Senior - Principal Electrical Engineer - Autonomous Systems

Senior - Principal Electrical Engineer - Autonomous Systems

Join to apply for the Senior - Principal Electrical Engineer - Autonomous Systems role at Wing Xpand

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Join to apply for the Senior - Principal Electrical Engineer - Autonomous Systems role at Wing Xpand

At Wing Xpand®

Chicago (Schaumburg), IL

Full-time | Open 1/3/26 | Close 1/17/26

Wing Xpand is Expanding What’s Possible™ with Autonomous Systems with our 8ft smart plane that expands from a backpack to help farmers grow more yield, public safety crews respond to disasters faster, and keep soldiers safe. We’re a rapidly growing startup that is creating the future of smart, connected, robotics. We want you to play a key role in our journey!

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Principal Electrical Engineer with a proven track record in hands‑on embedded product development. This is a unique opportunity to make an immediate impact by leading multiple concurrent development efforts. Beyond execution, we envision this individual growing into a Director of Hardware, building and mentoring our future hardware teams as Wing Xpand scales. This is a highly hands‑on role where you’ll be involved in all aspects of the development lifecycle.

One day you might be elbow deep in the a drone performing hardware upgrades and repairs, and the next you’ll be architecting innovative computer vision subsystems. If you’re a versatile engineer who thrives on challenges and is ready to lead, we want to hear from you. (Bonus Points):
Experience with autonomous systems, flying drones, computer vision, and machine learning subsystems will be highly regarded.

• End-to-End Hardware Design:
  Lead and execute all phases of new hardware development, including component selection, cost of goods (COGs) budgeting, PCB layout, assembly, new board bring‑up, and authoring core drivers and firmware.
• Battery Management Expertise:
  Design, implement, and support robust battery management systems for a range of power requirements (from milliamp to 100+ Amp systems).
• Embedded Communications Mastery:
  Demonstrate expert‑level proficiency in modern embedded communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, and CAN.
• Full Development Lifecycle Leadership:
  Take ownership of greenfield designs from initial requirements gathering and customer interaction through to final verification and validation.
• Microcontroller Proficiency:
  Possess expert‑level experience working with microcontrollers, with familiarity with the STM
  32 family being a significant advantage.
• Embedded Networking (Desirable):
  Experience with modern embedded mesh network technologies and chips.
• Language Agility:
  Be comfortable working with a variety of programming languages, including C, C++, and Python, on a regular basis.
• Hands‑on Execution:
  Be prepared to actively participate in the building and testing of embedded hardware and software on a daily basis.

• Required Experience:
  
  10+ years of proven and substantial experience as a Principal‑level Electrical Engineer with a strong and demonstrable history of successful hands‑on embedded product development.
• Essential Leadership Capabilities:
  Demonstrated ability to independently lead technical projects from inception to completion and effectively guide junior engineers.
• Critical Problem‑Solving
  
  Skills:
  
  Possess exceptional analytical and problem‑solving abilities to tackle complex engineering challenges.
• Fundamental Communication
  
  Skills:
  
  Exhibit strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration within the team and with stakeholders.
• Core Work Ethic: A proactive, results‑oriented approach with a strong sense of ownership and accountability is essential.
• Educational Foundation:
  Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering

• Part 107 certification or experience flying drones is plus—we love engineers who also fly!
• Proficiency in hardware design tools (Altium, OrCAD, KiCad) and simulation tools (SPICE, MATLAB, etc.).
• Proven track record in designing electrical systems from prototypes, low‑rate to high‑volume…