At Areté, we are at the forefront of utilizing innovative solutions, with great minds from all backgrounds, to help solve the nation’s most complex security challenges. We strive for an inclusive, collaborative team environment that approaches differences as opportunities for innovation and excellence. As an employee-owned company, we empower our team members with meaningful career development opportunities and a strong sense of ownership in our shared success.
Discover your future with us!
Our Tucson team is seeking a hands-on Electrical Engineer to support the design, integration, and testing of advanced electronic systems used in electro-optical, sonar, embedded processing, mine-hunting, and optical applications. This role is ideal for an engineer with a broad electronics background who is comfortable working across test equipment design, PCB development, harness design, troubleshooting, and system-level integration.
As a technical contributor, you’ll play a key role in designing new circuits, test beds, harnessing and system documentation—starting from fundamental physical principles and system requirements, through prototyping, debugging, testing, and integration into larger operational systems. The ideal candidate enjoys hands on work, thrives in a multidisciplinary environment, enjoys solving complex challenges collaboratively, and is passionate about electronic and electro-optic system design.
This full-time, exempt, non-supervisory position is based in our Tucson AZ office.
This role requires a passion for solving challenging technical problems in a collaborative environment.
Primary responsibilities:
- Design, build, document, and troubleshoot electrical test equipment, fixtures, cables, and support hardware for high-performance stabilized pointing and electro-optic systems
- Support PCB design activities including schematic capture, component selection, board bring-up, debug, and design verification
- Design and document cables, harnesses, interconnects, test adapters, and related electrical interfaces
- Troubleshoot embedded processors, FPGAs, sensors, power supplies, analog and digital circuits, I/O interfaces, communication links, and system-level integration issues
- Use oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, electronic loads, DMMs, and signal generators to diagnose and verify system behavior Align design and test strategies with system-level objectives to ensure mission success
We have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer:
Health & Wellness:
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Life and Long-Term Disability (LTD)
- Vision Reimbursement
- Fitness Reimbursement
Financial:
- Company-funded 5% contribution to your 401(k) retirement plan
- Company-funded 5% contribution to your Employee Stock Ownership Plan
- Continuing Education Assistance
Work-Life Balance:
- Flexible Scheduling
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Parental and Bereavement Leave
What We Value:
- Creativity and innovation in solving challenges
- Integrity and responsibility in all actions
- Collaboration across teams and specialties
- Responsiveness in fast-paced environments
- Passion for national security and excellence
Experiences and Background We Look For (Required Skills):
- BS or MS in Electrical or Electronic Engineering; equivalent education or experience will be considered
- Hands-on electronics experience, including test equipment, PCB design, cables/harnesses, system integration, and troubleshooting
- Solid understanding of circuit fundamentals
- Strong troubleshooting capability, including ability to operate electrical test equipment
- Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information
Nice to Have (Preferred Skills):
- Proficient in Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB layout
- Experience with embedded processors and FPGAs, including hardware design, firmware development, and integration of standard interfaces and peripherals such as PCIe, USB, Ethernet, SPI, I²C, and UART
- Design experience in analog, digital, mixed-signal, and power electronics, including schematic development, component selection, circuit analysis, and board-level integration
- Hands on experience deploying and testing systems in real-world field environments
- Experience with military, aerospace, industrial, robotics, or other rugged electro-mechanical systems
- Active DoD security clearance
The salary range for this role depends on the candidate’s level of experience:
- Engineer 1: $85,000 - $105,000 [BS degree or higher, with 0-4 years’ experience]
- Engineer 2: $95,000 - $110,000 [BS degree + 2-4 years’ experience OR MS degree with 0-2 years’ experience]
However, Areté considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including but not limited to: the position and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.
Other Considerations
Areté is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination, and we believe every person has the right to be treated with fairness, dignity, and equal consideration. Areté is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
U.S. citizenship is required to meet position eligibility.
Successful passage of a criminal background screen is required to meet position eligibility.
Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
Areté will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
Successful passage of a Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test is required to meet position eligibility.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website because of your disability. To request an accommodation, please contact Areté Human Resources at 818-885-2200 for assistance.
Skills Required
- BS or MS degree in Electrical Engineering or Electronic Engineering, or equivalent education or experience
- Hands-on electronics experience with test equipment, PCB design, cables or harnesses, system integration, and troubleshooting
- Solid understanding of circuit fundamentals
- Strong troubleshooting capability and ability to operate electrical test equipment
- Must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information and pass a government security investigation
- U.S. citizenship
- Successful criminal background screening
- Successful Department of Transportation drug test
- Proficiency with Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB layout
- Experience with embedded processors, FPGAs, hardware design, firmware development, and standard interfaces
- Experience designing analog, digital, mixed-signal, and power electronics
- Experience deploying and testing systems in field environments
- Experience with military, aerospace, industrial, robotics, or rugged electro-mechanical systems
- Active Department of Defense security clearance
What We Do
Areté, an employee-owned company, is an advanced science and engineering company that provides innovative solutions to the most challenging technical problems faced by the United States Defense and Intelligence agencies. Areté is derived from the Greek word “ἀρέτη”, meaning the pursuit of excellence and the achievement of maximum performance. Areté was founded in 1976 by five scientists, tasked by the DoD to help solve the challenge of detecting weak signals in heavy clutter over very wide areas. The signatures involved in this work were so weak that any advancement in signal processing algorithms demanded a new approach and understanding of the underlying fundamentals affecting the sensors and signal phenomena in the environments of interest. This first-principles-of-physics approach has been a hallmark of Areté’s development programs for the past 40 years Areté now works across the electromagnetic spectrum. We develop sensors and the associated signal processing algorithms necessary for the extraction and interpretation of data for systems operating under water, in the atmosphere, and in space. With our emphasis on enhanced signal processing and real-time executable software, Areté is able to improve the performance of existing sensor systems at fractions of the cost and time to operations of replacement systems. We work directly with customers and partners seeking maximum performance. Building on our expertise in detection theory we will continue to exploit the contextual, spatial, spectral, and temporal characteristics of data, incorporating them into our signal processing algorithms. These robust algorithms will continue to enable Areté to rapidly deliver innovative solutions to the ever evolving challenges of our customers.
