Job Title: Senior Electronics Engineer Component-Level Design & AnalysisJob DescriptionThis hybrid onsite role in Melbourne, FL seeks a Senior Electronics Engineer with deep, hands-on expertise in component-level electronic design, circuit analysis, and failure analysis. You will interpret complex electrical schematics, understand how and why circuits and components are selected, and evaluate how individual component failures impact the wider circuit, PCB, subsystem, and overall system. Formal Safety Assurance methodologies can be taught on the job; what is essential is a strong foundation in analog and digital electronics, circuit design, and detailed component-level analysis.
Responsibilities
- Design, analyze, troubleshoot, and evaluate electronic circuits at the individual component level, ensuring robust performance across operating conditions.
- Read and interpret detailed electrical schematics, PCB documentation, datasheets, specifications, and technical drawings to understand circuit intent and implementation.
- Analyze the function and interaction of components such as BJTs and MOSFETs, operational amplifiers, diodes, resistors, capacitors, inductors, integrated circuits, power supply components, and protection devices.
- Explain why specific components, circuit topologies, and configurations were selected, not just describe what they do.
- Compare alternative circuit approaches based on voltage, current, impedance, switching speed, power dissipation, noise, reliability, and other design considerations.
- Analyze analog, digital, power, and mixed-signal circuitry, including signal conditioning, power and protection circuitry, and filter circuits.
- Evaluate circuit performance under normal and abnormal operating conditions to identify vulnerabilities and opportunities for improvement.
- Apply practical circuit design knowledge such as BJT versus FET selection, transistor switching and amplification, op-amp circuits and negative feedback, unity-gain voltage followers, buffering, and input/output impedance.
- Design and assess diode-based protection, reverse-polarity protection, RC and other filter circuits, and component selection and sizing.
- Incorporate PCB and circuit-card design considerations into component-level analysis and recommendations.
- Analyze potential component failure modes, including open circuit, short circuit, parameter drift, leakage, intermittent operation, electrical overstress, thermal failure, and outputs stuck high or low.
- Determine the effect of component failures on surrounding components and trace how failures propagate through the circuit, PCB, subsystem, and overall system.
- Evaluate component substitutions and design modifications to improve reliability, robustness, and safety.
- Identify single-point failures and circuit vulnerabilities, and recommend design changes or additional protection where appropriate.
- Assist with troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of hardware failures, providing clear, evidence-based conclusions.
- Clearly communicate technical reasoning behind design decisions and failure-analysis findings to engineering stakeholders.
- Collaborate with teams involved in Safety Assurance and reliability engineering, applying your component-level expertise to support formal analyses and documentation.
Essential Skills
- 5+ years of experience in electronic hardware design, circuit design, or component-level electronics analysis.
- Strong understanding of analog and digital electronics, including power and mixed-signal circuitry.
- Proven ability to read, interpret, and analyze complex electrical schematics and PCB documentation.
- Hands-on experience with PCB and circuit-card electronics in a practical engineering environment.
- Demonstrated understanding of BJTs and MOSFETs, operational amplifiers, diodes, resistors, capacitors, filters, power supply components, and protection circuitry.
- Ability to explain why specific electronic components and circuit configurations are used in a design, considering electrical and reliability trade-offs.
- Ability to identify realistic component failure modes and assess their impact on surrounding circuitry.
- Ability to trace failures from individual components through the circuit to the PCB, subsystem, and overall system behavior.
- Experience troubleshooting and analyzing electronic hardware to diagnose issues and recommend corrective actions.
- Strong engineering problem-solving skills with a methodical, analytical approach to complex technical challenges.
- Ability to clearly communicate technical reasoning and conclusions in both written and verbal form.
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis) or FMECA (Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis).
- Exposure to Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and reliability engineering practices.
- Background in hardware reliability analysis, worst-case circuit analysis (WCCA), component derating, and tolerance analysis.
- Experience performing root cause failure analysis for electronic hardware.
- Involvement in safety-critical product development, including fail-safe or fault-tolerant design.
- Experience with hazard analysis, system safety, and Safety Assurance processes.
- Domain experience in rail signaling, aerospace or avionics, defense electronics, medical devices, industrial controls, or transportation systems.
- Familiarity with standards such as CENELEC EN, AREMA, or MIL-STD-882.
- Interest in learning and applying formal Safety Assurance methodologies, processes, and documentation.
Work EnvironmentThis position is based in Melbourne, FL with a hybrid / onsite work arrangement, allowing a mix of in-office collaboration and focused technical work. You will operate in a professional engineering environment that emphasizes rigorous analysis, clear documentation, and cross-functional collaboration. Daily work involves interacting with detailed schematics, PCB layouts, datasheets, and technical standards, and using typical electronic test and analysis tools to support design and failure investigations. The culture values deep technical expertise, structured problem solving, and open communication, and supports ongoing learning in areas such as Safety Assurance and reliability engineering. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Melbourne, FL. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $48.00 - $64.00/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 Melbourne, FL. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 20, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Melbourne,FL.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.
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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.
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