Electrical Controls Manager Jobs in Detroit, MI (NOW HIRING)

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

The Electrical Engineer - Turbine Engine Systems, Controls & Test is responsible for the design, development, integration, verification, troubleshooting, and production support of electrical and electronic systems associated with small gas turbine engines, engine accessories, controls, instrumentation, test equipment, and related aerospace and defense products.

This position supports the complete product lifecycle—from concept and prototype development through engine integration, qualification, production, test, troubleshooting, and field support.

The role requires a hands-on engineer who can move effectively between product electrical design, engine controls, embedded systems, instrumentation, test systems, manufacturing support, and technical problem solving.

The Electrical Engineer will work closely with Product Engineering, Design Engineering, Performance Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, suppliers, and customers to develop robust, manufacturable, testable, and reliable electrical systems.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Electrical & Electronic Systems

• Design and support electrical and electronic systems for turbine engines, accessories, controllers, and test equipment.
• Develop electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, harnesses, interface-control documentation, Bills of Material, and technical specifications.
• Design and troubleshoot analog and digital circuits, signal conditioning, sensor interfaces, drivers, power supplies, and control circuits.
• Select sensors, connectors, wiring, instrumentation, controllers, power supplies, and electrical components.
• Support PCB design, component selection, prototype development, debugging, and functional testing.
• Support grounding, shielding, electrical protection, packaging, and system integration.

Engine Controls & Embedded Systems

• Support engine electronic controls, ECUs, PCUs, ignition systems, sensors, actuators, and electrical accessories.
• Develop, modify, or troubleshoot embedded control software as required.
• Support embedded C/C++, CAN-based communications, J1939, and other system interfaces.
• Utilize MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or similar engineering tools as required.
• Troubleshoot hardware/software interface and controls-related issues.

Engine Test & Instrumentation

• Design and support electrical and controls systems for turbine engine and component test stands.
• Select and integrate instrumentation for temperature, pressure, speed, vibration, flow, position, voltage, current, and other measurements.
• Develop interfaces between engines, controllers, test stands, data-acquisition systems, and facility equipment.
• Support test setup, instrumentation verification, Test Readiness Reviews, engine testing, and post-test analysis.
• Develop test procedures, acceptance criteria, automated test functions, interlocks, and diagnostic tools.
• Support bench testing, simulation, and Hardware-in-the-Loop capabilities where appropriate.

Controls & Automation

• Support PLC-based systems used for test equipment, manufacturing equipment, fixtures, and facility systems.
• Develop or troubleshoot Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, CompactLogix, Studio 5000, HMI, or SCADA systems as required.
• Support Ethernet/IP, TCP/IP, OPC, DeviceNet, CAN, and similar communication networks.

The primary focus of this position remains product electrical engineering and turbine engine systems, with controls and automation serving as supporting capabilities.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & INTEGRATION

• Translate system and customer requirements into electrical design solutions.
• Work cross-functionally with Mechanical, Software, Performance, Manufacturing, Test, and Quality Engineering.
• Support prototypes, development engines, First Article builds, qualification units, and production hardware.
• Participate in design reviews, technical reviews, test readiness reviews, and production readiness activities.
• Resolve electrical, mechanical, software, controls, and test-system interface issues.
• Support suppliers with component selection, technical requirements, testing, and issue resolution.
• Support transition of development designs into stable production configurations.

TROUBLESHOOTING & ROOT CAUSE

• Troubleshoot electrical, electronic, controls, instrumentation, and integration issues.
• Utilize oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, data-acquisition equipment, CAN tools, and related diagnostic equipment.
• Perform structured root-cause analysis using methods such as:
• 5-Why
• Fishbone
• Fault Tree Analysis
• Failure Mode analysis
• Comparative testing
• Data analysis
• Develop and verify corrective actions.
• Support investigation of production failures, supplier issues, engine-test failures, nonconformances, and RMA/customer-return hardware.

MANUFACTURING & PRODUCTION SUPPORT

• Provide hands-on engineering support to engine assembly, accessory assembly, test, and production operations.
• Respond to electrical issues affecting quality, test, production flow, or customer delivery.
• Develop fixtures, diagnostic tools, test equipment, and mistake-proofing solutions.
• Support Design for Manufacturing and Assembly activities.
• Assist with electrical work instructions, test procedures, technician training, and standardized troubleshooting.
• Support prototype, rework, repair, and schedule-recovery activities.

ENGINEERING DOCUMENTATION & CONFIGURATION

• Create and maintain accurate:
• Electrical drawings
• Schematics
• Wiring diagrams
• Specifications
• Test procedures and reports
• Interface documentation
• Bills of Material
• Support Engineering Change Requests, ECOs, and Configuration Control Board activities.
• Ensure electrical hardware and software changes are documented, reviewed, validated, and released before production implementation.
• Maintain alignment between design requirements, drawings, BOMs, software, test configuration, and production hardware.

QUALITY, SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

• Perform work in accordance with TDI/Kratos Quality Management System and AS9100D requirements.
• Support verification, validation, corrective action, configuration control, and continuous improvement.
• Follow ESD, FOD, calibration, electrical safety, and engine-test safety requirements.
• Support customer, regulatory, and internal audits as required.
• Protect proprietary, customer, Government, and export-controlled information in accordance with ITAR/EAR requirements.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• No direct supervisory responsibility is initially assigned.
• The Electrical Engineer may provide technical leadership and mentoring to technicians, junior engineers, suppliers, or contractors and may serve as the electrical technical lead on assigned programs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Required

• Strong electrical and electronic engineering fundamentals.
• Experience designing, integrating, and troubleshooting electrical systems.
• Experience with analog and/or digital circuits.
• Ability to develop and interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical requirements.
• Experience with sensors, instrumentation, electrical test equipment, and system integration.
• Strong hands-on troubleshooting and root-cause-analysis capability.
• Ability to independently solve component, subsystem, and system-level problems.
• Ability to work effectively across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and test functions.
• Strong written and verbal technical communication.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced engineering and manufacturing environment.

Preferred

Experience in several of the following areas is preferred:

• Gas turbine or aerospace propulsion systems
• Engine controls, ECU, PCU, or FADEC-related systems
• Embedded C/C++
• Analog circuit and PCB design
• CAN / J1939
• MATLAB / Simulink / Python
• Altium, OrCAD, LTspice, or similar tools
• PLC programming and Allen-Bradley controls
• HMI / SCADA
• Data-acquisition and instrumentation systems
• Engine or component test stands
• Hardware-in-the-Loop or automated test equipment
• Power electronics or power distribution
• Aerospace or defense product development
• AS9100D and formal Configuration Management
• Verification, validation, and Root Cause Corrective Action
• Applicable MIL-STD, DO-160, DO-178, or DO-254 familiarity

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant engineering experience in electrical systems, electronics, embedded systems, controls, instrumentation, test systems, aerospace, propulsion, or similar complex products.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible engineering experience.
• Experience supporting turbine engines, aerospace propulsion, or aerospace test systems.
• Experience taking products from development through validation and production.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This is a hands-on engineering position involving work in office, laboratory, manufacturing, engine assembly, and test environments.

The employee must be comfortable working directly with prototype and production hardware, electrical test equipment, tooling, and instrumentation and using required PPE.

SECURITY / EXPORT CONTROL

• Must meet applicable U.S. export-control requirements.
• U.S. Person status may be required based on program requirements.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance if required.

KEY PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

The successful Electrical Engineer will:

• Develop reliable electrical solutions for turbine engine and test applications.
• Take ownership of electrical issues from identification through verified closure.
• Rapidly diagnose and resolve electrical, controls, and instrumentation problems.
• Improve engine and test-system reliability and uptime.
• Drive problems to root cause rather than temporary fixes.
• Maintain strong engineering documentation and configuration discipline.
• Effectively support both new-product development and production execution.
• Demonstrate technical judgment, urgency, accountability, and hands-on problem solving.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• 0-25% as required to support customer engagements, test activities, or other Kratos locations

THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO DESCRIBE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK BEING PERFORMED BY INDIVIDUALS ASSIGNED TO THIS CLASSIFICATION. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE CONSTRUED AS AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES AND SKILLS REQUIRED OF PERSONNEL SO CLASSIFIED

A REVIEW OF THIS CLASSIFICATION HAS EXCLUDED THE MARGINAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CLASSIFICATION THAT ARE INCIDENTAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF FUNDAMENTAL JOB JUTIES. ALL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO PERFORM THIS JOB PROFICIENTLY. THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE THE MINIMUM LEVELS OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS OR ABILITIES.

EEO/M/F/D/V

#LI-Onsite