Sr Electrical Engineer I

Your Impact:Dedrone stands out as the global leader in airspace defense technology and counter UAS solutions. Engineering at Dedrone is tasked with delivering innovative solutions and products to maintain our position on the cutting-edge of innovation.Sr. Electrical Engineers at Dedrone have full design ownership over next‑generation cUAS technology from conceptualization through production, and their work is highly visible to senior executives. Our passionate leadership and cross‑functional collaboration with product managers, mechanical engineers, industrial designers, and manufacturing teams is vital to the success of the team and ensuring the safety of the general public for generations to come.This role emphasizes electrical system architecture, PCB design, firmware integration, RF and power systems, and system‑level verification. The ideal candidate will have strong hands‑on experience with schematic capture, PCB layout, mixed‑signal design, embedded firmware, and designing for rugged/regulated environments.Location: Onsite at our offices in Sterling, VAWhat You'll Do:

Lead electrical system and subsystem development from concept through production, ensuring designs meet safety, EMC, and reliability standards.
Define electrical architectures for sensors, radios, power distribution, and control electronics for cUAS platforms.
Design and review schematics and perform PCB layout for mixed‑signal and RF boards; partner with mechanical for packaging and thermal constraints.
Develop, validate, and optimize power systems (battery management, DC/DC, power sequencing) and ensure robust operation under shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures.
Implement and integrate embedded firmware for real‑time control, sensor fusion, communications stacks, and boot/load mechanisms.
Perform hardware bring‑up, debugging, and system integration; use lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers) to characterize performance.
Conduct electrical analysis including signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation, thermal considerations, and reliability testing.
Produce high‑fidelity prototypes and iterate quickly to qualify designs; develop test plans and lead verification and validation activities.
Collaborate regularly with domestic and international stakeholders across engineering, product, and manufacturing teams.
Rigorously document and manage electrical design specifications, BOMs, firmware releases, test reports, and compliance evidence (e.g., EMC, safety).

What You Bring:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
Proven experience in electrical design and system integration for complex hardware products—ideally in aerospace, defense, robotics, or wireless systems.
Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium, OrCAD, KiCad) and experience with DFM/DFX practices.
Strong embedded firmware experience in C/C++ (RTOS and bare‑metal), bootloaders, and hardware abstraction layers; familiarity with microcontrollers (ARM Cortex family, ESP32, STM32) and single‑board computers (Raspberry Pi) a plus.
Hands‑on experience with RF front‑ends, antenna integration, and familiarity with wireless protocols relevant to cUAS (Wi‑Fi, LTE, custom radios); experience with spectrum analysis and RF test equipment.
Expertise in power electronics design: battery management systems, DC/DC converters, power sequencing, and thermal management for electronics.
Solid understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation techniques, and relevant test/qualification methods.
Experience with schematic/PCB review processes, design reviews, and partner manufacturing to move designs to production.
Familiarity with MIL‑STD, DO‑178/DO‑254 concepts or other ruggedization and regulatory requirements for defense or industrial hardware is preferred.
Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities; comfort debugging at the board and system level.
Excellent communication skills to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and present technical tradeoffs to stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment with high levels of ambiguity.

Work Location

This role is based out of either our Sterling, VA office, and follows a hybrid schedule. We rely on in-person collaboration and ask that team members work onsite Tuesdays through Fridays, with the flexibility to work remotely on Mondays, unless there is an approved workplace accommodation. We believe that connection fuels innovation, and our in-office culture is designed to foster meaningful teamwork, mentorship, and shared success.Benefits that Benefit You

Competitive salary and 401k with employer match
Discretionary paid time off
Paid parental leave for all
Medical, Dental, Vision plans
Fitness Programs
Emotional & Mental Wellness support
Learning & Development programs
And yes, we have snacks in our offices

Benefits listed herein may vary depending on the nature of your employment and the location where you work

Details

Location

Sterling, VA, USA

Lead electrical system and subsystem development from concept through production, ensuring designs meet safety, EMC, and reliability standards.
Define electrical architectures for sensors, radios, power distribution, and control electronics for cUAS platforms.
Design and review schematics and perform PCB layout for mixed‑signal and RF boards; partner with mechanical for packaging and thermal constraints.
Develop, validate, and optimize power systems (battery management, DC/DC, power sequencing) and ensure robust operation under shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures.
Implement and integrate embedded firmware for real‑time control, sensor fusion, communications stacks, and boot/load mechanisms.
Perform hardware bring‑up, debugging, and system integration; use lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers) to characterize performance.
Conduct electrical analysis including signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation, thermal considerations, and reliability testing.
Produce high‑fidelity prototypes and iterate quickly to qualify designs; develop test plans and lead verification and validation activities.
Collaborate regularly with domestic and international stakeholders across engineering, product, and manufacturing teams.
Rigorously document and manage electrical design specifications, BOMs, firmware releases, test reports, and compliance evidence (e.g., EMC, safety).

What You Bring:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
Proven experience in electrical design and system integration for complex hardware products—ideally in aerospace, defense, robotics, or wireless systems.
Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium, OrCAD, KiCad) and experience with DFM/DFX practices.
Strong embedded firmware experience in C/C++ (RTOS and bare‑metal), bootloaders, and hardware abstraction layers; familiarity with microcontrollers (ARM Cortex family, ESP32, STM32) and single‑board computers (Raspberry Pi) a plus.
Hands‑on experience with RF front‑ends, antenna integration, and familiarity with wireless protocols relevant to cUAS (Wi‑Fi, LTE, custom radios); experience with spectrum analysis and RF test equipment.
Expertise in power electronics design: battery management systems, DC/DC converters, power sequencing, and thermal management for electronics.
Solid understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation techniques, and relevant test/qualification methods.
Experience with schematic/PCB review processes, design reviews, and partner manufacturing to move designs to production.
Familiarity with MIL‑STD, DO‑178/DO‑254 concepts or other ruggedization and regulatory requirements for defense or industrial hardware is preferred.
Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities; comfort debugging at the board and system level.
Excellent communication skills to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and present technical tradeoffs to stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment with high levels of ambiguity.

Work Location

Competitive salary and 401k with employer match
Discretionary paid time off
Paid parental leave for all
Medical, Dental, Vision plans
Fitness Programs
Emotional & Mental Wellness support
Learning & Development programs
And yes, we have snacks in our offices

Benefits listed herein may vary depending on the nature of your employment and the location where you work