Wire Harness Engineer

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with omniscient systems purpose-built for today’s realities. Designed and built by top U.S. military veterans and Silicon Valley innovators, CHAOS Industries’ products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats. In a world where technological threats move at unprecedented speed, CHAOS Industries delivers advanced sensing and detection solutions that give the ultimate advantage: time.   

Role Overview:

CHAOS is seeking an Electrical or Mechanical Engineer with a focus on Wire Harness / Interconnect design to support the design, development, and integration of wiring solutions for aerospace and defense platforms. This role involves designing power, digital, analog, and RF interconnects from circuit card assemblies (CCAs) through platform-level wiring integration, including routing, mechanical integration, and signal integrity considerations.

• The ideal candidate has hands-on experience in wire harness and interconnect design, is familiar with aerospace and military standards, and can work in a rapid development environment.
• This position is intended for engineers with foundational wire harness experience who are ready to take primary responsibility for harness and interconnect design in a small, fast-moving team.
• This is a full-time, on-site position in Hawthorne, CA.

Responsibilities:

• Design wire harnesses and flex circuits, including schematic development, cable routing, connector selection, and harness assembly drawings for CCAs, subsystem, and platform-level applications 
• Perform wiring layout and routing for high-voltage/current systems, high-speed data buses, and mixed-signal designs
• Create and maintain wiring diagrams, harness drawings, BOMs, and interface documentation
• Conduct analysis and define program-specific testing procedures for wire harnesses to ensure compliance with performance, safety, and applicable standards
• Support design verification, assembly, test, and integration of wiring and interconnects
• Participate in design reviews, failure mode analysis, and compliance assessments related to military and aerospace standards
• Assist in design for manufacturability and transition to production, including vendor and supplier collaboration
• Opportunity to contribute to adjacent electrical or mechanical design tasks as program needs evolve

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 2+ years of experience in wire harness, cable assembly, or interconnect design for aerospace, defense, or high-reliability electronics
• Experience with wire harness design tools, such as Siemens Capital or equivalent
• Practical understanding of signal integrity implications, including cable selection, wire routing, controlled impedance, shielding, and EMC considerations
• Exposure to conducting signal integrity analysis for wire harnesses and interconnects
• Familiarity with harness test and inspection requirements and techniques to verify compliance with applicable standards, safety regulations, and performance requirements
• Familiarity with one or more industry standards such as MIL-STD-1553, IPC/WHMA-A-620, RTCA/DO-160, and quality frameworks such as ISO 9001
• Working knowledge of lab instruments, including oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and electronic loads
• Knowledge of high-reliability design practices, derating guidelines, and environmental qualification considerations
• Strong understanding of connectors, terminations, strain relief, and mechanical integration of cables
• Ability to execute assigned design tasks and collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Preferred Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Engineering
• Experience with platform-level wiring integration in vehicles, aircraft, or ground systems
• Experience with rigid-flex harness design and PWB manufacturing processes
• Hands-on experience with flex circuits, discrete wiring, high-voltage/high-current power distribution, and high-speed signal harnesses
• Experience conducting signal integrity analysis for wire harnesses and interconnects
• Proficiency with Altium Designer schematic capture and PCB layout
• Familiarity with automated harness manufacturing tools and processes
• Experience supporting field installation, retrofit, or sustainment activities

Why CHAOS?

• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
• Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
• Our Perks: Free daily lunch, ‘No meeting Fridays’, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
• Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
• Team Growth: 200 employees and counting across 5 global offices

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

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