Principal Digital Electrical Engineer

Req Id: 283

Location:

CLARKSBURG, MD, US, 20871

Date: Dec 29, 2025

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) Headquartered in Clarksburg, MD, is a U.S. company that has been serving domestic and international defense Air, Land and Sea domains for 60 years. With over 1000 employees, TDSI and its four subsidiaries (Advanced Acoustic Concepts, Digital Receiver Technology, Tampa Microwave, and Trusted Cyber Technologies), supports U.S. Joint Services, special operations forces and multi-national partners with a variety of communication, visualization, signal intelligence/electronic warfare, and sensor/sonar capabilities. TDSI’s key technologies include tactical handheld radios, expeditionary satellite terminals, helmet-mounted displays, optics and target recognition capability, advanced radars, undersea sensing and missile systems. Lives depend on what we do!

Top Benefits (Subject to terms of applicable policies/plans)

• Competitive Salary
• Yearly Incentive Compensation Plan
• Medical insurance for self and eligible family members
• Generous 401(k) program- up to 7% company contribution and 100% immediate vesting
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave
• Paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave
• 9/80 Work Schedule (every other Friday off)
  
  

We are seeking to fill a Principal Digital Hardware Engineer position located at our Clarksburg, MD Campus, focused on our software-defined radio technologies. The Principal Engineer will report to the Director of Hardware and Support Engineering . The Principal Engineer will work cross functionally with software engineers to co-design a system and solve problems by making software and hardware cooperate rather than operate at cross-purposes. You will collaborate with mechanical engineers to design intricate high-power thermal and interconnect solutions. The ideal candidate will be able to lead Project Meetings and coordinate Product Development from product inception to production handoff.

Responsibilities

• Lead small digital engineering teams and/or work independently to define requirements, conceive, document (create schematics, PCB layouts, interface control documents, hardware design documents, test plans/reports, etc), analyze/simulate, build prototypes, load firmware/software on prototype boards and radios, perform verification testing, debug, and optimize digital circuit designs to meet requirements at the circuit, card, and product levels.
• Implement digital designs of high complexity and high density utilizing microprocessors, DSPs, memory systems, FPGAs, audio amplifiers and codecs, displays, and high efficiency low noise power supplies capable of supporting advanced waveforms used in small size weight and power (SWAP) communication products.
• Implement designs utilizing on board high speed data buses (i.e. DDR3/DDR4 memory, High Speed Ethernet, etc) and capable of controlling external RF amplifiers and interfacing with external data and control devices (USB 2.0/3.0, RS-232, RS-485, Ethernet, etc).
• Perform technical trade studies and analyses to select digital architecture and key components.
• Develop and implement detailed design specifications, test plans and test procedures.
• Effectively troubleshoot problems and implement effective solutions.
• Plan and execute PCB layout activities independently and through PCB Layout Designers.
• Plan, estimate, and manage the technical requirements, scope, budget, schedule, and deliverables for designs from concept, through detailed design, prototype and engineering test, and transition into full rate production.
• Generate documentation for programming individual components, loading firmware onto circuit card assemblies and fully assembled product.
• Integrate Design for Manufacturing, Assembly, and Testing methodologies into all digital designs including Boundary Scan and related test fixtures.
• Perform root cause analysis on field failures and support continuous product improvements.
• Verify product performance vs. predictions for prototype products and production hardware products.
• Analyze product failure data and malfunction testing trends, troubleshoot yield issues, and recommend product improvements, including test improvements.
• Participate in continuous improvement and team building activities. Maintain productive working relationships with all team members.
• Support R&D efforts and continuous process improvements.
• Complete assigned tasks in a quality and timely manner with minimal supervision.
• Effectively support and communicate to management status, issues, needs and ideas.
  
  

Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• US Citizenship Required - Applicant selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet requirements to obtain and maintain a US Secret Security Clearance.
• BSEE/MSEE in Electrical Engineering.
• 8 years of electrical design experience in detailed circuit card design (board-level schematic design and capture).
• In-depth practical and theoretical knowledge of digital circuit design as it applies to communication products used for Tactical Radio, SATCOM, and/or Land Mobile Radio products.
• Experience designing and serving as technical lead for high complexity and high density digital designs utilizing microprocessors, DSPs, memory systems, FPGAs, audio amplifiers and codecs, displays, and high efficiency low noise power supplies capable of supporting advanced waveforms used in small size weight and power (SWAP) communication products.
• Experience utilizing a formal design process to document (create schematics, PCB layouts, interface control documents, hardware design documents, test plans/reports, etc), analyze/simulate, build prototypes, load firmware/software on prototype boards and radios, perform verification testing, debug, and optimize circuit designs to meet requirements at the circuit, card, and product levels.
• Experience transitioning schematics into PCB layout by working independently and/or through PCB Layout Designers.
• Experience defining methods of programming and loading firmware on development hardware for CCA development and testing.
• Hands-on lab experience to breadboard, prototype and fully test designs utilizing advanced engineering test equipment.
• Experience utilizing industry best practices and transitioning designs into full rate production.
• Experience utilizing engineering development software tools including Altium Designer (preferred), Siemens Xpedition, Hyperlynx, OrCAD, LTspice, Matlab/Simulink, Lab View, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Experience leading small teams of digital engineers and mentoring junior engineers.
• Experience designing to and meeting DoD, Agency, and Industry standards and practices, for EMI/EMC, environmental, certification and test (MIL-STD, CE/UL, NTIA/FCC, RoHS, REACH, ASTM, ANSI, etc.).
• Strong communication skills both verbal and non-verbal.
• Ability to think "out-of-the-box”, develop, and implement innovation design solutions.
• Ability to comply with all Company guidelines, policies, procedures and embrace Company Core Values.
  
  

The annualized pay range for this role is $142,410-181,969 USD along with a target incentive compensation plan (ICP) of 5%. The pay range provided is a good faith estimate representative of the experience level for the role described above. TDSI considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

For specific questions about this job posting, candidates may contact talent acquisition at careers@thalesdsi.com.

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. is committed to non-discrimination as applicable under federal, state and local laws. We are an E-Verify Employer.

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales Defense & Security, Inc., please call Human Resources at 202-961-1016.

Nearest Major Market: Washington DC