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Electrical Engineer – Containers, Reefer & Thermal Systems Full-time | On-site – McLean, VA (No remote) Salary: 100,000 – 140,000 (DOE) U.S. Citizenship Required

CakeBoxx Technologies is building the next generation of secure, high-performance container and platform systems for defense, aerospace, energy, and high-tech customers. Our engineered solutions support mission-critical operations around the world, and we are looking for an Electrical Engineer who wants to see their designs go from concept to container, and into the field.

If you like hands-on engineering, practical problem-solving, and owning electrical designs all the way through wiring, integration, test, and commissioning, this role is for you.

About Us: CakeBoxx Technologies is an innovative, global leader in sustainable, optimized supply chain solutions for high-value, high-consequence, mission-essential, and oversized cargo. We design and build safe, secure, and efficient containers and platforms for end-to-end transport and storage, addressing ever-changing challenges and risks. Advantages of our flexible, resilient solutions include improved operational efficiency, reduced costs, increased profitability and cargo velocity, enhanced worker safety, reduced carbon footprint, and Zero-Defect deliveries.

Job Description:
CakeBoxx Technologies is seeking a hands-on Electrical Engineer to join our team on-site in McLean, Virginia. This role is focused on the design, integration, and delivery of electrical systems for advanced containerized platforms supporting defense, aerospace, energy, and high-tech applications.

You will be responsible for developing electrical systems for custom container and thermal solutions, supporting them from initial design through wiring, integration, testing, and field deployment. You will work closely with engineering, manufacturing partners, and program teams to ensure systems are built correctly and perform as required.

We are looking for someone who takes ownership of their work, can solve problems in real time, and is comfortable working in a fast-paced, build-driven environment. If you want to see your designs move beyond drawings and into real-world use, this role puts you in that position.

Key Responsibilities

· Design and develop electrical architectures for specialized shipping containers and reefer/control systems used in aerospace and defense applications.

· Define LV/MV power distribution, perform load calculations and power balance, and conduct short-circuit and protection coordination studies, including grounding and bonding design.

· Design complete container wiring schemes: cable routing in confined spaces, cable sizing, wiring diagrams, terminal plans, and cable schedules for containerized systems.

· Develop control panel and enclosure layouts for container applications and perform thermal/heat-dissipation assessments; specify appropriate cooling solutions (fans, A/C, passive measures) to protect electronics in harsh environments.

· Integrate refrigeration/reefer systems electrically (compressors, fans, heaters, VFDs, sensors) and support remote monitoring/IoT capabilities where required.

· Prepare complete, production-ready documentation packages: single-line and multi-line schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, enclosure layouts, cable schedules, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).

· Apply relevant IEC/EN and UL/CSA standards, support Machinery Directive/CE marking where applicable, and generate documentation for certification bodies, FAT/SAT, and customer approvals.

· Work directly with outsourced panel builders and integrators to clarify designs, support component selection, handle deviations, and support Factory Acceptance Testing at supplier sites.

· Collaborate closely with Mechanical Engineering on cabinet placement, penetrations, cable tray layouts, and the thermal interaction between electrical enclosures, reefer units, and the container structure.

· Support commissioning, troubleshooting, and issue resolution during build, factory testing, and field deployment.

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or closely related discipline).

· At least 5 years of electrical engineering experience in industrial automation, control panels/enclosures, or containerized/skid-mounted systems.

· Proven experience designing wiring and panel/enclosure layouts for complex assemblies (control panels, MCCs, containerized systems), including cable routing, cable sizing, and termination details.

· Hands-on experience with electrical CAD tools such as EPLAN Electric P8, AutoCAD Electrical, or SEE Electrical.

· Experience performing thermal/heat-dissipation assessments for electrical panels/enclosures and specifying appropriate cooling strategies.

· Familiarity with PLC-based control systems and I/O definition; experience with platforms such as Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Schneider, or Danfoss is a plus.

· Strong working knowledge of IEC/EN low-voltage standards (e.g., IEC 60204-1) and UL/CSA requirements; experience with CE/UL documentation and FAT/SAT procedures.

· Demonstrated ability to work with outsourced manufacturing partners (panel shops, integrators) to resolve wiring/build issues and deliver production-ready solutions.

· Practical, detail-oriented problem solver, comfortable switching between desk-based design/documentation work and on-site build/test support.

· Ability and willingness to work full-time, on-site in McLean, VA.

· U.S. Citizenship is required due to the nature of our defense and aerospace programs.

Skills Required

· Electrical Engineering: container and skid electrical architecture, LV/MV power distribution, protection, grounding/bonding, and integration of reefer/control loads.

· Container Wiring & Panels: design of container wiring schemes, cable routing, cable schedules, terminal plans, and control panel/enclosure layouts for harsh environments.

· Thermal & Enclosure Design: thermal/heat-dissipation assessment for electrical enclosures and panels, selection and specification of cooling solutions appropriate for containerized systems.

· Controls & Automation: PLC-based control fundamentals (architecture, I/O definition, basic logic concepts) and interfaces to refrigeration, fire suppression, and auxiliary systems.

· Standards & Compliance: application of IEC/EN, UL/CSA, Machinery Directive/CE, and container-related safety/transport standards, including documentation for certification and FAT/SAT.

· Communication & Collaboration: ability to work closely with Mechanical Engineering, Program Management, supply chain, and external panel builders to drive designs from concept through production and field deployment.

Desired Skills

· Experience with refrigeration or process systems (reefer containers, cold-chain, or process skids).

· Background in containerized, skid-mounted, or modular plant systems.

· Exposure to defense, aerospace, marine, or offshore standards (e.g., DNV, ABS).

· Experience in engineering-to-order (ETO) or project-based environments, including direct customer interaction on technical topics.

Benefits

· Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

· 401K with company match

· Paid Time Off

· Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance

· Tuition reimbursement, PMP and other professional development opportunities

· Revenue and performance-based incentives

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter, with at least two (2) references, to Mr. Rico Millarez at rico.millarez@cakeboxx.com, Attn: Charlie Wang, Engineering Manager. Please include “Electrical Engineer” in the subject line of your email.

Please see our website at www.cakeboxx.com.

This is an 'on-site' job located at our headquarters in McLean, Virginia. This is not a virtual position.

CakeBoxx Technologies is an engineering and solutions company that develops integrated operational systems, deployable infrastructure, and mission-focused solutions for defense, aerospace, energy, and industrial customers.
For more than 15 years, organizations including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Viasat, Rolls-Royce, AST SpaceMobile, Archer Aviation, and LeoLabs have trusted CakeBoxx to solve complex challenges involving mission-critical assets and technologies. Through our Systems Within SystemsTM approach, we engineer solutions that support the transport, protection, storage, deployment, and operation of satellites, radar systems, communications equipment, aircraft structures, propulsion systems, autonomous platforms, battery systems, and other high-value technologies.

At CakeBoxx, we engineer around the mission, not just the cargo, developing innovative solutions where conventional approaches are not enough. We engineer the solutions around the mission.