Principal Electronics Design Engineer
Principal Electronics Design Engineer

Principal Electronics Design Engineer

Milton Keynes Full-Time 48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design of high-reliability airborne electronic systems for defence and aerospace.
  • Company: Join a pioneering company making waves in the aerospace sector.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact while working on cutting-edge technology in a collaborative environment.
  • Qualifications: 8+ years in electronics design with a degree in Electronic Engineering or related field.
  • Other info: Must be eligible for full security clearance.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.

Are you an experienced electronics design engineer looking to make a real impact in the aerospace sector? We’re seeking a Principal Electronics Design Engineer to lead the design and development of high-reliability airborne electronic systems used in critical defence and aerospace applications.

In this role, you’ll own the full hardware development lifecycle—from requirements capture to circuit design, simulation, and product integration. You'll combine analogue and digital expertise with system-level thinking to create robust, certifiable solutions that operate in the harshest airborne environments.

Main responsibilities:

  • Act as Design Authority for an airborne electronics product.
  • Design and simulate analogue and mixed-signal circuits, including filtering, amplification, and power regulation.
  • Use LTSpice (or equivalent) to simulate and verify circuit performance across conditions.
  • Develop digital systems with FPGAs, SoCs, and high-speed serial interfaces.
  • Produce schematics using Altium Designer and support PCB layout integration.
  • Work with cross-functional teams—RF, software, mechanical—to ensure cohesive system development.
  • Support system integration, bench testing, and troubleshooting of new designs.
  • Contribute to and lead design reviews, documentation, and configuration management.
  • Engage with system engineering activities, converting requirements into verified design solutions.
  • Contribute to DO-254 / DO-160 certification activities and documentation.

Requirements:

  • BEng/BSc in Electronic Engineering (or related discipline).
  • 8+ years practical design experience in aerospace, defence, or high-reliability embedded systems.
  • Strong background in analogue and mixed-signal circuit design for airborne or harsh environments.
  • Proven experience with LTSpice, PSpice, or equivalent simulation tools.
  • Working knowledge of digital logic, FPGA-based systems, and VHDL (Altera or Xilinx environments).
  • Competence in serial interfaces such as RS-422, RS-485, SPI, I2C, and MLVDS.
  • Experience with multi-layer PCB design, component selection for aerospace, and high-reliability design principles.
  • Experience with hardware integration, commissioning, and troubleshooting at both board and system level.
  • Clear understanding of system engineering principles, traceability, and configuration management.

Highly desirable:

  • Familiarity with DO-254, DO-160, or equivalent airborne certification standards is a strong advantage.
  • Knowledge of STANAG 3910, MIL-STD-1553, or other avionics data bus standards.
  • Experience working in certified aerospace environments or on flight hardware projects.

Security Clearance:

You must be eligible for full security clearance.

Principal Electronics Design Engineer employer: Spectrum Control

Join a leading aerospace company that values innovation and excellence, offering a dynamic work culture where your expertise as a Principal Electronics Design Engineer will directly contribute to critical defence and aerospace projects. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have access to continuous professional development opportunities and the chance to collaborate with cross-functional teams in a supportive environment. Located in a hub of technological advancement, this role provides unique advantages such as exposure to cutting-edge technologies and the opportunity to work on high-reliability systems that make a real difference in the industry.
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Contact Detail:

Spectrum Control Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Electronics Design Engineer

✨Tip Number 1

Network with professionals in the aerospace and defence sectors. Attend industry conferences, workshops, or webinars to meet potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends and technologies. This can help you gain insights into what companies like us at StudySmarter are looking for in candidates.

✨Tip Number 2

Familiarise yourself with the specific tools and software mentioned in the job description, such as LTSpice and Altium Designer. Consider taking online courses or tutorials to enhance your skills in these areas, as demonstrating proficiency can set you apart from other candidates.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your experience with high-reliability systems and certification standards like DO-254 and DO-160. Be ready to share specific examples of projects where you successfully navigated these requirements, as this will showcase your expertise and relevance to the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Engage with our company’s online presence. Follow us on social media, read our blog posts, and participate in discussions. This not only shows your interest in StudySmarter but also helps you understand our culture and values, which can be beneficial during interviews.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Electronics Design Engineer

Analogue Circuit Design
Mixed-Signal Circuit Design
LTSpice Simulation
PSpice Simulation
FPGA Development
SoC Design
High-Speed Serial Interfaces
Altium Designer
PCB Layout Integration
Cross-Functional Team Collaboration
System Integration
Bench Testing
Troubleshooting
Design Reviews
Configuration Management
DO-254 Certification
DO-160 Certification
Traceability
Component Selection for Aerospace
High-Reliability Design Principles
Digital Logic
VHDL Programming
RS-422 Communication
RS-485 Communication
SPI Communication
I2C Communication
MLVDS Communication
Understanding of System Engineering Principles

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in electronics design, particularly in aerospace or defence. Emphasise your skills in analogue and mixed-signal circuit design, as well as any experience with LTSpice or similar tools.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the aerospace sector and detail how your background aligns with the responsibilities of the Principal Electronics Design Engineer role. Mention specific projects where you've demonstrated leadership in hardware development.

Showcase Relevant Projects: Include examples of past projects that demonstrate your expertise in high-reliability embedded systems and your ability to work with cross-functional teams. Highlight any experience with DO-254 or DO-160 certification processes.

Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread your documents for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is crucial in engineering roles.

How to prepare for a job interview at Spectrum Control

✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise

Be prepared to discuss your experience with analogue and mixed-signal circuit design. Highlight specific projects where you used LTSpice or similar tools, and be ready to explain your design choices and the outcomes.

✨Demonstrate System-Level Thinking

Illustrate your ability to integrate various components into a cohesive system. Discuss how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams in the past, particularly in aerospace or defence projects, to ensure successful product development.

✨Prepare for Design Reviews

Understand the importance of design reviews in the development process. Be ready to talk about your role in previous reviews, how you contributed to documentation, and how you handled feedback from peers and stakeholders.

✨Familiarise Yourself with Certification Standards

Since familiarity with DO-254 and DO-160 is highly desirable, brush up on these standards before your interview. Be prepared to discuss how you've contributed to certification activities in your past roles and the impact it had on project success.

Principal Electronics Design Engineer
Spectrum Control
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