Senior Electrical Engineer – Ruggedized Computer & Networking Systems

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms. POSITION OVERVIEW Saronic Technologies is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer specializing in ruggedized computing and networking systems to join our Electrical Engineering – Advanced Development group. This role will focus on the research, evaluation, and development of robust onboard computing architectures, embedded systems, and high-reliability network solutions that power Saronic’s autonomous vessel platforms. The ideal candidate will have deep experience designing and validating ruggedized electronic systems for mission-critical applications, including embedded computing, network topologies, data management, and environmental hardening for commercial maritime and defense use cases. This position bridges R&D, systems engineering, and hands-on integration - supporting both technology evaluation and fleet deployment. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Lead R&D initiatives in ruggedized computing and networking architectures for autonomous surface vessels. - Design, evaluate, and integrate embedded computing systems, data acquisition units, and network infrastructures optimized for high performance in harsh marine environments. - Conduct benchmarking and trade studies on ruggedized COTS and custom computing solutions (edge computers, network switches, routers, storage units, etc.). - Develop and validate system architectures for high-availability networks supporting autonomy, sensing, and control subsystems. - Collaborate with software, autonomy, and mechanical engineering teams to ensure reliable data throughput and system resilience across vessel networks. - Specify and validate environmental and EMC/EMI compliance for computing and networking hardware. - Prototype and test system configurations in laboratory and field conditions, including shock, vibration, temperature, and humidity testing. - Author technical documentation, including R&D reports, trade studies, wiring diagrams, and integration standards. - Mentor junior engineers and contribute to internal design guidelines for next-generation computing and network systems. - Support system integration and troubleshooting during prototype builds, dockside commissioning, and sea trials. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS - B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline. - 7+ years of experience in electrical or systems engineering focused on computing and networking technologies in ruggedized or mission-critical environments. - Expertise in embedded computing platforms, network design, and hardware integration. - Experience with Ethernet, CAN, serial, and fiber-optic communication protocols and their implementation in distributed systems. - Proven track record of benchmarking and trade study development for hardware performance and reliability. - Familiarity with marine, aerospace, automotive or defense environmental standards (MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, IEC 60945, etc.). - Strong understanding of power distribution, grounding, and thermal management in dense electronics enclosures. - Excellent communication skills and experience producing clear technical documentation and reports. - Hands-on experience with system integration and environmental testing. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Experience developing or integrating ruggedized computing solutions for maritime or defense systems. - Familiarity with network security, IEEE 1588/PTP Protocol, VLAN management, and deterministic networking for real-time systems. - Knowledge of data logging, storage, and redundancy architectures in distributed sensor networks. - Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) and hardware-software co-simulation environments. - Background in autonomous or remote vehicle platforms. - Understanding of cybersecurity standards and secure network design principles. - Experience using 3D CAD tools