Electrical Engineer - Forward Deployed
Saronic is hiring an Electrical Engineer - Forward Deployed in Austin, United States. Level rates it ; you can apply on Saronic.
Level's read on this job
- On Level's scale, this forward deployed engineer role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include Oscilloscope, Multimeter and electrical engineering.
- Level classifies it as a mid-level role.
- Level lists 232 other open roles at Saronic.
- The role was posted within the past two weeks.
AI in this role
Design, integrate, and troubleshoot electrical systems and autonomous marine hardware in the field and lab.
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
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
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)
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.
How we rate this
Electrical Engineer - Forward Deployed at Saronic rates 10 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Also common in forward deployed engineer jobs at this level
Pay
- Typical forward deployed engineer job
- $182k
This posting doesn't list pay. Use the typical forward deployed engineer figure when pay comes up. See forward deployed engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where electrical engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where rapid prototyping was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where system integration was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where hardware debugging was part of your work. What did you do?
- Walk me through how you've used Oscilloscope in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Electrical Engineering, Rapid Prototyping, System Integration, Hardware Debugging, and Oscilloscope. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
Want an expert to read your CV for this job?
Free. Send your CV and the role you want next. We reply by email within 2 to 4 business days.
Get new forward deployed engineer jobs by email
One email a week with the new forward deployed engineer jobs, each rated for how much AI is in the work. No recruiter spam, unsubscribe in one click.
Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe in one click.
Similar roles
Software Engineering roles that involve little AI, at other companies.
What kind of AI work fits you?
Answer 12 practical questions in about three minutes. Get a simple profile, the work it points to, and live roles to explore next.
Find my next step