Senior Electrical Engineer

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) headquartered in Clarksburg, MD, is a U.S. company that has been serving domestic and international defense Air, Land and Sea domains for 60+ years. With over 1,000 employees, TDSI and its four subsidiaries support U.S. Joint Services, special operations forces and multi‑national partners with a variety of communication, visualization, signal intelligence/electronic warfare, and sensor/sonar capabilities.

TDSI’s key technologies include tactical handheld radios, expeditionary satellite terminals, helmet‑mounted displays, optics and target recognition capability, advanced radars, undersea sensing and missile systems.

Job Title: Senior Electrical Engineer

Location: Aurora, IL, 60504

• Design, simulate, analyze and test a variety of analog and digital circuits and components commonly used in helmet‑mounted display equipment.
• Create electronic circuit schematics and lead PCB design/layout activities.
• Create documentation to manufacture printed wiring assemblies (PWAs) and transition designs to manufacturing.
• Write technical documents: test procedures, test datasheets, technical memoranda.
• Lead junior electrical product design staff in the development of new products or enhancement of existing products.
• Verify product performance against predictions for prototype and production hardware.
• Develop detailed design specifications, test plans and test procedures.
• Analyze product failure data and malfunction testing trends, troubleshoot yield issues, and recommend product improvements.
• Participate in continuous improvement and team‑building activities. Maintain productive working relationships with all team members.
• Generate documentation for programming individual components, loading firmware on circuit card assemblies and loading firmware into fully assembled products.
• Effectively troubleshoot problems (define problem, collect data/facts, and draw conclusions) and implement solutions.
• Identify alternate components and perform qualification testing to replace obsolete components.
• Plan, design and manage PWB re‑layout activities to replace obsolete components.
• Support test yield improvement activities in a manufacturing environment.
• Act as liaison between manufacturing diagnostic technicians and engineers on existing products and during transfer of new products to manufacturing.
• Evaluate the effects of modified firmware on existing hardware platforms.
• Support R&D efforts and continuous process improvements.
• Complete assigned tasks in a quality and timely manner with minimal supervision.
• Effectively support and communicate status, issues, needs and ideas to management.

• U.S. Citizenship required. Applicants may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
• B‑S or M‑S in Electrical Engineering.
• 4+ years of experience in detailed circuit card design (board‑level schematic design and capture), analysis and test.
• Extensive lab experience, including hands‑on design optimization, bringing boards up, and testing prototype/production designs.
• Digital design experience with PSoCs, microprocessors, FPGAs/CPLDs, CODECs, USB drivers/switches, HUBs, RS‑232/RS‑485 drivers and switches, and low‑EMI clocks/distribution (14.4 MHz – 48 MHz).
• Ability to analyze a design to meet technical requirements.
• Experience with DoD standards and practices (MIL‑STD, ASTM, ANSI, DO‑160, etc.).
• Proficiency in schematic capture tools such as Altium Designer, Siemens/Mentor Xpedition, or OrCAD.
• Experience with Microsoft Office tools: MS Excel, MS Word, Visio, and MS Project.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to comply with all company guidelines, policies, procedures and embrace company core values.

• Competitive salary
• Yearly incentive compensation plan
• Medical insurance for self and eligible family members
• Generous 401(k) program – up to 7% company contribution and 100% immediate vesting
• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave
• Paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave
• 9/8 work schedule (every other Friday off)
• Hybrid working environment

The annualized pay range for this role is $101,837 – $130,125 USD along with a target incentive compensation plan of 5%.

For specific questions about this job posting, candidates may contact talent acquisition at

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. is committed to non‑discrimination as applicable under federal, state and local laws. We are an E‑Verify Employer.

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales Defense & Security, Inc., please call Human Resources at 202‑961‑1016.