Acoustic Engineer I

Airmar Technology Corporation; Milford (NH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Airmar Technology Corporation in Milford, NH is seeking a Transducer Engineer to design, develop, and optimize electroacoustic transducers for sonar systems. The role requires collaboration across mechanical, electrical, and software teams to deliver high-performance underwater sonar solutions for recreational, commercial, and scientific uses.

The position targets a recent graduate or an early-career professional (0–3 years) with a background in acoustics or related engineering field, proficient

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Acoustics, Physics, or related field.
• 0 to 3 years of experience in sonar transducer design, piezoelectric materials, or underwater acoustics.
• Proficiency in FEA (COMSOL, ANSYS, PZFlex) and acoustic modeling (MATLAB/Python scripts).
• Hands-on experience of acoustic testing, and characterization (impedance analyzers, hydrophone measurements).
• Strong understanding of electroacoustic principles and familiarity with underwater acoustics.

Responsibilities

• Design and model electroacoustic transducers for sonar applications (active/passive sonar, side-scan, multibeam).
• Use numerical methods (finite element analysis and Python simulations) to optimize bandwidth, sensitivity, beam width, and power handling.
• Oversee transducer fabrication and contribute to new manufacturing processes.
• Conduct electrical and acoustic testing, characterize impedance and beam patterns, and analyze test data.

Skills

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Communication

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

COMSOL

ANSYS

PZFlex

MATLAB

Python

Job description

We are seeking a Transducer Engineer to design, develop, and optimize electroacoustic transducers for sonar systems. The ideal candidate will have expertise in piezoelectric materials, acoustic modeling, transducer fabrication, and acoustic testing for underwater applications. This role involves collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver high-performance sonar solutions for recreational, commercial, and scientific applications. This role is for either a recent graduate with a relevant degree or an early career professional with 1-3 years’ experience.

Airmar is a world leader in the development of sonar transducers for recreational fishing, commercial fishing, and scientific applications such as navigational surveys. At our site in Milford New Hampshire, we manufacture all our transducers in‑house.

Airmar develops a wide range of acoustic systems and transducer types, our product range includes but is not limited to wide bandwidth CHIRP transducers, phased arrays for imaging applications, doppler velocity sensors, acoustic uplink transducers for acoustic communications, hydrophones for acoustic communication, and air‑coupled transducers for industrial applications.

Working at Airmar will provide you with the opportunity to work on a wide range of acoustic technologies and unique materials. We are seeking a skilled individual who is motivated to develop into an expert in the field of acoustics and transducer design.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design & Development

• Design and model electroacoustic transducers for sonar applications (e.g., active/passive sonar, side‑scan, multibeam).
• Use numerical methods such as finite element analysis (COMSOL) and analytical acoustic simulations (Python) to optimize transducer performance for the desired bandwidth, sensitivity, beam width, and power handling capability.
• Design transducer components such as piezoelectric components, transforming inductors, and acoustic matching layers for optimal transducer performance.

Fabrication & Prototyping

• Oversee transducer fabrication in collaboration with the laboratory manufacturing team.
• Contribute to the development of new manufacturing processes for new transducer designs.
• Ensure reliability and durability in underwater conditions (pressure, temperature, corrosion).

Testing & Validation

• Conduct and oversee electrical and acoustic transducer testing (e.g., impedance, transmit/receive response, beam patterns).
• Perform characterization of transducers in test tanks
• Write test software for testing of transducers in Python to automate data acquisition and signal generation.
• Analyze test data to validate performance against specifications and iterate designs as needed.
• Troubleshoot transducer failures and implement corrective actions.

Collaboration & Documentation

• Work with the manufacturing, mechanical design, firmware/software, and electrical engineers to integrate transducers into sonar systems.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and mechanical teams to ensure designs are scalable for production.
• Document design specifications, test reports, and technical manuals for internal and customer use.
• Stay updated on emerging transducer technologies and propose innovations.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Acoustics, Physics, or related field.
• 0 to 3 years of experience in sonar transducer design, piezoelectric materials, or underwater acoustics.
• Proficiency in FEA (COMSOL, ANSYS, PZFlex) and acoustic modeling (MATLAB/Python scripts). More interested in capability than knowing a specific tool.
• Hands‑on experience of acoustic testing, and characterization (impedance analyzers, hydrophone measurements).
• Strong understanding of electroacoustic principles
• Familiarity with underwater acoustics

Soft Skills

• Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.
• Attention to detail in documentation and testing.