Electrical Engineer

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The Electrical Engineer will support the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate in designing, developing, testing, and integrating electrical systems and components for space technology experiments and mission systems throughout their complete lifecycle. The role applies electrical engineering principles to spacecraft power systems, communications systems, command and data handling, electronic circuits, optical and electromechanical systems, and ground support equipment supporting space missions ranging from Cube Sats to ESPA‑class spacecraft.

The Electrical Engineer will support all phases of the cradle‑to‑grave mission lifecycle including concept development, design, prototyping, assembly, integration, testing, flight operations, and technology.

• Design electrical systems, subsystems, and components for spacecraft, payloads, high‑altitude balloon systems, and space technology experiments.
• Design and develop electronic circuits, power systems, communications systems, and optical/electromechanical systems for space applications.
• Develop spacecraft power subsystems including solar array systems, battery systems, power distribution units, and power management electronics.
• Design command and data handling (C&DH) systems, avionics, and electronics for spacecraft bus and payload applications.
• Develop communications systems electronics including RF systems, transceivers, antennas, and telemetry systems.
• Create electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, harness designs, and technical specifications for space‑rated systems.
• Design printed circuit boards (PCBs) for space applications considering radiation effects, thermal management, and reliability.
• Ensure designs meet performance, safety, reliability, and regulatory requirements including space environment considerations.
• Support systems engineering tasks for electrical, mechanical, thermal, structural, and specialized disciplines for space technology and spacecraft designs.
• Perform electrical system trade studies, design alternatives analysis, and technical assessments.
• Conduct power budgets, link budgets, and electrical system performance analyses.
• Develop and maintain electrical subsystem requirements, specifications, and interface control documents (ICDs).
• Support Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) activities for electrical system requirements definition, design, and verification.
• Perform electrical system modeling, simulation, and analysis to evaluate design options and performance.
• Support requirements flow‑down from system level to electrical component level with complete traceability.

• Lead space technology and spacecraft electrical hardware design and fabrication.
• Develop electrical hardware from concept through flight‑qualified units including breadboards, engineering models, and flight units.
• Support procurement of electrical components, space‑rated parts, and commercial off‑the‑shelf (COTS) electronics.
• Collaborate with vendors and manufacturers for custom electrical component development.
• Evaluate materials, components, and technologies for space application suitability, radiation tolerance, and cost‑effectiveness.
• Support re‑engineering and re‑design of electrical hardware following testing and evaluation.

• Develop electrical test processes, procedures, and plans for component‑to‑system level testing.
• Design and fabricate electrical ground support equipment (EGSE) and test apparatus for spacecraft testing.
• Plan and coordinate electrical system functional testing and environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC, radiation).
• Conduct electrical system‑level tests to evaluate performance of spacecraft and ground systems.
• Perform electrical system troubleshooting, anomaly investigation, and failure analysis.
• Develop and execute electrical integration test procedures for spacecraft assembly operations.
• Perform data reduction,…