Electrical Engineer

Senior Electrical Engineer | Pay: $60 - $80/hr | Onsite in Herndon, VA | 9-month contract-to-hire

Job Description

This Electrical Engineer role focuses on designing and building advanced electro-optical systems that support cutting-edge laser and lidar applications for aerospace, NASA, and DoD programs. You will join an R&D team in Herndon, VA and contribute to the development, verification, and enhancement of laser products, working across both short-term and long-term projects. The position offers a collaborative, innovation-driven environment where you are empowered to make decisions in your area of expertise, supported by a manageable workload, strong team collaboration, and accessible Senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electronics for advanced electro-optical systems used in laser, lidar, and laser communication applications.
• Lead circuit board development activities, including schematic design, layout support, and design reviews for high-reliability aerospace and defense systems.
• Develop, verify, and upgrade firmware for FPGA and CPU-based embedded systems, ensuring robust performance and compatibility with electro-optical hardware.
• Create and refine cable and harness designs to support system-level integration of lasers, lidars, and related electronics.
• Perform board-level and system-level integration and testing, including bring-up, validation, and troubleshooting of complex electronic assemblies.
• Use electrical lab equipment extensively to support embedded system development, characterization, and performance optimization.
• Participate hands-on in field tests and experiments, supporting deployment, data collection, and evaluation of electro-optical systems in operational environments.
• Document designs, test procedures, test results, and system configurations to ensure traceability, repeatability, and compliance with project requirements.
• Work on multiple concurrent projects, balancing small, quick-turn efforts with more extensive, long-term development programs.
• Collaborate closely with R&D team members and Senior leadership to define requirements, review designs, and drive continuous improvement of laser and lidar products.
• Support troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for electronic and firmware issues encountered during lab testing, field experiments, and system operation.
• Contribute technical expertise to proposals, design trade studies, and technology roadmaps related to advanced laser and lidar systems.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with 15+ years of applicable work experience.
• Extensive experience with circuit board design, integration, and troubleshooting for complex electronic systems.
• Strong hands-on capability and willingness to work directly with hardware, including participation in field tests and experiments.
• Proficiency using electrical lab equipment as part of embedded system development, testing, and validation.
• Experience with PCB design workflows and tools, including platforms such as Altium.
• Ability to manage and contribute to both short-term and long-term engineering projects in a fast-paced R&D environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to diagnose and resolve issues at both board and system levels.
• Effective communication skills for documenting work, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and presenting technical findings.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience developing high-reliability military and/or space-flight electronics.
• Experience with FPGA and CPLD design, including simulation, integration, and troubleshooting of programmable logic devices.
• Experience with embedded CPU and microcontroller firmware development, integration, and troubleshooting.
• Background working with lidar systems or related electro-optical sensing technologies.
• Familiarity with advanced fiber and bulk solid-state laser systems.
• Comfort operating in a research and development environment that supports NASA and DoD programs.
• Ability to thrive in a culture that values innovation, professional challenge, and continuous learning.

Work Environment

The role is based in a modern, approximately 50,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility that supports advanced laser and lidar development. The environment includes 34 Class IV laser firing labs, electronics labs, wet labs, optical receiver labs, chemical labs, and a NASA-certified in-house printed circuit board assembly lab, providing extensive hands-on access to cutting-edge technologies and equipment. The culture emphasizes innovation, customer success, and a creative, relaxed atmosphere that encourages professional challenge and personal growth. The organization offers a competitive, incentivized compensation package with excellent benefits and adheres to equal employment opportunity principles, providing consideration based on individual merit, skills, and experience. Work is primarily on-site in Herndon, VA, with potential case-by-case flexibility for hybrid arrangements depending on individual commuting situations.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Herndon, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $80.00/hr.

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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Herndon,VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 18, 2026.

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.