Electrical Engineer

Job title: Electrical EngineerJob DescriptionJoin a dynamic team that is at the forefront of building secure, high-performance container and platform systems for defense, aerospace, energy, and high-tech industries. As an Electrical Engineer, you will see your designs progress from concept to container, supporting mission-critical operations globally.Responsibilities+ Design and develop electrical architectures for specialized shipping containers and reefer/control systems in aerospace and defense applications.+ Define LV/MV power distribution, perform load calculations and power balance, and conduct short circuit and protection coordination studies, including grounding and bonding design.+ Design complete container wiring schemes, including cable routing in confined spaces, cable sizing, wiring diagrams, terminal plans, and cable schedules.+ Develop control panel and enclosure layouts for container applications, perform thermal/heat dissipation assessments, and specify cooling solutions to protect electronics in harsh environments.+ Integrate refrigeration/reefer systems electrically and support remote monitoring/IoT capabilities as needed.+ Prepare complete, production-ready documentation packages, including single line and multi-line schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, enclosure layouts, cable schedules, and Bills of Materials.+ Apply relevant IEC/EN and UL/CSA standards, support Machinery Directive/CE marking, and generate documentation for certification bodies, FAT/SAT, and customer approvals.+ Work directly with outsourced panel builders and integrators to clarify designs, support component selection, handle deviations, and support Factory Acceptance Testing at supplier sites.+ Collaborate closely with Mechanical Engineering on cabinet placement, penetrations, cable tray layouts, and the thermal interaction between electrical enclosures, reefer units, and the container structure.+ Support commissioning, troubleshooting, and issue resolution during build, factory testing, and field deployment.Essential Skills+ Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.+ At least 5 years of electrical engineering experience in industrial automation, control panels/enclosures, or containerized/skid-mounted systems.+ Proven experience designing wiring and panel/enclosure layouts for complex assemblies, including cable routing, cable sizing, and termination details.+ Hands-on experience with electrical CAD tools such as EPLAN Electric P8, AutoCAD Electrical, or SEE Electrical.+ Experience performing thermal/heat dissipation assessments for electrical panels/enclosures and specifying appropriate cooling solutions.+ Working knowledge of IEC/EN low voltage standards and UL/CSA requirements; experience with CE/UL documentation and FAT/SAT procedures.+ Demonstrated ability to work with outsourced manufacturing partners to resolve wiring/build issues and deliver production-ready solutions.+ Practical, detail-oriented problem solver comfortable switching between desk-based design/documentation work and on-site build/test support.+ Ability and willingness to work full-time, on-site in McLean, VA.+ U.S. Citizenship is required due to the nature of our defense and aerospace programs.Additional Skills & Qualifications+ Experience with refrigeration or process systems, such as reefer containers, cold chain, or process skids.+ Experience in containerized, skid-mounted, or modular plant systems.+ Exposure to defense, aerospace, marine, or offshore standards.+ Experience in engineering-to-order (ETO) or project-based environments, including direct customer interaction on technical topics.Work EnvironmentWork full-time on-site in McLean, VA, with some travel to manufacturing sites. Join a small, rapidly growing company in the aerospace and defense community where you will have the opportunity to wear multiple hats. This is the first internal hire for an Electrical Engineer, as the company transitions from outsourcing electrical engineering work to handling more requests in-house.Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Mc Lean, VA.Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $48.00 - $67.00/hr.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Mc Lean,VA.Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Apr 17, 2026.Diversity, Equity & InclusionAt Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:+ Hiring diverse talent+ Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection+ Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes+ Ensuring growth opportunities for our peopleActalent is an equal opportunity employer.About ActalentActalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.