Senior Electrical Engineer IV - Communications

OTTO Engineering, Inc.; Carpentersville (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays

Profit sharing

Job summary

OTTO Engineering, Inc. is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer IV to design circuitry for Communications and Power Management products. You will drive concept‑through‑production development, mentor junior engineers, and lead critical test and reliability programs.

You will bring expertise in analog/digital design, battery systems, and connectivity protocols, while collaborating with cross‑functional teams to ensure quality and on‑time delivery.

Qualifications

• BSEE is required and 10+ years in concept‑through‑production development.
• Experience in analog/digital circuitry with bring‑up skills.
• Experience with microprocessor peripheral interfaces (SDIO, I2C, SPI, RS232, UART, JTAG).
• Experience with Bluetooth, USB and connectivity protocols.
• Ability to lead projects and work independently; strong teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Design circuitry for Communications and Power Management products from concept to production.
• Lead electrical bring‑up, debug, and validation of analog and digital designs.
• Create technical specifications from internal and customer requirements.
• Generate schematics and BOMs; guide PCB designers for routing and EMC.
• Lead component research, selection, and validation; define test strategies.

Skills

Electronic circuit design

Microprocessor interfaces

Bluetooth/USB connectivity

Battery charging circuits

EMC knowledge

Debugging with test gear

Schematic design

Education

BSEE

Tools

Altium CAD

Job description

Senior Electrical Engineer IV - Communications

Why join OTTO Engineering?

• At OTTO, we don’t just manufacture products—we engineer mission-critical solutions with precision and pride. Our Communications Division designs and manufactures ruggedized, application-specific communication systems built to perform when failure isn’t an option, serving the military, law enforcement, public safety, and industrial customers worldwide.


• As a core value, we focus on delivering for our customers through innovative technology, superior quality, value, and responsiveness … as a result, our growth continues!


• Employees are our greatest asset, which is why we share our company’s profits to celebrate our collective success.


• As a privately-owned company, we are proud to invest significantly in our community and in our own growth, focusing on long-term business success.


• We are proudly American!

You’ll love our Engineering Team!

Join a team where your engineering talent directly supports the people who protect and serve. At OTTO Engineering, we design and build innovative communications and power‑management products used by Public Safety professionals and Military teams around the world. You’ll help create rugged, reliable, and innovative products that professionals depend on every day. If you’re excited by meaningful engineering challenges and the chance to build technology that truly matters, this role is a great fit.

Specifically, we are seeking experience with …

• Product development from implementing feature requirements through production including designing for manufacturability


• Electronic circuit design of digital and analog/audio circuits with bring-up skills & integration of initial HW/SW


• Microprocessor peripheral interfaces (SDIO, I2C, SPI, RS232, Parallel and Serial/UART, JTAG)


• Sensor selection (GPS, Accelerometer, IMU, etc.) and audio (speaker & mic) interface and design


• Bluetooth, USB, and connectivity protocols

Our Senior Electrical Engineer IV will design circuitry for Communications and Power Management Products. Working on concept through production product development, as well as participate in the technical resolution of field and production issues. Prior experience in portable (battery powered) electronics, analog, audio, and digital circuitry is desired. The Senior Electrical Engineer IV should be able to work independently or be the lead engineer on a project. Ability to electrically architect new products and mentor junior Engineers. Degree of supervision required to perform job duties should not exceed 10%.

The Senior Electrical Engineer IV will:

• Key contributor in the full product development life-cycle: concept, design, bring-up, integration of initial HW/SW, factory support, test & validation, and customer support


• Create technical specifications from internal and customer product requirements


• Drive architecture, design, prototyping, and test strategy


• Lead component research, selection, and validation


• Design analog circuitry including filters, FETs, power supplies (linear and switchmode regulators), and battery monitoring & charging


• Design and optimize circuits for minimal current drain consumption to maximize battery life


• Generate schematics using Altium CAD. Provide guidance to a Printed Circuit Board Designer for routing, high speed interface, impedance matching, power routing, EMC Compliance, etc.


• Generate Engineering Documentation: Schematics, BOMs, ECNs, Test Plans, and Specifications


• Lead the electrical bring-up, debug, and validation of analog and digital designs


• Hands‑on design, troubleshooting, optimization, simulation, using oscilloscopes, DMM’s, and other test equipment


• Define and execute performance tests, reliability tests, EMC testing, and field failure analysis


• Define requirements for circuit board level testing & test‑coverage as well as of end‑of‑line functional product testing, including selection of test equipment


• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including Sales, Quality, Mechanical, Firmware, and Manufacturing Engineers, to ensure timely product development and performance


• Conduct and participate in design reviews and DFMEAs


• Ensure compliance with industry standards including collaboration with test labs and regulatory agencies


• Help provide project timelines and cost estimates


• Contribute to the development of Intellectual Property


• Assist with other related duties as required or assigned

What you’ll need to bring to the table:

• BSEE


• Minimum of 10 years of experience in concept‑through‑production product development


• Proficiency in electronic circuit design of digital and analog/audio circuits with bring‑up skills & integration of initial HW/SW


• Experience in product development from implementing feature requirements through production including designing for manufacturability


• Experience in microprocessor peripheral interfaces (SDIO, I2C, SPI, RS232, Parallel and Serial/UART, JTAG)


• Experience with sensor selection (GPS, Accelerometer, IMU, etc) and audio (speaker & mic) interface and design


• Strong understanding of Bluetooth, USB, and connectivity protocols


• Knowledge of battery charging circuits and batteries


• Experience employing mitigation methods and techniques to address circuit noise, meet ESD standards, and EMC Compliance


• Knowledge of some embedded software is not required, but a plus


• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and analyze product failures, and apply test results to design improvements


• Experience using a Schematic/Layout CAD tool (Experience with Altium is a plus)


• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and contribute to multiple simultaneous projects


• Excellent communication and teamwork skills are essential


• Flexible, results‑oriented problem‑solver who is a self‑starter and who can work independently and as a member of a team

What OTTO offers for this specific position:

The hiring range listed in this posting is what we, in good faith, anticipate relying on when confirming a base salary for this position; exceptions may be considered for highly experienced candidates with multiple years of at‑level experience.

• Target base salary hiring range: $110,000 to $125,000, based on qualifications and experience.


• Profit Sharing Bonus - OTTO believes that it’s fair to share the profits that the employees help to make; profit sharing is distributed to employees twice a year. OTTO’s profit sharing plan is paid at the discretion of the company and is not a guaranteed bonus or any part of a compensation plan.


• Vacation: 120 hours - vacation time is earned on the anniversary date.

Health:

Medical Insurance-

• HMO Plan


• Standard PPO Plan


• Enhanced PPO Plan


• High Deducible PPO Plan


• FSA, LFSA, and HSA


• Base Plan


• Buy‑Up Plan

Vision Insurance

401(k) with a company match

Life insurance:

• Life/AD&D


• Voluntary Life/AD&D


• Short‑Term Disability


• Long‑Term Disability

10 paid holidays

Holiday party

AND numerous OTTO celebrations throughout the year!

OTTO Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran

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