Electrical Engineer - Forward Deployed

Department: Forward Deployable Eng

Location: Austin, TX, San Diego, CA

Employment Type: FullTime

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 versatile Forward Deployed Electrical Engineer to join our technical team. You will have a strong electrical background and be responsible for bringing our technology from the lab to the fleet.

This is not a traditional engineering role. You will be responsible for deploying our systems into the real world, directly supporting maritime missions. You will integrate electrical payloads, debug complex system-level problems, and iterate hardware designs in the field to ensure success. This is a highly hands-on and field-oriented role with time split between the lab, fabrication spaces, and the waterfront.

Responsibilities:

• Design systems to support electrical integration of novel systems and payloads onto our Autonomous Service Vessels (ASVs) and maritime platforms

• Lead rapid prototyping efforts (electrical) to support field experimentation and platform evolution

• Perform system bring-up, integration, and troubleshooting of power, networking, sensor, and compute subsystems. Candidates need to be capable of understanding full system topologies, balancing power budgets, thermal constraints, and signal integrity

• Own dockside and sea trials — prepare vessels, install new electrical hardware packages, and perform system validation in operationally relevant environments

• Drive design-for-assembly and design-for-deployment feedback into electrical product development

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including Mechanical, Software, and Autonomy Engineers, to evolve and harden system designs

• Interface with suppliers and fabrication shops to support fast turnarounds of custom components and harnesses

• Contribute to documentation and training to support the scaling of deployment and manufacturing

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field. Master's degree is a plus

• 3+ years of experience working on integrated electrical/electromechanical systems, preferably in fielded or mission-critical environments

• Hands-on expertise in electrical integration (power systems, cabling, connectors, PCB bring-up)

• Hands-on expertise in rapid prototyping and system-level debugging

• Comfort working with basic electrical test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes) and field integration setups

• Experience working with a Linux-based operating system

• Experience working with other types of comms: serial (rs232, rs485) and CANbus

• Understanding of networking protocols and distributed systems, including TCP/IP, UDP, and message-passing frameworks

• Willingness to work in dynamic, hands-on environments, including on and near the water

• Strong sense of ownership and bias for action; thrives solving open-ended problems in real-world environments

• Experience with autonomous systems, drones, or other robotic platforms preferred

• Familiarity with maritime environments or naval platforms preferred

• Ability to write basic software tools (e.g., Python, shell scripts) for hardware bring-up or test automation preferred

• Exposure to ruggedized or IP-rated hardware design preferred

• Experience in systems integration or test engineering preferred

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.