Senior Staff Electrical Engineer

Senior Staff Electrical Engineer

A confidential employer in Herndon, Virginia, seeks a Senior Staff Electrical Engineer to design and build advanced electro-optical systems for NASA and the DoD. This direct-hire opportunity offers a salary of $150,000–$190,000 plus top benefits and relocation support. If you have deep hardware expertise and want to see your work in action on the lab bench and in the field, this role delivers.

Location: Herndon, Virginia, USA Comp: $150,000 - $190,000 per year Work Style: no_remote

Role Snapshot

Company: Confidential Employer Location: Herndon, Virginia, USA Industry: Aerospace / Defense Degree: Not specified Compensation: $150,000 - $190,000 per year

Opportunity Story

If you want your engineering work to have a direct impact on space exploration and national security, this position puts you at the center of the action. You will join an R&D team in Herndon, Virginia, that is pushing the limits of laser and electro-optical technology for NASA and the Department of Defense. Your designs will not sit on a shelf—they will be tested, refined, and deployed in the field.

You will own the full hardware lifecycle, from circuit board layout and FPGA firmware to cable/harness design and system-level integration. Every project you touch advances our understanding of LIDAR, optical communications, or directed energy systems. You will troubleshoot prototypes in the lab, then take them outside for live experiments, ensuring they perform under real-world conditions.

This role is built for a hands-on senior engineer with a BSEE and a decade or more of real-world hardware experience. You are the person colleagues turn to when a board won't boot or a signal is noisy. You have brought up embedded systems from the ground up and are comfortable with both analog subtleties and digital complexity. U.S. citizenship is required to work on these sensitive programs.

In return, you will earn a salary between $150,000 and $190,000, plus top-tier benefits that recognize your expertise. Relocation assistance is available to help you settle into the Herndon area. You will have the support of a dedicated team and the freedom to make technical decisions, all while maintaining a manageable workload. If you are ready to move beyond incremental improvements and tackle challenges that matter, submit your application today.

Non-Negotiables

• You must hold a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with 10 to 20 years of relevant work experience
• You must have proven experience with circuit board design, integration, and troubleshooting
• You must be comfortable working hands-on in the lab and willing to participate in field tests and experiments
• You must be proficient in using electrical lab equipment as part of embedded system development
• You must be a U.S. citizen due to the nature of the work

What's In It For You

• You will earn a competitive annual salary between $150,000 and $190,000, based on your experience
• The employer offers a top benefits package that supports your health, finances, and work-life balance
• Relocation assistance is provided to help you move to the Herndon, Virginia, area
• You will work on projects that directly impact NASA and DoD missions, pushing the boundaries of electro-optical technology
• You will enjoy a manageable workload with strong support from both your team and senior leadership
• You are empowered to make decisions in your area of expertise and contribute to groundbreaking laser research

Responsibilities

• You will design and build electro-optical systems that advance capabilities for NASA and DoD programs
• You will contribute to the development of laser products within the company's R&D team
• You will handle circuit board development, FPGA and CPU firmware, cable and harness design, and thorough documentation
• You will perform board and system-level integration, testing, and troubleshooting to ensure reliability
• You will manage multiple concurrent projects, balancing quick-turn tasks with extensive long-term initiatives
• You will participate in field tests and experiments to validate and refine system performance

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) is strongly preferred
• Experience developing high-reliability military or space-flight electronics is highly desirable
• Experience with FPGA and CPLD design, simulation, and troubleshooting is a plus
• Experience with embedded CPU or microcontroller firmware development, integration, and troubleshooting is beneficial
• Familiarity with LIDAR systems is an advantage

Role Details & Location

Employment Type: Full Time/Direct Hire Remote Status: no_remote Work Experience: 10 Total Openings: 1 Location String: Herndon, Virginia, USA ZIP: Not specified

Ready for the Next Step?

Apply Today if this role lines up with your background, your goals, and the kind of work you want to own next.