Engineer VII

59027BR

Job Summary:

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) develops advanced electromagnetic, electric power, energy, and defense technologies for government and commercial customers. Our teams design, build, test, and field complex systems that support national security, transportation, energy, and other critical applications.

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Pulsed Power Technologist to provide senior technical leadership for pulsed-power systems supporting railgun, electric launch, and related electromagnetic launch applications. This role will contribute to the development of high-energy electrical systems from early concept and system architecture through detailed design, integration, qualification, and field support.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as a senior technical authority for pulsed-power electrical systems and electromagnetic launch applications.
• Lead the architecture, design, analysis, development, integration, test, and qualification of high-energy pulsed-power systems.
• Define system-level electrical requirements, interfaces, performance objectives, and verification methods.
• Develop and evaluate electrical architectures that may include:
• Energy storage and pulse-forming networks
• High-power switching systems
• Power conversion and conditioning
• High-current bus structures and distribution systems
• Triggering, timing, synchronization, and control systems
• Electromagnetic launch and launcher interfaces
• Instrumentation, monitoring, and protection systems
• Perform or direct analyses related to voltage, current, energy, power, inductance, resistance, switching behavior, efficiency, fault response, electromagnetic compatibility, and thermal performance.
• Provide technical direction for design trades involving performance, reliability, manufacturability, maintainability, safety, cost, schedule, and system growth.
• Lead development of electrical design documentation, including requirements, specifications, schematics, interface control documentation, analysis reports, test procedures, and technical reviews.
• Establish and review electrical design practices for high-voltage and high-current pulsed-power equipment.
• Support modeling and simulation of pulsed-power circuits, switching networks, energy transfer, launch-system behavior, and transient electrical phenomena.
• Plan and oversee laboratory, subsystem, hardware-in-the-loop, and full-system testing.
• Review test results, identify anomalies, determine root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
• Provide technical leadership during design reviews, peer reviews, program reviews, and customer meetings.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers and engineering teams.
• Coordinate with mechanical, controls, software, systems, materials, manufacturing, test, safety, reliability, and program management personnel.
• Support risk identification, mitigation planning, configuration management, and technical baseline control.
• Work with suppliers and subcontractors to define requirements, review designs, and resolve technical issues.
• Support proposal development, technology roadmaps, make-or-buy decisions, and new business activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications:

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; fifteen or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, thirteen or more years of experience with a masters degree, or ten or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Demonstrated experience leading the design and development of complex electrical systems from concept through test and qualification.
• Experience with several of the following:
• Pulsed-power systems
• High-voltage and high-current electrical systems
• Energy storage and pulse-forming technologies
• Power electronics and high-power switching
• Electromagnetic launch systems
• Railgun or electric launch technologies
• Transient circuit analysis
• Electrical insulation and dielectric design
• Electrical grounding, bonding, and fault protection
• Electromagnetic compatibility and interference control
• High-speed instrumentation and data acquisition
• Ability to develop, review, and approve engineering analyses, requirements, designs, and test documentation.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and resolving complex technical issues.
• Strong understanding of electrical safety practices associated with high voltage, high current, stored energy, and pulsed-power equipment.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to engineers, program managers, customers, and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and make sound technical decisions in ambiguous or technically challenging situations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance, if required.
• Ability to work effectively in laboratory, manufacturing, test-range, and office environments.
• Ability to travel as required to support program, customer, supplier, and test activities.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree or doctorate in electrical engineering, power systems, pulsed power, electromagnetics, or a related field.
• Experience with railgun, electromagnetic launcher, catapult, motor-generator, or other electric launch systems.
• Experience with high-energy capacitor banks, compulsators, pulse-forming networks, opening or closing switches, or other pulsed-power architectures.
• Experience with high-current plasma, arc, switching, or commutation phenomena.
• Experience developing and validating system models using tools such as circuit simulators, electromagnetic analysis tools, finite-element tools, or numerical computing environments.
• Experience with high-speed measurement systems, including current, voltage, magnetic-field, optical, and timing measurements.
• Knowledge of electrical insulation coordination, partial discharge, dielectric breakdown, arcing, creepage, clearance, and high-voltage component qualification.
• Experience with thermal management of high-power electrical and pulsed-power equipment.
• Familiarity with applicable military, industry, and laboratory standards for high-voltage systems, electromagnetic compatibility, electrical safety, and system qualification.
• Experience with requirements-management, configuration-management, and product-lifecycle-management tools.
• Experience preparing technical proposals, cost estimates, schedules, and statements of work.
• Demonstrated record of technical innovation, invention disclosures, patents, publications, or externally recognized engineering contributions.
• Experience working directly with government customers, test organizations, suppliers, and prime contractors.
• Existing active U.S. government security clearance.

Job Category:

Engineering

Experience Level:

Senior (8+ years)

Workstyle:

Onsite

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time Salary

Pay Range Low:

130,500

Pay Range High:

228,375

Travel Percentage Required:

0% - 25%

Relocation Assistance Provided?:

Yes

US Citizenship Required?:

Yes

Clearance Required?:

Desired

Clearance Level:

Secret

General Atomics is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, transitioning status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, medical condition, mental disability, physical disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. In accordance with applicable federal law, General Atomics takes affirmative action to employ and advance the employment of qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. We also prohibit compensation discrimination under all applicable laws. U.S. Citizenship is required for certain positions. To learn more, please review the EEOC’s "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster.