Job Title: Electrical Engineer High-Speed PCB and Power ElectronicsJob DescriptionThis role focuses on designing highspeed PCB boards and advanced power electronics for custom, groundup hardware systems as they move from rapid prototype to manufacturable, productionready platforms. You will serve as a senior, handson electrical engineer who takes full ownership of complex designs, driving hardware efforts from concept through execution in a fastmoving, highly technical environment. The position centers on rearchitecting existing prototype and COTSbased systems into tightly integrated, highly customized electrical designs that bring critical capabilities fully inhouse, supporting international defense and security programs with a strong emphasis on performance, reliability, and manufacturability. Multiple openings are available, with additional headcount expected as programs expand.
Responsibilities
- Design ACtoDC and DCtoDC power conversion architectures, including highpower and highefficiency solutions for complex hardware platforms.
- Own endtoend power supply development, including topology selection, component selection, schematic capture, simulation, testing, and validation.
- Develop power architectures that support highcurrent, lowvoltage digital systems and FPGAbased designs.
- Design and analyze power integrity solutions for mixedsignal, digital, and embedded hardware platforms.
- Support full PCB development efforts, including schematic capture, layout collaboration, board bringup, debugging, and systemlevel integration.
- Collaborate closely with crossfunctional engineering teams working on digital hardware, FPGA, RF, and systemlevel designs to deliver cohesive solutions.
- Troubleshoot and optimize power systems for efficiency, thermal performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
- Support prototype development and guide the transition of products from engineering prototypes into fullscale manufacturing.
- Contribute as a technical expert across the broader hardware organization while maintaining primary ownership of power electronics initiatives.
- Help rearchitect existing rapid prototypes and externally packaged solutions into tightly integrated, productionready electrical designs that reduce reliance on boxed COTS systems.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors or Masters degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
- 5+ years of handson electrical engineering experience.
- Proven experience owning custom electrical designs from concept through production.
- Demonstrated experience with full ownership of schematic design for complex digital, power, and mixedsignal boards.
- Experience with FPGAbased systems, ideally including Xilinx architectures.
- Strong understanding of highspeed digital design, including PCB stackups, signal integrity, and power integrity.
- Power electronics expertise, including design with buck, boost, and LDO regulators.
- Experience designing power integrity solutions for highspeed digital systems.
- Experience with ACtoDC power conversion using widerange inputs and highpower outputs (for example, around 28 V and multikilowatt levels).
- Handson experience with digital, power, and mixedsignal PCB design, including board bringup and debugging.
- Working knowledge of EMI/EMC standards and practical mitigation techniques.
- Experience working with highspeed, digital, power, and mixedsignal boards in integrated systems.
- Ability to take full ownership of projects and drive them independently in an executiondriven environment.
- Eligibility to obtain a US Secret Clearance.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience designing systems where digital electronics interface directly with RF components.
- Background designing for regulated, ruggedized, or production environments.
- Experience in defense, aerospace, ISR, sensors, satcom, or advanced R&D organizations.
- Experience in environments where rapid prototypes are matured into manufacturable systems.
- Familiarity with highreliability electronics, custom power architectures, or missioncritical hardware.
- Prior work in highly technical, executiondriven engineering cultures.
- Experience with cUAS, counterdrone, or related advanced sensing and communication systems is beneficial.
- Strong collaboration and communication skills for working effectively with crossfunctional engineering teams.
- Demonstrated ability to thrive in fastmoving environments while maintaining high standards for quality and reliability.
Work EnvironmentYou will work on cuttingedge counterUAS and advanced hardware systems that directly support military and state and local law enforcement missions, including highvisibility international events and operational environments. During the contracting phase, you may work remotely but should be willing to travel to the Washington, DC area for several days every one to two months for onsite collaboration, integration, and testing. Upon conversion to a permanent role, you will relocate to the DC area to work onsite full time, with relocation support provided. The environment is fastpaced, highly technical, and executionfocused, with close collaboration across digital hardware, FPGA, RF, and systems engineering teams. You will work primarily with modern PCB design tools, power electronics test equipment, and lab instrumentation in a setting that emphasizes reliability, manufacturability, and mission impact. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Sterling, VA. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $62.50 - $75.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Sterling, VA. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 20, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a hybrid position in Sterling,VA.About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
