ELECTRONICS HARDWARE DESIGNER

Shearwater Group; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work site

Health & dental benefits

Life insurance

RRSP match

Personal days

Diving training

Job summary

Shearwater Research is seeking a hands-on Electronics Engineer to lead hardware development for dive computers and underwater electronics. You will own the hardware lifecycle from requirements and schematic design through PCB development, prototype bring-up, and production support in a collaborative R&D environment.

You’ll work with firmware, mechanical, manufacturing, quality, and regulatory teams to deliver robust hardware, tackle challenging problems, and ensure success across lab testing and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Electronics Engineering.
• 3+ years of relevant electronics design experience; 5+ years preferred.
• Strong hands-on experience with schematic design, component selection, PCB development, board bring-up, debugging, and verification.
• Strong fundamentals in analog, digital, mixed-signal, and embedded hardware design.
• Experience with MCU-based embedded systems, low-power electronics, and compact wearable products.
• Experience with EMC/EMI and regulatory considerations in electronic design.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electronic hardware for new and existing products from concept through production release.
• Create schematics, select components, and support PCB layout, stack-up definition, and design reviews.
• Contribute to NPI from prototype builds and design verification through manufacturing readiness and production release.
• Develop analog, digital, mixed-signal, power, sensor, RF/wireless, and embedded hardware.
• Design and review multi-layer and HDI PCBs, including fine-pitch components and complex layout constraints.
• Design electronics for reliable operation in harsh environments and support regulatory testing.
• Bring up, debug, test, and verify prototype and production hardware; collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Schematic design

PCB development

HDI PCBs

Analog/digital design

Embedded hardware

RF/wireless design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Job description

Job Posting: Electronics Hardware Designer

Job Summary

Shearwater Research is looking for a hands-onElectronics Engineerto join our R&D Electronics team and contribute to the development of dive computers and other underwater electronic products. This role is focused on product development across the full hardware lifecycle, from requirements and schematic design through PCB development, prototype bring-up, verification, environmental and regulatory testing, manufacturing release, and production support.

Job Summary

Shearwater Research is looking for a hands-onElectronics Engineerto join our R&D Electronics team and contribute to the development of dive computers and other underwater electronic products. This role is focused on product development across the full hardware lifecycle, from requirements and schematic design through PCB development, prototype bring-up, verification, environmental and regulatory testing, manufacturing release, and production support.

You will work closely with firmware, mechanical, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, suppliers, and external development or manufacturing partners. The role is well suited to an engineer who enjoys designing real products, solving challenging hardware problems, and staying actively involved in lab and test work.

What You’ll Do

Electronics Design, Product Development & NPI (45%)

Design and develop electronic hardware for new and existing products from concept through production release.

Create schematics, select components, and support PCB layout, stack-up definition, and design reviews.

Contribute to NPI from prototype builds and design verification through manufacturing readiness and production release.

Develop analog, digital, mixed-signal, power, sensor, RF/wireless, and embedded hardware.

Design and review multi-layer and HDI PCBs, including fine-pitch components, BGAs, controlled impedance, and complex layout constraints.

Design electronics for reliable operation in harsh and demanding environments, including pressure, moisture, temperature, mechanical shock/vibration, and other environmental stresses.

Verification, Reliability & Compliance (20%)

Bring up, debug, test, and verify prototype and production hardware.

Plan and execute hardware, environmental, and reliability testing; analyze results, investigate failures, and drive design improvements.

Support EMC/EMI, ESD, and regulatory testing, and resolve design-related compliance issues.

Investigate reliability and field issues and implement corrective actions.

Documentation & Cross-Functional Collaboration (20%)

Prepare engineering documentation, test plans, design records, and technical reports.

Participate in design reviews and contribute to technical decisions throughout product development.

Work closely with firmware, mechanical, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, and other teams throughout development and product release.

Work with PCB fabricators, contract manufacturers, component suppliers, and external engineering or manufacturing partners.

Take ownership of assigned electronics development work and coordinate across disciplines to ensure timely completion.

Manufacturing & Sustaining Engineering (15%)

Support sustaining engineering activities, including design updates, component changes, production issues, and product improvements.

Apply DFM and DFT principles and support manufacturing release and production ramp-up.

Investigate manufacturing and component-related issues and implement corrective actions.

Evaluate component alternatives and support lifecycle, availability, and obsolescence-related design changes.

What You Bring

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field.

3+ years of relevant electronics design experience; 5+ years preferred.

Strong hands-on experience with schematic design, component selection, PCB development, board bring-up, debugging, and verification.

Strong fundamentals in analog, digital, mixed-signal, and embedded hardware design.

Experience with MCU-based embedded systems, low-power or battery-powered electronics, and compact wearable products.

Experience designing multi-layer and HDI PCBs, including fine-pitch components and complex layout constraints.

Experience with Altium Designer or a comparable professional PCB design tool.

Experience with EMC/EMI, ESD, and regulatory compliance considerations in electronic product design.

Understanding of low-magnetic design considerations, including component selection, PCB design, and verification for magnetically sensitive products.

Experience with RF or wireless-enabled electronic products, including antenna integration, RF interfaces, or wireless communication hardware.

Experience supporting electronic products from prototype through manufacturing and production release.

Experience with sensors, analog interfaces, power supplies, and common digital communication interfaces.

Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and hands-on lab skills.

Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across multiple engineering disciplines.

Nice to Have

Working knowledge of embedded firmware for board bring-up, debugging, and hardware verification.

Familiarity with C/C++ and/or Python for embedded development, test automation, or engineering analysis.

Hands-on experience with RF testing, matching networks, antenna tuning, or wireless system optimization.

Experience with EVT/DVT/PVT or similar structured product-development stages.

Experience working with contract manufacturers, EMS providers, OEMs, ODMs, or JDM partners.

Experience with pre-compliance testing and product certification.

Experience developing ruggedized, wearable, marine, underwater, or other electronics for harsh and demanding environments.

The successful candidate has:

Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and verbal/written communication skills.

Strong work ethic, self-directed, determined, customer/team-oriented, energetic, enthusiastic.

Demonstrated tenacious follow-up ability, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to manage priorities and multi-task a variety of assignments with a positive attitude.

You are interested in diving or think its pretty cool!

Salary Range:

Career Band 3: $90-130k/ year

These are some of the benefits Shearwater employees enjoy:

Flex time and Hybrid work site arrangements for most professional staff.

Company paid Life, AD&D, Dental, Extended Health, EAP Plan + Health Spending Account.

Group RSP with company matching contributions.

6 personal days per calendar year.

Diving – open water ticket, dry suit and advanced training company paid.

Bonuses based on successful annual financial performance of the company

10 minute tenant shuttle (or bus) from Skytrain and local Parking available