Electrical Hardware Design Engineer 4

About the role

Reporting to the Ocean Engineering Department Head, the Electrical Hardware Design Engineer 4 will be an integral member of the Ocean Engineering Department that supports Principal Investigators (PIs) by creating specialized electrical systems used to observe the natural and physical world. The incumbent will design, build, test, document, and deploy electrical solutions for oceanographic, ocean acoustic, marine renewable energy, autonomous vehicle, and marine robotic systems and instruments.

The incumbent serves as a lead electrical hardware engineer responsible for the full lifecycle development of sophisticated research instrumentation and electrical systems, from concept development and requirements definition through design, integration, testing, deployment, and long-term operational support. Working under broad objectives and expected outcomes, the incumbent independently plans and executes complex engineering assignments for projects ranging from moderate to large scale, often involving unique technical requirements and environments where standard solutions are not available.

The position routinely manages multiple concurrent projects with competing priorities and timelines, applying advanced engineering judgment to evaluate alternatives, anticipate technical risks, and develop innovative solutions to challenging research and operational problems. While collaborating closely with Principal Investigators, the Department Head, and multidisciplinary teams of software, mechanical, and field engineers, the incumbent is expected to operate with independence in defining technical approaches, making engineering decisions, and ensuring successful project execution.

Responsibilities

Core responsibilities include the ability to design, build, and test electrical hardware (90% FTE):

• Approaches novel assignments and applies sophisticated research techniques, networks, and resources, and moves the project forward from inception to execution
• Works on complex research endeavors that result in the creation of new concepts, applications, designs, or new areas of research
• Gathers electrical system requirements from Principal Investigators
• Designs and proposes system architectural designs to Principal Investigators
• Establishes design approaches that balance performance, reliability, schedule, and cost
• Designs circuit schematics and PCB layouts using Altium software
• Designs for requirements involving data acquisition from scientific sensors, power management for low-power systems, hardware/software interfaces, and reliability
• Specifies and procures electrical components
• Works alongside APL technicians and external vendors for the fabrication, assembly, and bench testing of electrical components parts
• Hand-solders, debugs, and integrates PCBs and electrical systems
• Designs, documents, and builds custom electrical harnesses
• Diagnoses, documents, and resolves electronic hardware problems
• Presents technical approaches, design reviews, and project status to team members, Principal Investigators, and Department Heads
• Adheres to APL Ocean Engineering documentation standards

Deployment responsibilities include deploying, operating, and maintaining electrical hardware systems (10% FTE):

• Plans and supports the at-sea installation, operation, and maintenance of systems
• Troubleshoots and proposes solutions to real-time problems at sea under significant time constraints and resource limitations

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications: Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or a related field and four years of relevant experience. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Additional Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to independently develop and implement electronic system architectures from requirements definition through design, prototyping, testing, field deployment, and lifecycle support
• Demonstrated proficiency in electronic schematic capture, printed circuit board (PCB) design, and layout using industry-standard ECAD tools such as Altium Designer, KiCad, or equivalent software
• Demonstrated experience independently managing PCB fabrication, assembly, vendor relationships, and manufacturing workflows, including design-for-manufacturing and design-for-test considerations
• Proven ability to independently perform hardware bring-up, hand soldering, debugging, troubleshooting, and integration of complex electronic systems and custom PCBs
• Experience designing, documenting, fabricating, and validating custom electrical harnesses, cable assemblies, and interconnect solutions for demanding operational environments
• Demonstrated proficiency in diagnosing, documenting, and resolving electronic hardware failures through systematic root-cause analysis and corrective action development
• Ability to independently plan, coordinate, and execute system-level integration and verification activities involving electrical, mechanical, and software subsystems
• Experience leading or facilitating technical design reviews, providing constructive peer review, evaluating engineering trade-offs, and contributing to multidisciplinary engineering decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to