Electrical Design Engineer

Electrical Design Engineer

Summary

Our client is an established Southern California manufacturer specializing in advanced electronic communication systems, commercial diving equipment, and specialized electronic products for professional, industrial, and government applications. They are seeking an experienced Electrical Design Engineer to join their engineering team in Vista, CA , focusing on the design, development, testing, and continuous improvement of analog and digital communication equipment, intercom systems, and embedded electronic products.

The ideal candidate will have 8–10 years of electrical or electronic design engineering experience , with extensive knowledge of analog and digital circuit design, embedded systems, FPGA and DSP technologies, firmware development, and PCB-level design . This position requires a hands-on engineer capable of managing electronic product development from initial concept through manufacturing while supporting product innovation, quality assurance, and production operations.

Duties & Responsibilities

- Electrical & Electronic Design

Design, develop, and improve analog and digital electronic products, including communication equipment, intercom systems, and specialized electronic devices.

- Develop electronic hardware, embedded software, and firmware for new products and existing product enhancements.

- Support the complete electronic product development lifecycle, including product definition, requirements analysis, design, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing.

- Design and evaluate electronic circuits, printed circuit assemblies (PCAs), and integrated electronic systems.

- Select electronic components, integrated circuits (ICs), and related hardware based on performance, reliability, availability, and cost considerations.

- Perform circuit simulation, signal analysis, and troubleshooting to optimize electronic system performance.

- Support system architecture development, technical specifications, and engineering design documentation.

- Embedded Systems & Digital Signal Processing

Design and develop embedded electronic systems utilizing microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) .

- Develop, test, troubleshoot, and maintain real-time embedded software and firmware.

- Support digital audio signal processing and electronic communication system development.

- Perform component-level, circuit-board-level, and system-level testing to verify product functionality and reliability.

- Address electrical design considerations involving signal integrity, impedance matching, electromagnetic interference (EMI), digital interfaces, and digital power systems.

- Evaluate electronic performance characteristics, including noise figure (NF), 1 dB compression point (P1dB), and built-in self-test (BIST) functionality.

- Troubleshoot hardware, firmware, and system integration issues.

- Product Development & Engineering Documentation

Develop engineering documentation, including Design and Development Plans (DDP), Design and Development Schedules (DDS), design reviews, technical specifications, and product records .

- Ensure hardware and software development activities follow established ISO quality management procedures.

- Support new product development and improvements to existing electronic products.

- Develop product testing procedures, manufacturing processes, and specialized electronic test fixtures.

- Conduct design verification, product validation, and performance testing.

- Identify opportunities to improve product reliability, manufacturability, functionality, and cost efficiency.

- Maintain accurate engineering records throughout the product development lifecycle.

- Manufacturing Engineering & Technical Support

Provide sustaining engineering support to manufacturing operations, including troubleshooting failed electronic assemblies and production units.

- Develop and improve manufacturing test procedures, test equipment, and specialized testing fixtures.

- Collaborate with manufacturing, purchasing, and quality assurance departments to identify electronic component suppliers and contract manufacturing partners.

- Support supplier evaluation and qualification as part of the company's quality management system.

- Investigate manufacturing-related technical issues and recommend corrective actions.

- Provide technical guidance and training to production test technicians and manufacturing personnel.

- Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and reliability.

- Quality Assurance & Failure Analysis

Perform electronic product testing and troubleshooting at the component, board, and system levels.

- Investigate product failures, determine root causes, and develop corrective action plans.

- Support post-sale product failure investigations and implement measures to prevent recurring issues.

- Ensure engineering and manufacturing activities comply with applicable quality procedures and standards.

- Collaborate with quality assurance personnel to improve product testing, reliability, and performance.

- Maintain technical documentation supporting product quality and corrective actions.

- Cross-Functional Collaboration & Customer Support

Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, quality assurance, sales, and marketing departments.

- Provide technical support to sales and marketing teams, including product evaluations, technical quotations, and documentation reviews.

- Review product user manuals, technical specifications, and marketing materials for accuracy.

- Serve as a technical resource during customer inquiries and product troubleshooting.

- Provide post-sale technical support for electronic products and communication systems.

- Lead or coordinate engineering projects involving internal personnel, external suppliers, and technical consultants as needed.

- Support additional engineering projects and operational initiatives as required.

Qualifications & Requirements

- Required Education & Experience

Bachelor's or master's degree in Engineering required.

- Minimum 8–10 years of relevant electrical or electronic design engineering experience , depending on education and qualifications.

- Experience performing electronic design work within a similarly regulated or quality-controlled industry.

- Strong background in analog and digital electronic hardware design, circuit development, and PCB/PCA-level design .

- Hands-on experience with digital audio signal processing, FPGAs, microprocessors, and DSPs .

- Experience with embedded software, firmware development, and real-time embedded programming .

- Proven ability to perform IC component-level and system-level testing and troubleshooting.

- Experience supporting electronic products throughout the full development lifecycle, from initial design through manufacturing.

- Demonstrated ability to develop and improve electronic hardware and software systems.

- Electrical Engineering & Technical Skills

Extensive knowledge of analog and digital circuit design and simulation tools .

- Strong understanding of digital signal processing and electronic communication systems.

- Experience with FPGA, DSP, and microprocessor-based embedded systems.

- Proficiency in embedded software and firmware development.

- Knowledge of electronic component selection, IC integration, and PCA board-level design.

- Understanding of circuit impedance matching and signal integrity.

- Knowledge of board-level electromagnetic interference (EMI) .

- Familiarity with digital interfaces and digital power systems.

- Understanding of electronic performance measurements, including noise figure (NF) and 1 dB compression point (P1dB) .

- Knowledge of built-in self-test (BIST) systems.

- Experience with electronic testing, troubleshooting, and failure analysis.

- Ability to develop manufacturing test procedures and specialized electronic test fixtures.

- Engineering Software & Tools

Experience with OrCAD for electronic design.

- Familiarity with AutoCAD .

- Experience with MPLAB X development tools.

- Knowledge of Texas Instruments Code Composer Studio (TI CCS) .

- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel .

- Experience with engineering project scheduling and technical documentation tools.

- Ability to utilize electronic circuit simulation and testing software.

- Manufacturing & Quality Knowledge

Understanding of electronic manufacturing processes and product assembly.

- Experience supporting manufacturing operations and resolving production-related technical issues.

- Knowledge of ISO quality management procedures .

- Experience with electronic product validation, reliability testing, and quality assurance.

- Ability to perform root cause analysis and develop corrective action plans.

- Familiarity with electronic component sourcing, supplier qualification, and contract manufacturing.

- Understanding of product manufacturability, reliability, and continuous improvement principles.

- Professional Skills

Excellent analytical, technical troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.

- Strong attention to detail and commitment to engineering accuracy.

- Effective written and verbal communication skills.

- Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and manufacturing teams.

- Strong organizational and project coordination capabilities.

- Ability to manage multiple engineering priorities and development schedules.

- Self-motivated and capable of working independently.

- Strong commitment to product quality, reliability, and continuous improvement.

- Preferred Education & Experience

Experience designing electronic communication equipment, intercom systems, or digital audio products .

- Background developing electronic products for commercial, industrial, government, or specialized applications.

- Working knowledge of CE, UL, ISO, FDA, GMP , or other applicable international quality and regulatory standards.

- Experience working with electronic component suppliers and contract manufacturers.

- Experience developing manufacturing test processes and electronic test fixtures.

- Previous experience leading engineering projects or coordinating cross-functional technical teams.

- Work Environment & Location

Full-time, exempt position based in Vista, CA .

- Work is primarily performed in a climate-controlled office and engineering environment.

- Limited remote work flexibility may be available depending on position requirements and individual circumstances.

- Extensive use of computers, engineering software, and electronic testing equipment.

- Occasional standing, walking, and climbing stairs may be required.

- Ability to occasionally lift equipment or materials weighing up to 30 pounds .

- Overtime may be required depending on workload and project schedules.

- Successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug screening, subject to applicable law.