Electrical Engineer III - Hardware Reston, VA

Position: Electrical Engineer III - Hardware - (Reston, VA)
REPORTING TO:
Director of Product Development

LOCATION:

Reston, VA

GENERAL FUNCTION:

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.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Architect and design custom PCB assemblies for:

o Microdisplay driver and timing boards

o Sensor/IMU and camera interface boards

o 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:

o Power-on sequencing, functional validation, and test-point evaluation

o Signal integrity, timing closure, and digital interface reliability

o Integration with firmware, FPGA logic, optics modules, and sensors

o 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.

MINIMUM

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

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:

o Power supply design (buck/boost, PMICs, protections)

o High-speed digital interfaces and mixed-signal board design

o 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

PREFERRED

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

* Experience with near-eye displays, AR/VR devices, imaging sensors, or HUD/HMD electronics.

* Experience with:

o FPGA-centric designs (high-speed data paths, display pipelines)

o SI/PI tools and SPICE or behavioral modeling

o EMC/EMI compliance and rugged-environment hardware design

* Flex circuit design experience, including rigid-flex stack-ups, impedance…