Principal Electrical Engineer - Colt Optics at COLTS MANUFACTURING COMPANY LLC

Description

Colt Electro Optics (Colt Optics), a division of Colt CZ Group North America, is looking for a Principal Electrical Engineer.

Located in Brighton, Michigan, Colt Optics is a global supplier of electro-optics, magnified optics, night vision systems and other weapons, accessories and enablers.  

Job Summary

The Principal Electrical Engineer will lead the electrical design and integration of advanced electro-optical systems. This includes fire control systems, thermal imaging devices, and advanced sighting solutions. The Engineer will collaborate with cross-functional teams, manage R&D initiatives, and ensure compliance with industry standards such as MIL-STD-810H and MIL-PRF-13830B. This role involves designing robust electrical architectures, developing embedded systems, and ensuring seamless integration of sensors, displays, and laser systems to meet stringent military requirements.

Responsibilities Include:

• Lead the design of electrical systems for electro-optical products, including power management, sensor interfaces, and digital displays.
• Work closely with product managers and military clients to translate mission requirements into robust and optimized electrical systems.
• Partner with manufacturing teams to ensure designs are scalable and cost-effective, leveraging domestic and international production capabilities.
• Represent the company at industry events (e.g., SHOT Show, AUSA) to showcase advancements in product performance.
• Implement quality control measures to maintain precision and reliability, benchmarking against industry standards.
• Develop prototype breadboards that can rapidly qualify components and system functionality.
• Collaborate with optical engineers to integrate electrical components with lenses, thermal sensors, and laser systems, ensuring cohesive system performance
• Lead Testing and Evaluation (T&E) programs to ensure electrical systems meet military specifications and client requirements
• Create and optimize embedded systems for real-time control of electro-optical devices, including firmware for sensor fusion, polarity control, and edge detection
• Drive innovation in electrical design for next-generation electro-optics, exploring advancements like high-efficiency power supplies, low-power sensor interfaces, and hybrid digital-analog systems
• Collaborate with mechanical engineers to incorporate electrical designs driven by industrial design
• Utilize simulation tools (e.g., SPICE, Altium Designer) to optimize circuit performance and thermal management
• Mentor junior electrical engineers, sharing expertise in areas like PCB design, signal integrity, and embedded system development
• Contribute to technical reviews and presentations for stakeholders, including the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and international partners

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, or an engineering equivalent field. Master’s or Ph. D relevant to electro-optical defense applications is desirable.

• 10+ years of experience in electrical design, with at least 5 years in a technical leadership role within the defense industry. Prior work with designing and testing weapon sights for small arms.  Prior work with automation equipment and PLCs.

• Experience executing on complex and multi-disciplinary R&D projects.

• Strong communication, management and leadership skills.