Freelance Sensor Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Digital and Analog Electronics Design Engineer III-IV

Psionic, Inc. is proud of our customer relationships, our diverse and dynamic work environment, and our employees' career satisfaction. We are focused on LiDAR sensors for autonomous vehicles. We are building a culture of high performance that we think can change the world for the better.

Headquartered in Hampton, Virginia, Psionic offers a competitive salary and attractive benefits package. Our website describes our corporate values and how they apply to the professional success and growth of our employees.

We would like to add a motivated, fast-paced Digital and Analog Electronics Design Engineer with a diverse and solid background to our on-site team in Hampton, Virginia.

Job Description

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a digital and analog electronics engineer and provide electronics design and development efforts for second generation LiDAR to support defense and space contracts as well as the fast-moving autonomous vehicle sector.

Projects will include lab demonstrations, field measurement campaigns, and prototypes to be supplied to potential customers for testing in their systems. Work requires high-speed digital electronics board and system-level design including the development of systems that incorporate microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory systems, complex interfaces, and Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA).

Designs must perform under stringent aviation and space environmental conditions. Highly-integrated sensors and supporting electronics will be necessary to achieve high performance requirements for our alpha and beta demonstration units. This newly developed LiDAR and improved signal processing systems will result in a far-reaching impact in the field of autonomous vehicles.

The work involves analyzing, designing, simulating, fabricating, testing, and conducting performance validation and verification of electronic data processing, controls, and instrumentation systems. Fast turnaround and reliable board design are critical. These will be used for detecting, recording, measuring, or controlling physical conditions, phenomena, and environments encountered in automotive, aeronautical and aerospace development programs.

Major Responsibilities as an Engineer

• Design and test advanced digital circuits that include microprocessors, memory systems, complex interfaces, microcontrollers, programmable logic devices, and field programmable gate arrays.
  • Simulate digital circuits (behavioral and timing) to ensure that performance, timing, and power requirements are all satisfied.
• Design power and signal processing circuits for low noise sensors.
  • Simulate analog circuits to ensure that performance, timing, and power requirements are all satisfied.
• Generate and review development and design approaches for adequacy, feasibility, cost, and conformance to overall goals and best engineering practices.
• Write specifications for Printed Wiring Boards to meet trace impedance, cross talk, radiated emissions, and other high-speed signal requirements.
• Develop lab-grade software to test printed wiring assemblies including memory, interface, sensor, and other functions
• Write and execute test procedures to verify requirements
• Support for software and systems integration activities.
• Presents results at project reviews and technical conferences.
• Ensure assigned aerospace and/or ground support equipment meet project objectives and environmental conditions and are compatible with ground data acquisition and processing capabilities.
• Write EMC test plans and support environmental testing to verify systems are compliant with MIL-STD-461G
• Write and review technical goals and approaches, monitoring progress during development, design, and testing. Provide advanced technical assistance in development, design, and integration of technologies and systems.
• Reviews and analyzes existing systems design to initiate redesign or recommend modifications to improve operational effectiveness of hardware and software.
• Designs or directs the development of unique or leading-edge technology, hardware, equipment, or systems to meet specific mission requirements.
• Hands-on electronic circuit skills for troubleshooting and modifications is important.
• Works as part of engineering team efforts related to the study, development, and test of hardware, data system components, or equipment.
• Supports the design, development and testing, including upgrades, parts reliability requirements, failure analysis/corrective action investigations, special laboratory tests, performance evaluations, and design audits of in-house and contracted projects and provides status to senior program management.
• Oversees the day-to-day development activities of the design team in support of the project manager's work plan.
• Performs additional data systems and analysis work as required.

Technical Skills

• Maintain a broad knowledge of electronics analog/digital design engineering.
• Senior-level Engineer (7 years min.).
• Experience working in teams for the formulation, design, development, modification, implementation, calibration, and field deployment of difficult electronic measurement and instrumentation systems or other ground systems, or subsystems for laboratory, aero, or space flight systems.
• Experience with full life cycle development.
• Experienced electrical board designer.
• Consultation experience in the field of digital hardware system design.
• Ability to troubleshoot and diagnose issues that arise during testing.

Education and Qualifications

• Must be legally able to work in the United States; US Citizenship is preferred
• Ability to pass a pre-employment background check
• BS degree or higher in Engineering is required
• Significant hands-on experience is required
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• An ability to learn new skills and adapt to new technologies
• Experience desired, with Altium EDA tools, VHDL, C/C++, Python, SPICE/PSPICE, and the Xilinx Vivado tool suite

Psionic, Inc. is an affirmative action employer and is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

Psionic, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and expressly prohibits any form of unlawful harassment or discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, genetic information or results of genetic testing, or service in the military.

This position requires access to export-controlled technology or software source code and is subject to U.S. Export Control Laws. This position requires eligibility to work in the United States and well as the ability to pass a pre-employment background check.