Hardware Prototyping Engineer

DeepWater Exploration Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Paid time off (PTO)

401(k)

Stock options

Free snacks and drinks

Flexible startup culture

Brand new lab facility

Job summary

DeepWater Exploration Inc. based in San Diego builds advanced underwater vision systems and marine robotics. We seek a hands-on hardware technician to build, test, and scale our subsea products on the bench, in test rigs, and on ROVs.

You will test cameras, assemble parts, design fixtures in CAD, and maintain in-house 3D printers and CNC machines. Familiarity with PCB sourcing and soldering is valued for rapid prototyping.

Qualifications

• Hands-on hardware experience on bench testing, assembly, and prototyping.
• Experience with CAD tools to design fixtures and mounts.
• Ability to source components and manage PCB orders.
• Familiarity with ROVs or electro-mechanical systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Hardware Testing: Test and benchmark cameras, sensor interfaces, and computer hardware using our software and custom test setups.
• CAD & Rapid Fabrication: Design custom mechanical parts, test mounts, or fixtures in CAD, and bring them to physical reality using in-house 3D printers and CNC machines.
• Lab & Equipment Setup: Set up and maintain prototyping and manufacturing machinery as we expand production.
• PCB Management: Do light PCB layouts, source components, and handle ordering with PCB fab houses.
• Mechanical & System Assembly: Build and assemble complex electro-mechanical systems, including ROVs and camera sub-assemblies.
• Soldering & Prototyping: Handle surface-mount and through-hole soldering for rapid prototypes and board rework.
• Ad-hoc Projects: Take on a wide mix of tasks to support the R&D team.

Skills

Soldering

CAD design

PCB sourcing

Mechanical assembly

Electrical testing

Robotics experience

Troubleshooting

Tools

SolidWorks/Fusion 360

3D printers

CNC machines

PCB design software

Job description

We build advanced underwater vision systems and marine robotics. Based in San Diego, we design and manufacture everything in-house, from custom subsea camera modules and PCBs to patented optics and aerospace-grade housings. We are a fast-moving hardware team, and we’re looking for a hands-on technician to help us build, test, and scale our products.

The Role

We need a versatile hardware technician who can jump into whatever project is on the bench today. You might spend Monday testing a new batch of cameras, Tuesday assembling an ROV for a water test, and Wednesday CADing and 3D printing a custom mount for a new sensor.

If you know your way around a soldering iron, understand how to order custom PCBs, and like building mechanical test rigs from scratch, we want to talk to you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Hardware Testing: Test and benchmark cameras, sensor interfaces, and computer hardware using our software and custom test setups.
• CAD & Rapid Fabrication: Design custom mechanical parts, test mounts, or fixtures in CAD, and bring them to physical reality using in-house 3D printers and CNC machines.
• Lab & Equipment Setup: Figure out, set up, and maintain various types of new prototyping and manufacturing machinery as we expand our production capabilities.
• PCB Management: Do light PCB layouts, source components, and handle the actual ordering process with PCB fab houses.
• Mechanical & System Assembly: Build and assemble complex electro-mechanical systems, including ROVs, camera sub-assemblies, and custom test platforms.
• Soldering & Prototyping: Handle surface-mount and through-hole soldering for rapid prototypes and board rework.
• Ad-hoc Projects: Take on a wide mix of random engineering tasks to support the R&D team, whether that’s building a quick rig or troubleshooting a sensor interface.

What We’re Looking For

• A solid understanding of hardware peripherals, specifically USB, computer interfaces, and sensor protocols.
• Experience with 3D CAD software ("e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360") for designing basic parts and test fixtures.
• Hands-on experience running and maintaining 3D printers, plus a basic working knowledge of CNC machining.
• Familiarity with PCB design software and a clear understanding of how to source parts and order boards from manufacturers.
• Great hands-on fabrication skills, you are comfortable soldering, wiring, and using standard shop tools to build things.
• Experience building, assembling, or troubleshooting ROVs, robotics, or similar electro-mechanical systems.
• Highly resourceful. When a new piece of hardware or lab equipment arrives, you can read the manual, figure it out, and get it running without needing someone to hold your hand.
• Fluency in standard technical hardware terminology.

Bonus Points If You Have:

• Experience with Python or C++ to run basic test scripts.
• A background working with waterproofing enclosures or subsea electronics.
• Base Salary: $75,000 - $95,000 DOE (Depending on Experience)
• Equity: Meaningful equity package (Stock Options) so you share in our success.
• Benefits: Medical insurance, Dental insurance, PTO, 401(k), stock options, free snacks and drinks at the office.
• Perks: Flexible startup culture, a brand new lab facility to help build out, and the chance to work directly on cutting-edge subsea robotics instead of just being a cog in a massive machine.