Electrical Engineer – UUVs & Undersea Electronics
Saronic · Austin, United States · 1mo ago
Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms.
Job Overview
We are seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, and testing of advanced electrical and electronic systems for unmanned underwater vehicles, undersea sensors, and subsea mission systems. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer with strong expertise in embedded electronics, power systems, sensor integration, communications, and ruggedized hardware designed for harsh marine environments.
The Senior Electrical Engineer will work closely with mechanical, software, systems, autonomy, and test engineering teams to deliver reliable undersea platforms and payloads capable of operating in demanding subsea conditions. The role requires a hands-on technical leader who can move between architecture, detailed design, troubleshooting, vendor coordination, and field testing.
Responsibilities
Electrical System Design
Design and develop electrical architectures for UUVs, AUVs, ROVs, subsea payloads, and related support equipment.
Develop power distribution systems, battery interfaces, motor control electronics, embedded control boards, sensor interfaces, communication buses, and data acquisition systems.
Create schematics, PCB layouts, cable drawings, wiring diagrams, interface control documents, and electrical design documentation.
Select components for subsea and high-reliability applications, including connectors, penetrators, batteries, sensors, embedded processors, power converters, and communication modules.
Undersea Electronics & Integration
Integrate electronics into pressure housings, subsea enclosures, wet-mate interfaces, and vehicle hull structures.
Support design considerations related to pressure, corrosion, galvanic isolation, thermal management, sealing, shock, vibration, and long-duration underwater operation.
Develop and troubleshoot interfaces for sonar, acoustic modems, inertial navigation systems, depth sensors, Doppler velocity logs, cameras, payload sensors, thrusters, and mission computers.
Support electrical integration of autonomous vehicle subsystems, including propulsion, navigation, control, communications, payloads, and energy storage.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Typically 7+ years of electrical engineering experience, with significant experience developing embedded, ruggedized, or mission-critical electronics.
Experience designing, integrating, and troubleshooting electrical systems for UUVs, AUVs, ROVs, subsea systems, marine robotics, defense systems, aerospace systems, or other harsh-environment platforms.
Strong knowledge of analog and digital circuit design, power electronics, embedded systems, communication interfaces, and sensor integration.
Familiarity with electrical interfaces such as Ethernet, RS-232, RS-485, CAN, SPI, I2C, USB, serial communications, and timing/synchronization signals.
Experience with battery-powered systems, power budgeting, DC power distribution, grounding, isolation, EMI/EMC mitigation, and fault protection.
Hands-on experience building, testing, debugging, and modifying prototype hardware.
Ability to create clear engineering documentation, test procedures, interface control documents, and technical reports.
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced engineering environment with multidisciplinary teams.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
Experience with subsea electrical connectors, pressure-rated housings, cable assemblies, penetrators, oil-filled systems, or wet-mateable interfaces.
Experience with undersea navigation, acoustic communications, sonar systems, payload electronics, or vehicle control systems.
Knowledge of UUV mission architectures, autonomy systems, subsea sensing, or maritime defense applications.
Experience with environmental qualification testing, including pressure, temperature, vibration, shock, salt fog, humidity, and EMI/EMC testing.
Experience supporting ocean testing, field operations, vessel-based deployments, or customer demonstrations.
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, where required.
Eligibility to access export-controlled technical information, where required by the role.
Physical Demands
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
Occasional standing and walking within the office
Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment
Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports
Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies
Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages)
Benefits
Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services
Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care
Saronic pays 100% of the premium under the basic plan for employees and 80% for dependents
Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays
Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents
Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses
Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company match
Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success
Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options including 24/7 Telehealth helpline
Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office
Saronic CCPA Notice for Candidates and California Employees
If this role is based in the United States, it requires access to export-controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person”: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.