Electrical Engineer, Instrumentation and Controls Firmware
San Diego, California
Overview
General Atomics pioneers technologies with the potential to change the world. Behind a talented global team of engineers, GA delivers safe, sustainable, and economical solutions to meet growing global demands. Our Engineers have an opportunity to work on first of a kind product lines within an incredible, dynamic environment.
Engineering positions typically require a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience. Candidates from mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering backgrounds must know the fundamentals of engineering system developments, requirements, testing, and integration before getting to the final stages of customer interface and project management.
Schedule: Full-Time Salary
Job Level: Senior (8+ years)
Travel: 0 - 25
Success Profile
What makes a successful Electrical Engineer, Instrumentation and Controls Firmware at General Atomics? Check out the top traits we’re looking for and see if you have the right mix.
- Analytical
- Collaborative
- Inventive
- Problem Solver
- Team Player
- Creative
Job Summary General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.
We have an exciting opportunity for an Electrical Engineer (EE) to join our Electrical Technologies Embedded Systems team located in Rancho Bernardo. We are looking for someone with drive and talent who thrives in a fast-paced, Research and Development (R&D) environment. The successful candidate will report to the EE Instrumentation and Control Team Manager and, alongside high-caliber colleagues, will be engaged in the engineering support and new development of high-power electromagnetic systems, high-energy laser (HEL) systems, advanced airborne sensors, space-based laser and electro-optical communications systems, and a variety of other technologies in the expanding product portfolio of GA-EMS. This position includes a technical emphasis on working with National Instruments hardware that is commonly programmed with LabVIEW for system instrumentation, control, command, and data handling.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead and contribute to development and sustainment efforts for HEL and other Control Systems using National Instruments hardware with LabVIEW firmware/software programming.
- Work with GA-EMS Engineering staff and chief engineers to architect and develop control systems for the HEL product line and other GA-EMS product lines and technology areas. These encompass high-power motor drives, power conditioning systems, pulsed power systems, battery systems, advanced sensors, laser communications, photonics, space systems, digital signal and image processing, target tracking, laser beam control/pointing, signal modulation, and instrumentation.
- Adapt evolving processes for control of complex, electrical/optical/mechanical systems with hardware and personnel safety as top priority.
- Grasp, understand, and correlate many pieces of a complex system concurrently and be able to identify, construct, document, and troubleshoot dependencies, relationships, and logical processes in a clear, organized, methodical manner.
- Execute technical concepts, strategies, and plans quickly and work with minimal supervision.
We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.
Job Qualifications:
- Typically requires a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; nine (9) or more years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, seven (7) or more years of experience with a master’s degree, or four (4) or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
- Active or Ability to obtain DoD Security Clearance is required.
- Required Experience:
- Proven experience in embedded firmware development using C or C++ for SOCs or microcontrollers
- Experience with communication protocols such as RS422, I2C, GigE, SPI, TCP, UDP, etc.
- Experience integrating software with hardware (e.g., sensors, peripherals)
- Experience in releasing embedded firmware with proper version control, testing, and deployment processes.
- Desired proficiency in implementing software algorithms such as (PID Controllers or Digital Signal Processing).
- Desired experience developing firmware controlling system safety (e.g., safety-critical systems, fail-safes, fault detection, and response mechanisms).
- Desired familiarity with DoD technical review process (at a minimum: SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR).
- Familiarity with version control (e.g., Git) and build systems (e.g., Make, CMake).
- Demonstrate understanding of standard software development practices and documentation.
- Desired Experience with other software development languages such as LabVIEW, or Python.
- Desired Experience working with Linux based systems.
- Desired knowledge and experience with EE fundamental concepts and troubleshooting hardware.
- Experience with Cross – Team collaboration and communication.
- Demonstrate an extensive technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice with the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones with some experience in project leadership.
- Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment.
- Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required to enable an effective interface with other departments and/or professionals
- Customer-focused and able to formulate plans based on the development of innovative new designs in resolving advanced technical engineering problems.
- Must be able to work both independently and in a team environment.
- Able to work extended hours and travel as required.
Salary:$105,890 - $189,545
Benefits
-
Healthcare
-
Pension, 401(k)/Retirement Plans
-
Competitive Pay
-
Multiple product lines means a variety of work
-
Paid Time Off

“The company is growing, has a very good reputation and had open positions in my area of expertise (aircraft design/design methodology development).”– Peter, Senior Staff Engineer

“We don't ascribe to quotas; we do ascribe to securing the BEST talent to enrich our culture toward healthy diversification and active/viable community service. We are STEM advocates.”– Debra, CSSBB: Staff Engineer

“Every day is different, with different problems to solve and many programs to support. I am a problem solver and have always been motivated by the tough questions.”– Scott, Laser Scientist

“I work in the Components Engineering and Obsolescence Management Dept. Our efforts are saving General Atomics several millions of dollars by proactively leading and informing the company of all these decisions which significantly impact production, sustainment and new designs.”– John, Staff Engineer
News
-
Featured Jobs
- Senior Staff Autonomy Stack Architect Poway, California
- Legal Assistant San Diego, California
- Electrical Engineer, MODEM Architect San Diego, California
- Space Systems Cyber Security Engineer Englewood, Colorado
You have not recently viewed any jobs.
You have no saved jobs.
-
Featured Jobs
- Senior Staff Autonomy Stack Architect Poway, California
- Legal Assistant San Diego, California
- Electrical Engineer, MODEM Architect San Diego, California
- Space Systems Cyber Security Engineer Englewood, Colorado
You have not recently viewed any jobs.
You have no saved jobs.
-
Featured Jobs
- Senior Staff Autonomy Stack Architect Poway, California
- Legal Assistant San Diego, California
- Electrical Engineer, MODEM Architect San Diego, California
- Space Systems Cyber Security Engineer Englewood, Colorado
You have not recently viewed any jobs.
You have no saved jobs.