Technical Lead

Liquid Robotics; Jessup (MD); Hybrid; USD 138,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

Liquid Robotics is seeking a Technical Lead for project-level technical execution across customer-funded efforts, IR&D, and product development projects. The Technical Lead is the primary technical authority on assigned projects and is responsible for delivering against technical scope, schedule, cost, and quality objectives.

This role works closely with engineering discipline leads to generate realistic schedules, identify and secure required resources, manage technical risk, and act as the

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline; advanced degree strongly preferred.
• 8+ years of engineering experience in maritime, robotics, aerospace, defense, or related electro-mechanical systems.
• Experience leading technical execution on medium-to-large projects with schedule and resource planning.
• Experience with systems engineering processes and verification/validation activities.
• Proven ability to create realistic technical schedules and resource estimates with discipline leads.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills; experience briefing senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical solution on assigned projects and translate requirements into executable plans.
• Coordinate with discipline leads to develop integrated schedules, resource plans, and risk strategies.
• Maintain technical baselines and coordinate ECRs/ECOs and design revisions.
• Serve as primary technical interface between engineering teams and PMO; provide status input and technical presentations to stakeholders.
• Ensure deliverables meet requirements and quality standards; coordinate verification, validation, and qualification activities.
• Identify technical risks and implement mitigation; escalate issues to protect schedule and performance.
• Lead cross-discipline technical reviews and design reviews; document decisions and communications.
• Mentor engineers and remove impediments for progress; support manufacturing and supply chain transitions.

Skills

Systems thinking

Collaborator

Communication

Decision making

Cross-disciplinary leadership

Organization

Education

BS in Engineering / Computer Science

Tools

ECR/ECO workflows

Requirements traceability

Job description

Technical Lead

Liquid Robotics is seeking a Technical Lead for project-level technical execution across customer-funded efforts, IR&D, and product development projects. The Technical Lead is the primary technical authority on assigned projects and is responsible for delivering against technical scope, schedule, cost, and quality objectives. This role works closely with engineering discipline leads to generate realistic schedules, identify and secure required resources, manage technical risk, and act as the bridge between project engineering teams and the Program Management Office (PMO).

This lead reports directly to our Head of Engineering and is based in Jessup, MD.

Essential Responsibilities

• Own the technical solution on assigned projects: translate customer requirements and program objectives into executable technical plans and deliverables.
• Work with discipline leads (systems, mechanical, electrical, software, test, and sustainment) to develop integrated technical schedules, resource plans, and risk/reduction strategies.
• Maintain technical baseline for the project; review, approve, and coordinate engineering change requests (ECRs/ECOs) and design revisions necessary to meet project objectives.
• Act as the primary technical interface between engineering teams and the PMO: provide clear technical input for status reporting, schedule forecasts, and technical presentations to stakeholders and customers.
• Ensure engineering deliverables meet defined requirements and quality standards; that the overall designs are coherent across the functional disciplines and achievable within the cost/schedule budget; coordinate verification, validation, and qualification activities with Systems and Verification teams.
• Proactively identify technical risks, implement mitigation plans, and **escalate** issues when necessary to protect project schedule and performance.
• Facilitate and conduct cross-discipline technical reviews, design reviews, trade studies, and decision gates; ensure decisions are documented and communicated across the team.
• Mentor and guide engineers on the project; help remove technical and cross-functional impediments to progress.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing, QA, Field Support, and Supply Chain to ensure producibility, supportability, and smooth transition from development to production/sustainment.
• Contribute to capture and proposal activities by providing credible technical approaches, schedules, and basis of estimates for engineering scope.

Key Attributes

• Strong technical credibility and systems-thinking — able to balance technical rigor with programmatic constraints (schedule, cost, manufacturability).
• Excellent collaborator and communicator — able to synthesize technical detail for program management and translate customer requirements for engineering teams.
• Decisive and pragmatic — able to prioritize work, trade performance against risk/cost/time, and drive timely technical decisions.
• Comfortable leading cross-disciplinary teams and influencing without always having direct authority.
• Organized, proactive, and adept at maintaining visibility of multiple concurrent technical threads.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline; advanced degree strongly preferred.
• 8+ years of relevant engineering experience in maritime, robotics, aerospace, defense, or related complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical execution on medium-to-large engineering projects, including schedule and resource planning, risk management, and cross-discipline coordination.
• Experience working with systems engineering processes, requirements traceability, ECR/ECO workflows, and verification/validation activities.
• Proven ability to create realistic technical schedules and resource estimates in collaboration with discipline leads.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills; experience representing technical status to senior leadership and/or customers.
• Familiarity with Wave Glider systems and maritime domain work is a plus.

U.S. Person status required.

Ability to obtain a US Secret Clearance required. Preference given to candidates with active security clearance at time of hire.

Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

Summary pay range: $137,600 - $189,200

Liquid Robotics designs and manufactures Wave Gliders®, the first wave and solar powered autonomous ocean robots. With our partners we address many of the planet’s greatest challenges, by transforming how to assess, monitor, and protect the ocean. We solve critical problems for defense, commercial, and science customers.

Visit us at www.liquid-robotics.com to learn more.

Liquid Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.