Principal Electronics Engineer

OpenWorks Engineering Ltd invites applications for a Principal Electronics Engineer to shape the future of defence technology. The role involves leading the design, development and delivery of cutting‑edge electronics for electro‑optical products, autonomous tracking systems, and drone interception technology. Responsibilities Lead the design, development and validation of innovative production‑ready electronic systems for complex electro‑optical and autonomous products. Define electronics architectures balancing performance, safety, manufacturability, cost, environmental constraints and long‑term maintainability. Act as design authority, upholding engineering standards across the business. Oversee and review PCB designs, ensuring technical rigour in schematic capture, layout, power integrity, signal integrity and EMC robustness. Guide verification and compliance, working with external test houses to deliver EMC, safety and environmental certification for defence‑grade systems. Mentor and develop electronics engineers, helping grow capability and uphold best practice. Contribute to design reviews, ensuring cohesive integration between electronics, mechanical, firmware, software and systems engineering. Balance hands‑on technical delivery with broader leadership, prioritising effectively across multiple projects and supporting colleagues. Qualifications 2:1 or higher degree in Electronics/Electrical Engineering or a related discipline. Significant professional experience designing and delivering complex, safety‑critical or high‑performance electronic systems. Expertise in schematic capture and PCB design (ideally Altium), including multilayer, high‑density and mixed‑signal layouts. Strong understanding of power electronics, high‑speed digital, analogue design, EMC, ruggedised or defence‑grade design practices. Experience with system architecture, requirements definition and structured engineering processes. Ability to plan and execute validation and verification activities, including environmental and EMC testing. Creative problem‑solving with excellent attention to detail. Comfortable mentoring others and contributing positively to a collaborative, high‑performance engineering culture. Ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities and make sound engineering decisions under pressure. Benefits Competitive remuneration package with performance‑related bonuses and clear progression opportunities. 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays, with long‑service rewards and the option to buy up to five additional days. Free breakfast and freshly cooked lunches everyday. Private healthcare through Aviva. Life assurance for peace of mind. Salary sacrifice schemes – including EV car and Cycle to Work options. Paid team socials and fun team events. Pension plan with employer‑matched contributions. A culture that empowers change, encourages challenge and celebrates personal growth. What You'll Get Work on cutting‑edge technology with real‑world impact in defence and security. Shape the electronics engineering function, influencing practices, standards, architecture and capability development. Full lifecycle ownership from concepts to prototypes, verified hardware and fielded systems. Collaborate across disciplines to create tightly integrated products in autonomous tracking and CUAS technology. See the direct results of your work, with products deployed internationally in demanding operational environments. As a small, fast‑growing company you’ll have real autonomy and responsibility, and you’ll see the impact of your work every day. #J-18808-Ljbffr