Principal Hardware Engineer

Mars Recruitment; Oxford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialized recruitment agency is seeking a Principal Hardware Engineer to lead hardware design for autonomous underwater vehicles. This role requires strong skills in PCB design and experience in harsh environments. Candidates must have a degree in Electrical Engineering and over 8 years of relevant experience. The position offers a competitive salary package and the chance to work in cutting-edge robotics.

Benefits

Share scheme

Benefits package

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in hardware engineering, preferably in unmanned systems or robotics.
• Hands-on experience designing for harsh environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex hardware development efforts.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and development of hardware systems for underwater unmanned platforms.
• Design and oversee development of custom PCBs and enclosures.
• Lead hardware system integration and testing, including pressure testing and underwater trials.

Skills

PCB design and layout tools

Signal integrity

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Altium

KiCAD

OrCAD

Job description

Overview

Principal Hardware Engineer Marine AUV Robotics Harwell Hybrid £65,000pa - £70,000pa plus share scheme & benefits.

A once in a lifetime opportunity has arisen for a passionate Principal Hardware Engineer to join a stealth robotics company based in the Oxfordshire area. This role involves leading the design, integration, and testing of advanced hardware systems for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). You will be responsible for developing mission-critical electronics and system architectures that operate reliably in challenging marine environments.

If you’re passionate about robotics within the maritime industry and the autonomous vehicle and unmanned vehicle industry, please contact us. This Principal Hardware Engineer role requires candidates to be British Citizens or have lived in the UK for a minimum of 5 years due to SC clearance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and development of hardware systems for underwater unmanned platforms, including power distribution, embedded electronics, sensor integration, and control systems.
• Design and oversee development of custom PCBs, enclosures, and interconnect systems that meet demanding environmental and operational requirements (pressure, corrosion, vibration).
• Evaluate and integrate marine sensors (e.g., sonar, cameras, DVLs, IMUs) and actuators into system designs, ensuring compatibility and performance underwater.
• Develop and implement robust electrical and communication interfaces (e.g., Ethernet, RS-232/485, CAN, I2C, SPI) for high-reliability operation.
• Lead hardware system integration and testing, including pressure testing, EMI/EMC validation, and underwater operational trials.
• Collaborate closely with software, mechanical, and systems engineers to ensure cohesive design and successful system-level integration.
• Generate and maintain comprehensive documentation including schematics, BOMs, test plans, design justifications, and regulatory compliance records.
• Support field testing and deployments, including troubleshooting and field-based system diagnostics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in hardware engineering, preferably in unmanned systems, robotics, or rugged embedded systems.
• Proficiency in PCB design and layout tools (e.g., Altium, KiCAD, OrCAD) and electrical simulation/analysis tools.
• Hands-on experience designing for harsh environments including pressure, saltwater exposure, and thermal constraints.
• Strong understanding of signal integrity, grounding, shielding, and EMI/EMC considerations.
• Familiarity with underwater communication systems (e.g., acoustic modems, fiber optics, RF through water).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex hardware development efforts from concept through deployment.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with low-power design, battery management systems, and subsea power architectures.
• Knowledge of safety and regulatory standards for marine or defense systems.
• Prior work on AUVs, ROVs, or similar subsea robotics platforms.

If you’re passionate about robotics, in particular autonomous underwater or submersible vehicles and unmanned vehicles, and you enjoy software engineering within this space, please get in touch ASAP.

MARS Recruitment is an equal opportunities employer and positively welcomes applications from suitably qualified applicants regardless of race, colour, sex, marital status, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other protected status. Suitable candidates for the role will be contacted within 3 working days; if you haven’t heard back in this time your application has been unsuccessful at this time.

MARS Recruitment is a specialist Engineering & IT recruiter working in partnership with companies across the UK and offers services of both an Employment Business (for Temporary/Contract roles) and an Employment Agency (for Permanent roles).