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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Electrical Engineer

💰 $85,000 - $150,000

EngineeringElectrical EngineeringHardware DevelopmentManufacturingProduct Design

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a dynamic and detail-oriented Electrical Engineer to take a central role in our product development lifecycle. In this pivotal position, you will be responsible for the end-to-end design, analysis, and validation of electrical systems and components for our next-generation products. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, firmware, and software engineers to bring cutting-edge concepts to life. The ideal candidate is a hands-on problem-solver with a passion for creating robust, reliable, and manufacturable hardware solutions that push the boundaries of technology.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Electrical Engineer
  • Electrical Engineering Intern / Co-op
  • Electronics Technician

Advancement To:

  • Senior or Principal Electrical Engineer
  • Hardware Engineering Manager
  • Technical Project Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Systems Engineer
  • Firmware Engineer
  • Test Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the design, development, and testing of complex electrical systems, printed circuit board assemblies (PCBs), and components from initial concept through mass production.
  • Create and maintain detailed electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and comprehensive Bill of Materials (BOMs) using advanced EDA tools like Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or similar.
  • Perform rigorous circuit analysis, simulation (e.g., SPICE), and tolerance analysis to ensure designs are robust, reliable, and meet all performance specifications.
  • Drive the full product development lifecycle, including conceptualization, prototyping, validation, and transition to manufacturing, incorporating DFM (Design for Manufacturability) and DFT (Design for Testability) principles.
  • Develop and execute comprehensive validation and verification test plans to ensure products meet all functional, performance, and quality requirements.
  • Troubleshoot and debug complex hardware issues at the component, board, and system levels, utilizing standard and advanced lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers.
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including mechanical, firmware, software, and quality assurance engineers, to ensure seamless system integration and product functionality.
  • Design for and manage regulatory compliance testing, including EMC/EMI, safety (UL/CE), and environmental standards (RoHS), and work with third-party labs to achieve certification.
  • Manage component selection, evaluation, and qualification, working with suppliers to ensure component availability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term viability.
  • Develop and oversee power electronics designs, including AC/DC converters, DC/DC regulators, battery management systems (BMS), and power distribution networks.
  • Conduct root cause analysis on field failures and production issues, implementing effective corrective and preventative actions to enhance product reliability.
  • Author and meticulously maintain technical documentation, including design specifications, block diagrams, test procedures, failure analysis reports, and engineering change notices (ECNs).
  • Design and bring up new PCB assemblies, performing initial power-on, functional checks, and diagnostic evaluations to validate hardware.
  • Interface directly with contract manufacturers (CMs) and suppliers to provide technical oversight during NPI (New Product Introduction) and sustaining production.
  • Drive signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) analysis and simulation to mitigate risks in high-speed digital designs.

Secondary Functions

  • Develop and implement automated test scripts and fixtures using languages like Python or LabVIEW to improve testing efficiency and coverage.
  • Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians within the hardware team.
  • Participate in Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to proactively identify potential design weaknesses and implement mitigation strategies.
  • Prepare and present detailed design reviews and project status reports to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Stay abreast of emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices in electrical engineering to foster innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Support sustaining engineering efforts for existing products, including cost reduction, component obsolescence management, and feature enhancement initiatives.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • PCB Design & Schematic Capture: Expertise with EDA software such as Altium Designer, Cadence, or Eagle for creating multi-layer PCB layouts and schematics.
  • Circuit Simulation & Analysis: Proficiency with SPICE-based simulation tools for analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuit analysis.
  • Power Electronics Design: Strong experience with designing switch-mode power supplies (SMPS), LDOs, and battery charging circuits.
  • Microcontroller/SoC Integration: Knowledge of integrating microcontrollers (e.g., ARM Cortex-M), FPGAs, and associated peripherals.
  • Lab & Test Equipment: Hands-on proficiency with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, multimeters, and power supplies for testing and debug.
  • High-Speed Design Principles: Solid understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, and layout considerations for interfaces like DDR, PCIe, USB, and Ethernet.
  • EMC/EMI Design & Mitigation: Experience designing for electromagnetic compatibility and troubleshooting related issues to pass regulatory standards (FCC, CE).
  • Communication Protocols: Familiarity with standard serial communication protocols including I2C, SPI, UART, and CAN bus.
  • Test Automation: Ability to write scripts for test automation and data collection, preferably using Python or LabVIEW.
  • Component Selection: Skill in selecting and qualifying analog and digital components based on performance, cost, and availability.
  • Soldering & Prototyping: Competence in fine-pitch soldering and rework for building and modifying prototypes.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical Problem-Solving: Ability to systematically diagnose complex technical issues and develop effective solutions.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven track record of working effectively within a team of engineers from different disciplines.
  • Technical Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for documenting designs and presenting technical concepts clearly.
  • Project Management: Strong organizational skills to manage project timelines, resources, and deliverables effectively.
  • Attention to Detail: A meticulous approach to design, documentation, and validation to ensure high-quality outcomes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

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

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Science (M.S.) in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Power Electronics, Embedded Systems, or RF/Analog Design.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Computer Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-10+ years of professional experience in a hardware or electrical engineering role.

Preferred:

  • Demonstrated experience taking at least one product through the entire development lifecycle, from concept to high-volume manufacturing.
  • Experience in a relevant industry, such as consumer electronics, automotive, medical devices, or aerospace.
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