Electrical and Systems Engineer in McLean, Virginia at Cakeboxx Technologies LLC

CakeBoxx Technologies is building the next generation of secure, high-performance container and platform systems for defense, aerospace, energy, and high-tech customers. Our engineered solutions support mission-critical operations around the world, and we are looking for an Electrical Engineer who wants to see their designs go from concept to container, and into the field — and who thinks about the electrical design as one piece of a larger system, not in isolation.
If you like hands-on engineering, practical problem-solving, and owning electrical designs all the way through requirements, wiring, integration, test, and commissioning — including how the electrical system interfaces with mechanical, thermal, and reefer subsystems — this role is for you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Electrical Design

•Design and develop electrical architectures for specialized shipping containers and reefer/control systems used 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: cable routing in confined spaces, cable sizing, wiring diagrams, terminal plans, and cable schedules for containerized systems.
•Develop control panel and enclosure layouts for container applications and perform thermal/heat-dissipation assessments; specify appropriate cooling solutions (fans, A/C, passive measures) to protect electronics in harsh environments.
•Integrate refrigeration/reefer systems electrically (compressors, fans, heaters, VFDs, sensors) and support remote monitoring/IoT capabilities where required.
•Prepare complete, production-ready documentation packages: single-line and multi-line schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts, enclosure layouts, cable schedules, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
•Apply relevant IEC/EN and UL/CSA standards, support Machinery Directive/CE marking where applicable, 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.
•Support commissioning, troubleshooting, and issue resolution during build, factory testing, and field deployment.
Systems Engineering & Integration
•Own system-level requirements definition, allocation, and traceability for CakeBoxx container electrical and control systems, from customer specification through verification.
•Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) capturing the electrical, mechanical, thermal, and reefer subsystem interfaces — penetrations, cable tray routing, enclosure placement, and thermal interaction between subsystems.
•Collaborate closely with Mechanical Engineering on system architecture, functional decomposition, and the interaction between electrical enclosures, reefer units, and the container structure.
•Develop verification and validation (V&V) plans and test procedures to confirm system-level requirements are met at FAT/SAT and field commissioning, not just electrical function in isolation.
•Support technical design reviews (PDR/CDR-equivalent for CakeBoxx build cycles) and identify and mitigate system-level risks that cross electrical, mechanical, and thermal boundaries.
•Maintain requirements and traceability documentation throughout the program lifecycle so system-level intent survives from customer spec to as-built container.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

•Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or 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 (control panels, MCCs, containerized systems), 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 strategies.
•Familiarity with PLC-based control systems and I/O definition; experience with platforms such as Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Schneider, or Danfoss is a plus.
•Strong working knowledge of IEC/EN low-voltage standards (e.g., IEC 60204-1) and UL/CSA requirements; experience with CE/UL documentation and FAT/SAT procedures.
•Working knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals — requirements definition and allocation, interface control, and verification/validation planning — applied at the subsystem or system level.
•Demonstrated ability to work with outsourced manufacturing partners (panel shops, integrators) 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.

SKILLS REQUIRED

•Electrical Engineering: container and skid electrical architecture, LV/MV power distribution, protection, grounding/bonding, and integration of reefer/control loads.
•Container Wiring & Panels: design of container wiring schemes, cable routing, cable schedules, terminal plans, and control panel/enclosure layouts for harsh environments.
•Thermal & Enclosure Design: thermal/heat-dissipation assessment for electrical enclosures and panels, selection and specification of cooling solutions appropriate for containerized systems.
•Controls & Automation: PLC-based control fundamentals (architecture, I/O definition, basic logic concepts) and interfaces to refrigeration, fire suppression, and auxiliary systems.
•Systems Engineering: requirements definition, allocation, and traceability; Interface Control Document (ICD) development; verification and validation (V&V) planning across subsystem boundaries.
•Standards & Compliance: application of IEC/EN, UL/CSA, Machinery Directive/CE, and container-related safety/transport standards, including documentation for certification and FAT/SAT.
•Communication & Collaboration: ability to work closely with Mechanical Engineering, Program Management, supply chain, and external panel builders to drive designs from concept through production and field deployment
.
DESIRED SKILLS

•Experience with refrigeration or process systems (reefer containers, cold-chain, or process skids).
•Background in containerized, skid-mounted, or modular plant systems.
•Exposure to defense, aerospace, marine, or offshore standards (e.g., DNV, ABS).
•Experience in engineering-to-order (ETO) or project-based environments, including direct customer interaction on technical topics.
•Familiarity with requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS or equivalent) from prior systems engineering work.

BENEFITS

•Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
•401K with company match
•Paid Time Off
•Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
•Tuition reimbursement, PMP and other professional development opportunities
•Revenue and performance-based incentives

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter, with at least two (2) references, to Mr. Rico Millarez at rico.millarez@cakeboxx.com, Attn: Charlie Wang, Engineering Manager. Please include “Electrical & Systems Engineer” in the subject line of your email.

For any questions, please send an email to Emilie Eisold, General Manager at emilie.eisold@cakeboxx.com