Basic Qualifications :
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree plus a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience.
CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Department of Defense Secret security clearance is obtainable within a reasonable amount of time after hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required
Responsibilities for this Position:
As the Electrical Hardware Design Lead, you and your team will be responsible for guiding multiple electrical subsystems and their components from concept to final installation in a program that introduces new, innovative capabilities into an existing system. A key and exciting dimension of this role is leading the Obsolescence Refresh effort — breathing new life into legacy hardware by reimagining and recreating older designs with modern components, architectures, and manufacturing approaches, all while ensuring seamless integration into the current system architecture and positioning the program for future growth.
Your technical expertise will drive the team through architecture and requirements discussions, hardware component selection and design — including PCB, FPGA, and network infrastructure components — design verification, qualification testing, and full integration across electrical, systems, and mechanical disciplines, all while adhering to schedule and budget constraints. Your ability to effectively communicate with other disciplines and program management will facilitate an iterative, risk-based approach to developing secure, high-performance technical solutions in a defense environment.
We are looking for a candidate who is ahead of technology trends with R&D experience and advanced proficiency in test, troubleshooting, and analyzing circuit card schematics within networked and cyber-resilient environments. Electrical hardware design is at the core of this role, and you bring a demonstrated ability to bridge electrical design with systems-level requirements and mechanical integration constraints across complex, multi-discipline programs.
What truly excites us is a candidate who thrives on the unique challenge of obsolescence refresh work — the creative and technical puzzle of taking hardware that was designed in a different era and reinventing it for today's and tomorrow's standards. You understand that this is not simply a one-for-one component swap; it is an opportunity to modernize design architectures, improve manufacturability, enhance reliability, and align legacy capabilities with current and emerging system requirements — all without disrupting the integrity of the broader system. You relish the detective work of reverse-engineering legacy designs, identifying gaps and opportunities, and delivering hardware that feels entirely new while honoring the functional intent of what came before.
You are motivated to drive innovation around design architectures, assembly, component selection, and electronics design with an emphasis on secure, scalable hardware solutions. You bring exceptional collaboration and communication skills with demonstrated success leading a team of 5-7 engineers across complex, concurrent electrical hardware projects, and you are a team player committed to ongoing professional development for yourself and others. A foundational understanding of networking and cybersecurity principles as they relate to hardware — including familiarity with encryption algorithms, secure boot, and trusted platform architectures — is preferred, but deep expertise across all areas is not required. You also identify opportunities to apply AI for continuous improvement and innovation.
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Lead the Obsolescence Refresh Hardware effort, driving the transition of legacy electrical hardware to modern, supportable designs that integrate cleanly into the current system architecture
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Identify obsolete or at-risk components proactively and develop forward-looking mitigation strategies that extend program life and reduce supply chain risk
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Collaborate with systems, mechanical, and software engineering teams to ensure refreshed hardware meets current interface, form factor, and performance requirements while anticipating future capability needs
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Guide the team through architecture and requirements discussions, PCB and FPGA design, component selection, design verification, and qualification testing
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Champion a forward-looking design philosophy — using the refresh effort as an opportunity to modernize, not just replace — incorporating best-in-class components, improved thermal and power management, and enhanced cybersecurity features
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Maintain schedule and budget discipline across concurrent hardware design and refresh activities
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Communicate technical status, risks, and opportunities clearly to program management and cross-discipline stakeholders
At General Dynamics Mission Systems, we are committed to providing an exciting career path with opportunities for continuous learning and development. You will perform research-oriented work alongside award-winning teams developing practical solutions for our nation's security, delivering innovative, mission-critical capabilities that make a real difference.
This role offers a rare and rewarding opportunity — the chance to honor the legacy of systems that have served our nation for decades while actively shaping what those systems will look like for the next generation. You will work on programs that directly support national defense, alongside multidisciplinary teams in a secure and dynamic environment that values innovation, cross-discipline collaboration, and the application of emerging technologies.
We offer flexible schedules with every other Friday off, if desired (9/80 schedule), as well as competitive benefits including 401k matching, flex time off, paid parental leave, healthcare benefits, health & wellness programs, employee resource and social groups, and more. Learn more at gdmissionsystems.com/careers/why-work-for-us/benefits.
This position is fully on-site at our Pittsfield, Massachusetts facility.
Salary Note: This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled. Combined Salary Range: USD $118,519.00 - USD $131,482.00 /Yr. Company Overview:
General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!
Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans
