Electrical Engineering R&D Technician

jobs.frontdoordefense.com - Jobboard; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Generous PTO and holidays

Paid parental leave

401(k) plan

Stock options

Life and disability insurance

Free lunch benefit

Unlimited snacks and drinks

Job summary

Saronic Technologies is seeking an Electrical Engineering R&D Technician in Austin, Texas, to build and test waterproof electrical harnesses for autonomous vessels. The ideal candidate will have at least two years of hands-on experience and the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Benefits include comprehensive medical and dental insurance, generous PTO, a 401(k) plan, stock options, and additional perks such as free lunches and snacks. An IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification is preferred.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on experience in harness assembly, preferably in R&D.
• Experience soldering to solder cup style connectors.
• Familiarity with MIL-spec connectors and marine-rated cables.

Responsibilities

• Assemble and route wire harnesses based on drawings.
• Integrate harnesses into unmanned surface vehicles (USVs).
• Document all build steps and configuration changes.

Skills

Harness assembly experience

Soldering to connectors

Reading schematics

Documentation for compliance

Team collaboration

Education

IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification

Tools

Mechanical tools for assembly

Job description

Electrical Engineering R&D Technician

Build and test waterproof electrical harnesses for autonomous surface vessels

Location: Austin

Job Tags: Hardware

About The Role

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing defense autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state‑of‑the‑art solutions that enhance maritime operations for the Department of Defense (DoD) through autonomous and intelligent platforms.

This Electrical Engineering R&D Technician will be embedded within Saronic's engineering team and requires both independent execution and close collaboration with design and integration engineers. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable building prototype harnesses and rigorously documenting all work performed for traceability, repeatability, and quality compliance. We are seeking a hands‑on, detail‑oriented R&D Harness Assembly Technician to support electrical system development, integration, and documentation across our autonomous maritime platforms.

Responsibilities

• Assemble and route wire harnesses and cable assemblies based on drawings, schematics, and engineering input
• Integrate harnesses into USVs and mUSVs, including confined marine compartments, watertight enclosures, and externally mounted hardware
• Work with engineering to iterate on harness designs, lengths, routing, and termination details during prototyping and system bring‑up
• Solder and terminate to solder cup style connectors, including ODU and similar high‑density circular connectors
• Ensure robust electrical connections, proper shielding, environmental sealing, and strain relief per marine and defense standards
• Accurately document all build steps, revisions, rework, deviations, and configuration changes in accordance with internal procedures
• Support development and maintenance of work instructions and configuration‑controlled documentation
• Maintain an organized and safe work environment, including tool management and inventory tracking

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands‑on experience in harness assembly, preferably in R&D or prototyping environments
• Proficiency in reading wiring schematics, connector tables, and mechanical routing drawings
• Experience soldering to solder cup style connectors such as ODU or similar precision connectors
• Familiarity with MIL‑spec connectors (e.g., D38999), marine‑rated cables, and environmental sealing techniques
• Demonstrated ability to document work clearly and thoroughly for traceability and compliance
• IPC/WHMA‑A‑620 certification preferred
• Familiarity with NAVSEA electrical practices and/or ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) requirements is a plus
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively within a fast‑paced engineering team
• Must be a U.S. Person (due to ITAR‑regulated programs)

Benefits

• 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 99% of the premium 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
• 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
• Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office

Physical Demands

• Ability to perform physically demanding work for extended periods of time, up to 12 hours/day
• Frequently and repetitively, lift, push and carry up to 20 lbs.
• The ability to carry 20 lbs. up and down stairs
• Ability to work outside for an extended period of time
• Frequently and repetitively, bend, lift and reach to install vehicle parts of varying size and weight overhead, accurately and in allotted timeframes
• Ability to stand and walk for up to 12 hours/day, including over varied and uneven terrain
• Stoop, lay, bend, reach, squat, kneel, crouch, twist and crawl for extended periods of time, including up to 12 hours/day
• Climb and maintain balance on ladders, platforms, or other high structures
• Ability to find issues in a work process and be alert to safety signals using sight, touch, and hearing
• Demonstrated ability to handle and manipulate tooling and mechanically fasten bolts within required cycle time
• Exposures to hazardous materials and ability to follow waste handling/disposal procedures
• Wearing Personal Protective Equipment, including but not limited to safety glasses, safety shoes, hearing protection, gloves and adhering to prescribed safety rules and guidelines

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.