Senior Electrical Engineer IV - Communications

About the role

At OTTO, we don’t just manufacture products—we engineer mission-critical solutions with precision and pride. Our Communications Division designs and manufactures ruggedized, application-specific communication systems built to perform when failure isn’t an option, serving the military, law enforcement, public safety, and industrial customers worldwide. As a core value, we focus on delivering for our customers through innovative technology, superior quality, value, and responsiveness, and as a result our growth continues!

Employees are our greatest asset, which is why we share our company’s profits to celebrate our collective success. As a privately-owned company, we are proud to invest significantly in our community and in our own growth, focusing on long-term business success. We are proudly American!

Responsibilities

• Key contributor in the full product development life-cycle: concept, design, bring-up, integration of initial HW/SW, factory support, test & validation, and customer support
• Create technical specifications from internal and customer product requirements
• Drive architecture, design, prototyping, and test strategy
• Lead component research, selection, and validation
• Design digital interface logic, sensors, peripherals, microprocessors, memory, etc.
• Design audio circuits (A/D & D/A converters, audio power amps, op-amps, etc.)
• Design analog circuitry including filters, FETs, power supplies (linear and switch-mode regulators), and battery monitoring & charging
• Design and optimize circuits for minimal current drain consumption to maximize battery life
• Generate schematics using Altium CAD; provide guidance to a PCB designer for routing, high-speed interface, impedance matching, power routing, EMC compliance, etc.
• Generate engineering documentation: schematics, BOMs, ECNs, test plans, and specifications
• Lead the electrical bring-up, debug, and validation of analog and digital designs; hands-on design, troubleshooting, optimization, simulation using oscilloscopes, DMMs, and other test equipment
• Define and execute performance tests, reliability tests, EMC testing, and field failure analysis
• Define requirements for circuit-board-level testing and end-of-line functional product testing, including selection of test equipment
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Sales, Quality, Mechanical, Firmware, and Manufacturing Engineers to ensure timely product development and performance
• Conduct and participate in design reviews and DFMEAs
• Ensure compliance with industry standards including collaboration with test labs and regulatory agencies
• Help provide project timelines and cost estimates
• Contribute to the development of intellectual property
• Assist with other related duties as required or assigned

Requirements

• BSEE
• U.S. Citizen
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in concept-through-production product development
• Proficiency in electronic circuit design of digital and analog/audio circuits with bring-up skills and integration of initial HW/SW
• Experience in product development from implementing feature requirements through production including designing for manufacturability
• Experience in microprocessor peripheral interfaces (SDIO, I2C, SPI, RS232, Parallel and Serial/UART, JTAG)
• Experience with sensor selection (GPS, Accelerometer, IMU, etc.) and audio (speaker & mic) interface and design
• Strong understanding of Bluetooth, USB, and connectivity protocols
• Knowledge of battery charging circuits and batteries
• Experience employing mitigation methods and techniques to address circuit noise, meet ESD standards, and EMC compliance
• Experience using a schematic/layout CAD tool (experience with Altium is a plus)
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and analyze product failures and apply test results to design improvements
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and contribute to multiple simultaneous projects
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Flexible, results-oriented problem-solver who is a self-starter and can work independently and as a member of a team

Skills

• Product development from implementing feature requirements through production including designing for manufacturability
• Electronic circuit design of digital and analog/audio circuits with bring-up skills and integration of initial HW/SW
• Microprocessor peripheral interfaces (SDIO, I2C, SPI, RS232, Parallel and Serial/UART, JTAG)
• Sensor selection (GPS, Accelerometer, IMU, etc.) and audio (speaker & mic) interface and design
• Bluetooth, USB, and connectivity protocols

Pay

The target base salary hiring range for this position is $110,000 to $125,000, based on qualifications and experience; exceptions may be considered for highly experienced candidates with multiple years of at-level experience.

Benefits

• Profit Sharing Bonus – distributed to employees twice a year; paid at the discretion of the company and not guaranteed
• Vacation: 120 hours earned on the anniversary date
• Medical Insurance: HMO, Standard PPO, Enhanced PPO, High Deductible PPO
• FSA, LFSA, and HSA options
• Dental Insurance: Base and Buy-Up plans
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Life Insurance and Life/AD&D
• Voluntary Life/AD&D
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 10 paid holidays
• Company picnic, holiday party, and numerous OTTO celebrations