Electrical Engineer I

Job Description

Job Description

Electrical EngineerAbout Orion Edge

We are an agile, early-stage startup in a rapid growth phase, developing next-generation electronic warfare (EW) and digital disruption equipment. Our mission is to deliver cutting-edge capabilities to the modern warfighter at speed. Orion Edge is currently delivering systems to the US Army and USSOCOM, and we are scaling quickly to support the broader Department of Defense (DoD). If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your work directly impacts national security and you have the opportunity to scale your career with a growing company, you belong here.

Position Overview

As an Electrical Engineer at Orion Edge, you will take complete ownership of the hardware that powers our digital disruption and electronic warfare systems. You will drive the physical design of our products from initial block diagram and architecture through schematic capture, high-speed PCB layout, fabrication, assembly, and rigorous lab validation.

This role demands a combination of strong theoretical foundations-particularly in power delivery and signal integrity-and hands-on laboratory skill. If you are a self-directed engineer who loves to design, bring up, and debug complex, mixed-signal hardware, you will thrive in this role.

This position requires U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering field.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End PCB Design: Own the complete hardware lifecycle, transforming system concepts into fully routed, fabricated, and validated PCBAs.

• Power & Signal Integrity: Design robust power distribution networks (PDN) and implement advanced signal integrity techniques for high-speed digital and analog circuits.

• Component Selection: Evaluate and select critical components, balancing performance, physical footprint, lead times, cost, and lifecycle status.

• Hands-on Bring-Up & Validation: Lead board bring-up efforts, run methodical hardware verification tests, and troubleshoot complex electrical issues in the lab.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Partner closely with mechanical engineers on packaging constraints, firmware/FPGA engineers on hardware-software interfaces, and system engineers to ensure mission success.

Required Skills & Experience

• Altium Designer Expertise: Expert-level proficiency in Altium Designer, including disciplined library management, consistent design practices, well-organized schematics, and structured revision control.

• Full-Lifecycle PCB Ownership: Proven track record of taking complex boards from architecture and schematic capture through layout, fabrication, assembly, and bench verification.

• Power Delivery Network (PDN) Design: Strong capability in designing switching regulators, LDOs, power trees, decoupling strategies, and power plane layouts, with the ability to validate load transients, ripple, thermal constraints, and supply sequencing.

• Signal & Power Integrity Fundamentals: Deep understanding of return path management, stackup design, controlled impedance, grounding strategy, and noise mitigation.

• Mixed-Signal Layout: Experience layout out mixed-signal designs, including fine-pitch components and BGA packages (fanout, via strategies, and escape routing).

• Hands-on Lab Skills: Proficient in soldering and reworking fine-pitch components, performing board bring-up, and systematically debugging hardware issues.

• Bench Instrumentation: Masterful use of standard lab equipment, including oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, programmable power supplies, electronic loads, and signal generators.

• Hardware-Firmware Integration: Working knowledge of embedded systems and serial communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C) sufficient to support initial peripheral bring-up.

• Autonomy: Demonstrated ability to work independently, take technical ownership, and drive hardware designs from concept to fully functional systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• RF Circuit Design: Experience designing RF circuitry up to 6 GHz, including familiarity with RF laminate materials (e.g., Rogers), transmission line design, matching networks, and RF layout best practices.

• High-Speed & RF Simulation: Experience utilizing simulation tools (such as Ansys HFSS, Keysight ADS, or HyperLynx) and characterization using vector network analyzers (VNAs).

• DFM/DFA: Strong familiarity with Design for Manufacturability and Design for Assembly, with experience directly engaging fabrication and assembly vendors to resolve layout questions (DQs).

• EMI/EMC Compliance: Solid understanding of electromagnetic interference mitigation techniques and experience with pre-compliance testing.

• Sourcing Compliance: Familiarity with defense-specific compliance, sourcing, and supply-chain requirements (e.g., country-of-origin, NDAA/TAA guidelines).

• Altium 365: Experience administering or working within Altium 365 managed workspaces for version control and library management.

Professional Attributes

• Self-Directed & Accountable: You have a bias for action and a proven ability to run with a design, solve unexpected blockers, and drive projects to the finish line.

• Methodical Thinker: You approach debugging and verification with an analytical mindset, tracking down the root cause of failures rather than settling for quick fixes.

• Meticulous Documenter: You maintain exceptionally clear schematics, design notes, test reports, and engineering change records.

• Collaborative Partner: You communicate seamlessly across engineering disciplines, working closely with mechanical, firmware, and systems teams to build a cohesive product.

• Detail-Oriented: You hold yourself and your work to high standards, ensuring quality, consistency, and repeatability in every design.