Undersea Robotics Electrical Engineer at STR in Woburn, MA

Job description

• We are seeking an Electrical Engineer with a strong interest and some experience in undersea robotics to design, develop, and implement the electrical systems that enable next‑generation uncrewed undersea vehicles, sensor systems, and command and control (C2) systems. In this role, you will be the responsible for the full range of development for electrical systems in our products: from board‑level design and sensor integration through bring‑up, test, and support in the lab and at sea.
• You will work closely with mechanical, software, and systems engineers as well as other electrical engineers. An ideal candidate would have exposure to control systems, embedded software, mechanical engineering as undersea vehicle and system design is inherently multi-disciplinary. Ideal candidates are hands‑on engineers who are comfortable with analog and digital circuit design, can take a circuit board from concept through fabrication, and are adept at troubleshooting and resolving hardware issues.
• Candidates with more experience are welcome and will be considered for greater responsibility, but the position is intended for an engineer early in their career who has solid, practical experience with electronics.
• This is an opportunity to contribute to the development of groundbreaking undersea robotic and sensing systems that will shape the future of maritime autonomy. You will work alongside a passionate and talented team, tackling some of the most challenging and rewarding problems in the field. If you are a visionary roboticist with a drive to innovate and lead, we want to hear from you.
• Apply today and help us redefine what’s possible beneath the waves.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and document analog and digital circuitry for uncrewed undersea vehicles, including power distribution, signal conditioning, communications interfaces, and sensor integration
• Develop and lay out printed circuit boards (PCBs), including component selection, schematic capture, layout, and preparation of fabrication and assembly packages
• Bring up new boards and electronic modules: perform bench testing, debug hardware issues, and iterate designs based on test results and field feedback
• Integrate and interface onboard sensors (e.g., IMUs, depth sensors, navigation systems, acoustic sensors) with vehicle processors and control systems
• Work with embedded software engineers to define hardware‑software interfaces, support driver development, and ensure reliable real‑time operation
• Collaborate with mechanical and systems engineers to ensure proper packaging, environmental protection, thermal management, and compliance with undersea operational requirements
• Support hardware‑in‑the‑loop and system‑level testing in lab, pool, and at‑sea environments, including preparation, operation, and troubleshooting of vehicle electronics
• Contribute to the development of system‑level requirements and electrical architectures for novel undersea vehicles and sensor payloads
• Maintain design records, test reports, and configuration documentation to support the full lifecycle of undersea vehicle electrical systems
• Stay current with relevant technologies in electronics, embedded systems, and undersea robotics, and apply them to improve reliability, performance, and manufacturability

Requirements

• Ability to obtain Top Secret security clearance with eligibility to support special access programs, for which U.S citizenship is needed by the U.S government
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field with at least 2 years of relevant hands‑on experience, or a Master’s degree in one of these fields with significant practical experience in electronics design and debug
• Practical experience designing and testing analog and digital circuits, including:
• Schematic capture and PCB layout using common EDA tool
• Board bring‑up, lab testing, and hardware debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and related equipment.
• Familiarity with embedded systems and real‑time control applications (e.g., microcontrollers, single‑board computers, FPGAs, or similar platforms)
• Experience integrating sensors and actuators into electronic systems, including understanding of signal integrity, noise mitigation, and power considerations
• Basic proficiency in at least one programming language commonly used in embedded or robotics applications (e.g., C/C++, Python) sufficient to interact productively with software teams and perform simple test and diagnostic scripts
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams and communicate clearly about electrical design decisions, trade‑offs, and limitations
• Strong problem‑solving skills and a hands‑on approach to prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting
• Experience designing electronics specifically for marine or harsh environments (pressure, corrosion, moisture, vibration) or other rugged applications
• Exposure to robotic frameworks such as ROS, MOOS‑IvP, UMAA, or similar platforms, and an understanding of how vehicle electronics support autonomy and control
• Familiarity with control systems, sensor fusion concepts, and their implications for hardware design and timing
• Experience with hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) test setups and system‑level simulation
• Experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems (e.g., Git) for managing design files, firmware, and test scripts
• Experience setting performance expectations for advanced or novel UUV designs or sensor systems using modeling, simulation, or analytical tools
• Experience interacting with U.S. Navy or other U.S. Government organizations, or supporting at‑sea test events including system deployment, operation, and recovery
• Active Top Secret security clearance
• Prior special access program experience

Skills

Required

• Analog and digital circuit design
• Sensor and actuator integration

Preferred

• Active Top Secret security clearance
• Prior special access program experience

Benefits

• Full-Time Salary Range: $111,000 - $140,000
• The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.