Electrical Engineer
Charlotte, VT - USA
Job Summary
Job Title: Electrical / Electronics Engineer - Hardware
Location: Charlotte NC (Onsite) / Relocation Open
Duration: Long Term Contract
Primary Skills: PCB/PCA Altium/OrCAD
POSITION SUMMARY
The Electrical Engineer will select or design all electrical components and Printed Circuit Assemblies (PCA) for a comprehensive line of automotive electrical diagnostic products and accessories. You will lead the development of high-speed digital circuits with embedded microcontrollers usually battery powered precision analog front-ends to maintain signal quality and robust power management systems from initial concept to high-volume manufacturing.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- PCA & Circuit Design: Design complex multi-layer PCBs and PCAs including schematic capture and layout using industry-standard tools like Altium Designer (preferred) or OrCAD.
- Component Selection: Identify and source high-reliability automotive-grade components (AEC-Q or CAT qualified) for microcontrollers sensors wiring/ribbon and communication transceivers.
- Communication Protocols: Integrate and validate communication interfaces including Bluetooth CAN LIN Ethernet and OBD-II as needed.
- Power Management: Develop efficient power systems for battery-operated handheld devices including charging circuits and high-voltage protection for vehicle-connected probes.
- Signal Integrity & Testing: Conduct simulations and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing to ensure diagnostic accuracy and immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI/EMC).
- Prototyping & Validation: Build and debug electrical prototypes performing root-cause analysis on PCA failures and optimizing for mass production (Design for Manufacturability and Testability - DFM/DFT).
QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience Required
- Bachelors degree or masters degree in electrical or electronics Engineering or a related field experience.
- 3-5 years of experience in electronics hardware design ideally focusing on handheld electronic devices or automotive equipment.
- Design Tools: Mastery of PCB layout software and circuit simulation tools like PSpice LTspice or MATLAB/Simulink.
- Embedded Systems: Strong understanding of embedded hardware architecture (STM ARM Cortex-M Family) and experience interfacing with firmware teams.
- Instrumentation: Proficiency with advanced laboratory equipment including high-speed oscilloscopes spectrum analyzers and logic analyzers.
- Standards & Compliance: Deep knowledge of electronics safety and regulatory standards such as CE UL or automotive-specific AEC-Q certifications and IEC 61010 (Safety for measurement equipment)
- Experience collaborating with subcontractors and integrating supply chain partners.
- Basic knowledge of project management methodologies and the ability to collaborate with teams to complete projects on time and within budget.
- Strategic mindset with a focus on innovation continuous improvement and product development.
- Strong decision-making and organizational skills.
- Willingness to travel up to 10% annually as required.
Preferred Skills
- Technical knowledge of diagnostic systems electronic components and automotive electrical systems
- Familiarity with automotive electrical systems and diagnostic protocols (e.g. CAN bus ODB-II) is highly preferred.
- General knowledge of ERP for new parts/SKU creation and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems to control file revisions (Engineering Changes ECN).
- Automotive industry experience is preferred but not required.
- Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.