Staff Electrical Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

About Aventra Aventra Defense Systems is a defense technology company developing and delivering autonomous aerial systems for the U.S. government and allied partners. We operate at the intersection of advanced hardware, software, and national security — designing, building, and fielding systems that perform in the world’s most demanding environments.

We are a mission-driven team moving at startup speed with defense-grade accountability. Our programs span contracted deliveries, government demonstrations, and ongoing system development — and our pace reflects the urgency of the problems we’re solving.

Position Overview & Key ResponsibilitiesPosition Overview

Aventra Defense Systems is seeking a junior Electrical Engineer to support the broader electrical engineering team across Piranha subsystems — power distribution, sensor integration, wiring harnesses, and bench-level testing. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who wants broad exposure across the electrical stack rather than deep specialization in one subsystem, working alongside the team's senior/staff EEs on day-to-day design, build, and test tasks. Just imagine seeing your design flying in the stratosphere.

Key ResponsibilitiesElectrical Design & Support

- Turn product requirements documents into reality! 

- Design, build, and test PCBs under the guidance of Senior electrical engineers across a variety of systems. Experience the joy of shipping an idea to the fab house and having it in your hands days later and flying in the air weeks later.

- Build and test prototype circuits. Solder components, use pick-and-place machines, oscilloscopes, VNAs, spectrum analyzers, thermal imaging, and environmental/temperature chambers to make sure your design works.

- Design wiring harnesses, select connectors, and route cables inside complex aircraft and other advanced platforms and capabilities.

- Design and implement tests across a variety of systems and environments. 

- Learn to peer review other engineers' work.

- Conduct trade studies to understand the state of the art and industry best practices.

- Analyze and test RF links for throughput.

Integration & Test

- Support integration of electrical subsystems with mechanical and software teams.

- Assist with flight test instrumentation setup and post-test data collection.

- Help maintain test equipment, fixtures, and lab organization.

- Test your design in the field and watch it fly!

Documentation & Process

- Maintain accurate schematics, BOMs, and design documentation

- Support design review processes and component sourcing research

- Assist with failure analysis on field returns under senior engineer direction

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or related field

- 2-4 years of industry experience in electrical design, test, or integration

- Working knowledge of analog/digital circuit fundamentals and PCB design tools (Altium, KiCad, or equivalent)

- Comfortable in a hands-on lab/bench environment

- US Citizen with ability to obtain and maintain security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries

- Exposure to embedded systems or sensor integration

- Startup or small-company experience

- Familiarity with relevant military standards

Compensation Package 

- Competitive salary commensurate with experience

- Generous health coverage for employee and family, premium fully covered

- 4% 401k match

- PTO and Sick Leave

Travel & Work Environment Travel Requirements

- Travel up to 25% to customer sites and field test locations

- Ability to work in austere field conditions and military operational environments

- Flexibility to support urgent operational requirements and schedule changes

Work Environment 

- In-person role based in Herndon, VA 

- Collaborative environment supporting critical national security missions

- Direct support to warfighter capabilities and mission success

Aventra Defense Systems, Inc is a venture-backed startup building scalable, precision-guided capabilities for the next generation of combat. We are assembling a team of engineers and operators who believe in speed, simplicity, and delivering real capability to the field—not just PowerPoint slides.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.