Principal Electronics Engineer

Job description

Senior / Principal Electronics Engineer

Location: Bristol

Permanent

Must be SC cleared /Eligible

An innovative aerospace and defence technology organisation is seeking a Senior / Principal Electronics Engineer to lead the development of mission-critical unmanned aerial systems.

This is a full-lifecycle role from architecture and schematic capture through to prototyping, flight validation and production release. You’ll play a key role in designing the “nervous system” of advanced aircraft platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

• Architect and design multi-layer PCBs (power, control, high-speed data, sensor interfaces)
• Lead aircraft electrical integration (wiring looms, interconnects, EMI/EMC robustness)
• Oversee prototype build, bench validation, and environmental testing
• Integrate payloads and mission systems with flight computers
• Define engineering standards, DfM principles, and manage component lifecycle/obsolescence
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across projects

Requirements:

• Degree in Electronic Engineering or related discipline
• Strong expertise in PCB design tools (Altium or similar)
• Deep understanding of power electronics, motor control (BLDC/ESCs), and digital comms (CAN, SPI, I2C, Ethernet)
• Track record delivering ruggedised or flight-critical hardware
• Comfortable in hands-on lab environments
• Eligible for SC Clearance

This role suits a technically authoritative engineer who thrives in fast-paced, high-performance development environments and wants to see their designs move from concept to operational deployment.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Greater Bristol Area

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

05-03-2026

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English