a fast-paced R&D, prototyping, or new-product development environment 
• Ability to travel (domestic and internationally).
• Must have valid driver’s license and ability to obtain a passport.
• Due to federal contract requirements applicable to this position, candidates must be U.S. citizens.

Skill Requirements 

• Advanced knowledge of electrical system architecture, power distribution, grounding, shielding, EMI/EMC, and transient protection.
• Strong hands-on experience designing, reviewing, debugging, and troubleshooting circuits, PCBs, wiring, harnesses, and integrated electrical systems.
• Experience with BLDC motors and motor controllers, battery systems, chargers, BMSs, DC/DC converters, MOSFET switching, power distribution, and protection circuits.
• Experience with avionics systems, radios, antennas, flight computers, sensors, payloads, and embedded electrical integration.
• Strong understanding of serial and network communications protocols, including UART, CAN, SPI, and Ethernet.
• Proficiency with electrical CAD and analysis tools and the ability to create and review schematics, wiring diagrams, ICDs, pinouts, BOMs, and test documentation.
• Proven ability to lead system-level design, integration, bring-up, and troubleshooting efforts.
• Strong understanding of cross-disciplinary system integration across electrical, mechanical, software, controls, manufacturing, and flight-test functions.
• Ability to provide technical mentorship, influence engineering decisions, and help other engineers succeed.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced development environment.
• Practical curiosity and a hands-on mindset; experience building, modifying, repairing, or troubleshooting complex hardware is valued.
• Experience with engine EFI, motor drives, starter-generators, high-energy battery systems, aircraft electrical systems, or flight testing is a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Must have the ability to lift and/or carry 45 lbs.
• Ability to work for extended periods at computer workstation/keyboard.
• Ability to type accurately and efficiently.
• The position will require walking, standing, squatting, crouching, stooping, lifting, climbing, pulling, pushing, sitting, repetitive motion and kneeling.

Salary Range: $140,000-190,000 Annually  

This salary range represents a good faith estimate of the base compensation for this position. Actual base compensation will be determined based on multiple factors, including location, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s qualifications, internal equity, experience, education, skills, and prevailing market conditions. In exceptional cases, compensation above this range may be considered based on experience, skills, or business needs.

This position is eligible for a discretionary annual performance bonus based on individual and company performance. Overtime eligibility, if applicable, will be determined in accordance with federal and state law.

Ideal Aerosmith additionally offers a comprehensive benefits program, which includes health, dental, vision, and voluntary benefits; 401K with company match; company-paid holidays; every other Friday off; and paid time off for vacation and personal time.

Ideal Aerosmith is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our goal is to create a work environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion, where all employees feel respected and valued. We encourage applications from all qualified  individuals and strive to provide equal employment opportunities to everyone.