Electrical Engineer III – Hardware Reston, VA

REPORTING TO:
Director of Product Development

LOCATION:

Reston, VA

The Electrical Engineer III with a focus in hardware design is responsible for designing, implementing, and validating custom electronics used in Kopin’s microdisplay-based systems. This includes driver boards, interface modules, imaging subsystem electronics, and system-level hardware for weapon sights, HMDs, medical viewers, FPV goggles, and related embedded platforms.

The Electrical Engineer III performs PCB-level design with substantial independence, executes detailed hardware analysis, and participates in cross-functional integration with systems, firmware, optics, and mechanical engineering. This role requires strong experience with embedded hardware development, power systems, high-speed digital interfaces, and SWaP-optimized electronics.

• Architect and design custom PCB assemblies for:
  • Microdisplay driver and timing boards
  • Sensor/IMU and camera interface boards
  • Control and communication modules for integration into weapon, aircraft, or host systems
• Perform schematic capture and component selection (FPGAs, MCUs, power ICs, regulators, ADC/DACs, serialize rs/deserializers, level translators) with consideration for SWaP, cost, and component availability.
• Design robust power distribution networks for portable and vehicle-powered electronics, including DC-DC converters, sequencing, protection circuitry, and efficiency optimization.
• Implement and validate high-speed and mixed-signal interfaces including LVDS, MIPI, HDMI/DP, SPI/I²C, UART, USB, GPIO, and embedded sensor interfaces.
• Define and document electrical interfaces to optics, mechanics, and firmware teams, including pinouts, timing requirements, EMI/ESD concerns, connector/harness guidelines, and interface constraints.
• Support or execute PCB layout in Altium, including stack-up development, controlled-impedance routing, placement for thermal behavior, and manufacturability considerations.
• Execute board bring‑up and debug:
  • Power‑on sequencing, functional validation, and test‑point evaluation
  • Signal integrity, timing closure, and digital interface reliability
  • Integration with firmware, FPGA logic, optics modules, and sensors
  • Conduct environmental and thermal stress testing where applicable
• Build, iterate, and characterize lab prototypes and test fixtures for concept evaluation and verification.
• Generate and maintain engineering documentation such as schematics, BoMs, design reports, ECOs, test procedures, and revision‑controlled hardware artifacts.
• Work closely with Systems, Embedded Software, Optics, and Mechanical Engineering to ensure system‑level functionality, performance margins, and requirement compliance.
• Participate in DFM/DFT reviews and support NPI activities with manufacturing partners and contract assemblers.

• KOPIN is a defense contractor and is subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). You must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident (green card holder) to be considered for this position.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 5–8 years of experience in PCB-level hardware development for embedded systems.
• Proficiency with Altium Designer or comparable schematic/layout tools.
• Demonstrated experience with:
  • Power supply design (buck/boost, PMICs, protections)
  • High‑speed digital interfaces and mixed‑signal board design
  • FPGA/MCU-based board implementation and bring‑up
• Strong hands‑on lab experience (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power analyzers, JTAG, rework).
• Ability to execute designs independently from concept through prototype validation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to participate in technical design reviews.

• Experience with near‑eye displays, AR/VR devices, imaging sensors, or HUD/HMD electronics.
• Experience with:
  • FPGA-centric designs (high‑speed data paths, display pipelines)
  • SI/PI tools and SPICE or behavioral modeling
  • EMC/EMI compliance and rugged‑environment hardware design
• Flex circuit design experience, including rigid‑flex stack‑ups, impedance control, bend‑radius constraints, and miniature connector selection.
• Basic…