Senior System Engineer I

Join Ironwood Digital and be a Force for Good. At Ironwood Digital, we’re on a mission to Protect Life. We’re explorers, pursuing society’s most critical safety and justice issues with our ecosystem of devices and cloud software. Like our products, we work better together. We connect with candor and care, seeking out diverse perspectives from our customers, communities and each other. Life at Ironwood Digital is fast-paced, challenging and meaningful. Here, you’ll take ownership and drive real change. Constantly grow as you work hard for a mission that matters at a company where you matter. Your Impact: Dedrone stands out as the global leader in airspace defense technology and counter UAS solutions. Leveraging advanced AI/ML technologies, we deliver an all-encompassing solution for drone detection, identification, tracking, and neutralization — safeguarding critical infrastructure, governmental operations, and commercial interests from unauthorized drone activity, across both on-premise and cloud-based configurations. Engineering at Dedrone is tasked with delivering innovative solutions and products to maintain our position on the cutting-edge of innovation. Sr. Electrical Engineers at Dedrone have full ownership of electrical system and subsystem development for next generation cUAS platforms from concept through production, whose work is highly visible to even the most senior executives. Our passionate leadership and cross-functional collaboration with mechanical engineers, firmware and software engineers, product managers, and manufacturing teams is vital to the success of the team and ensuring the safety of the general public for generations to come. This role emphasizes high-speed electrical system architecture — spanning high-speed PCB design (FPGAs, processors, and DDR memory), RF sensor front-ends and antenna integration, firmware integration, power systems, and system-level verification. High-speed digital design is central to this role, complemented by RF design experience relevant to Dedrone's sensor hardware. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with PCB layout, mixed-signal and RF design, high-speed digital design, embedded firmware, and designing for rugged/regulated environments. What You'll Do: Lead electrical system and subsystem development from concept through production, ensuring designs meet safety, EMC, and reliability standards. Define electrical architectures for RF sensors, power distribution, and control electronics for cUAS platforms. Design and review schematics and perform PCB layout for mixed‑signal, high‑speed digital, and RF boards — owning the full high‑speed PCB development lifecycle for components including FPGAs, processors, and DDR memory, with emphasis on signal integrity; partner with mechanical for packaging and thermal constraints. Lead selection and design of FPGA and processor components, applying market expertise to guide component choices and high‑performance schematic and layout decisions. Develop, validate, and optimize power systems (battery management, DC/DC, power sequencing) and ensure robust operation under shock and vibration. Perform hardware bring‑up, debugging, and system integration; use lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers) to characterize high‑speed digital and RF performance. Conduct electrical analysis including signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation, thermal considerations, and reliability testing, ensuring designs meet FCC and CE compliance standards. Produce high‑fidelity prototypes and iterate quickly to qualify designs; develop test plans and lead verification and validation activities. Collaborate regularly with domestic and international stakeholders across engineering, product, and manufacturing teams. Rigorously document and manage electrical design specifications, BOMs, firmware releases, test reports, and compliance evidence (e.g., EMC, safety). What You Bring: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field. Proven experience in electrical design and system integration for complex hardware products, ideally in aerospace, defense, robotics, or wireless systems. Strong track record in high‑speed electrical design, including FPGAs, processors, and DDR memory subsystems, with hands‑on proficiency in Altium Designer for high‑performance schematic and layout work. Proficiency with PCB layout tools (Altium Designer preferred; OrCAD or KiCad also acceptable) and experience with DFM/DFX practices. Hands‑on experience with RF front‑ends and antenna integration, including interfacing RF front‑ends with high‑speed digital processing units; familiarity with wireless protocols relevant to cUAS (Wi‑Fi, LTE, custom radios) and experience with spectrum analysis and RF test equipment. Expertise in power electronics design: battery management systems, DC/DC converters, power sequencing, and thermal management for electronics. Solid understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation techniques, and relevant test/qualification methods, including compliance with FCC and CE standards. Experience with schematic/PCB review processes, design reviews, and partnering with manufacturing to move designs to production. Familiarity with MIL‑STD, DO‑178/DO‑254 concepts or other ruggedization and regulatory requirements for defense or industrial hardware is preferred. Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities; comfort debugging at the board and system level. Excellent communication skills to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and present technical tradeoffs to stakeholders. Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment with high levels of ambiguity. Work Location This role is based out of our Kassel, Germany office and follows a hybrid schedule. We rely on in-person collaboration and ask that team members work onsite Tuesdays through Fridays, with the flexibility to work remotely on Mondays, unless there is an approved workplace accommodation. We believe that connection fuels innovation, and our in-office culture is designed to foster meaningful teamwork, mentorship, and shared success. Don’t meet every single requirement? That's ok. At Ironwood Digital, we Aim Far. We think big with a long-term view because we want to reinvent the world to be a safer, better place. We are also committed to building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they check every box in the job description. If you’re excited about this role and our mission to Protect Life but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed here, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Important Notes The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all duties, responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. The job description may change or be supplemented at any time in accordance with business needs and conditions. Some roles may also require legal eligibility to work in a firearms environment. We collect personal information from applicants to evaluate candidates for employment. You may request access, deletion, or exercise other CCPA rights at [email protected] or via our Ironwood Digital Privacy Web Form . For more information, please see the Your California Privacy Rights section of our Applicant and Candidate Privacy Notice. Ironwood Digital’s mission is to Protect Life and is committed to the well-being and safety of its employees as well as Ironwood Digital’s impact on the environment. All Ironwood Digital employees must be aware of and committed to the appropriate environmental, health, and safety regulations, policies, and procedures. Ironwood Digital employees are empowered to report safety concerns as they arise and activities potentially impacting the environment. 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