Principal Electrical Engineer

Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems (AES) is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer with a strong track record of implementing advanced power conversion technologies into aerospace-grade power supply and power conversion products.

Join our accomplished Cabin Electronics Power Team in Kirkland, WA and help us transform modern flight.

This is an on-site position that offers flexibility to work from home 2–3 days per week, depending on project needs.

Job Summary

The Principal Electrical Engineer will provide technical leadership for the design and development of in-seat power supplies and USB outlet units for commercial aircraft. You will lead the electrical design based on functional requirements, guide the engineering team through product certification, and drive technology innovation through targeted R&D activities.

This role requires extensive knowledge of power conversion technologies—including resonant converter topologies and digitally controlled power supplies—along with strong leadership, mentoring, and presentation skills. You will independently apply a high degree of creative ability, engineering skill, and judgment to solve complex problems and move programs to successful completion.

Role Objectives

1. Design power supplies and outlet units that meet defined functional and certification requirements.
2. Produce high-quality electrical design documentation to support development, test, and certification.
3. Perform electrical simulations and trade studies to optimize designs for performance, reliability, and cost.
4. Lead the electrical technical team to achieve successful product certification to DO-160, Airbus, and Boeing requirements.
5. Conduct R&D activities and evaluate emerging power conversion technologies for potential integration into future products.
6. Diagnose and resolve development hardware failures, implementing robust corrective design changes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the electrical design of aerospace-grade in-seat power supplies and USB outlet units for commercial aircraft from concept through certification.
• Translate functional and system-level requirements into robust electrical architectures and detailed designs.
• Propose, plan, and execute R&D activities that advance the group’s power supply and power conversion capabilities, including evaluation of new technologies and topologies.
• Apply extensive knowledge of power conversion technologies, with emphasis on resonant converters and digital control techniques.
• Perform electrical simulations and trade studies using advanced tools (e.g., OrCAD, SPICE, SABER) to determine optimal design approaches.
• Stay current with industry trends in power electronics and incorporate relevant advancements into new product development.
• Ensure designs meet applicable aerospace industry standards, including DO-160 as well as Airbus and Boeing requirements.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive electrical design documentation, including schematics, design descriptions, analyses, and compliance evidence.
• Create clear, technically rigorous test procedures, test reports, and requirements documents, and present them as a subject-matter expert at internal and external design reviews.
• Prepare and present technical analyses, design justifications, and trade study results to internal stakeholders and customers.
• Lead and mentor the electrical engineering (EE) team on projects, providing technical direction and oversight to achieve performance, schedule, and certification objectives.
• Support product certification activities, coordinating closely with systems, compliance, and test teams to demonstrate requirements verification and validation.
• Troubleshoot development hardware issues, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective design changes.
• Support bid and proposal efforts and assist with new business and follow-on opportunities as a technical leader.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE required).
• Typically, 12 or more years of relevant experience in electrical design, with direct experience in power supply and/or power conversion product development.
• Demonstrated expertise with resonant power converter topologies and digital control of power supplies.
• Broad experience with advanced electrical engineering simulation tools (such as OrCAD, SPICE, SABER) and conducting trade studies.
• Experience designing to DO-160 and other applicable aerospace requirements, including Airbus and Boeing specifications.
• Proven ability to generate high-quality technical documents: design descriptions, requirements, test procedures, test reports, and presentations.
• Experience leading electrical engineering teams or providing technical leadership on complex product development or research programs.

Employment Eligibility Requirements

• This role may involve access to items subject to U.S. export-controls laws or other applicable U.S.-government legal or contractual requirements. To assess whether any licenses, authorizations, or other exceptions are required, please indicate below whether you are a U.S. Person. If you are not a U.S. Person, the company does not guarantee and is under no obligation to seek such authorization if it would be necessary. This information is collected solely for this compliance purpose.
• An offer of employment is contingent upon successfully passing a pre-employment background screen and drug test, including cannabis screening.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $152,072 – $242,920 per year (midpoint: $197,496).
• Quarterly Profit Sharing Bonus eligible.
• Factors such as experience in comparable roles, skill set, training, education, certifications, other qualifications, market conditions, and business needs influence the actual salary offered. It is not typical to be hired at or near the top of the range.

Comprehensive Benefits Package

• Health & Well-Being: Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, plus optional critical illness, accident prevention, and hospital indemnity coverage.
• Financial Security: 401(k) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Work–Life Balance: Flexible hybrid work arrangements for eligible positions, Employee Assistance Program, and a supportive culture encouraging balance.
• Generous PTO: Starting at 120 hours annually, plus 12 paid holidays per year.