Electrical Engineer

Ocean Power Technologies Inc•Richmond, CA

45d•$105,000 - $115,000•Onsite

About The Position

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) provides intelligent maritime solutions and services that enable safer, cleaner, and more productive ocean operations for the defense and security, oil and gas, science and research, and offshore wind markets, including Merrows™, which provides AI-capable seamless integration of Maritime Domain Awareness Systems across platforms. Our PowerBuoy® platforms provide clean and reliable electric power and real-time data communications for remote maritime and subsea applications. We also provide WAM-V® unmanned surface vehicles (USV’s) and marine robotics services. The Company’s headquarters is located in Monroe Township, New Jersey with an additional office in Richmond, California. We are seeking an Electrical Engineer to join our Richmond, CA engineering team, focused on the design, development, and deployment of electrical systems for WAM-V® autonomous surface vehicles and PowerBuoy® platforms. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys working on real-world hardware systems, from early-stage prototypes through field deployment. You will take ownership of key electrical subsystems, including power distribution, communications, and control systems, ensuring reliability in harsh marine environments. This role requires a hands-on engineer who is comfortable moving between design, build, test, and troubleshooting, and who works effectively with cross-functional teams across mechanical, software, and embedded disciplines. This position offers the opportunity to directly impact mission-critical marine robotics systems, helping improve platform performance, reliability, and scalability in challenging ocean conditions.

Requirements

US citizenship
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline
Minimum 2 years of experience in an electrical engineering role
Strong proficiency in electrical circuit design, analysis, and system integration
Experience with PCB design tools (Altium Designer preferred)
Familiarity with circuit simulation tools (e.g., Cadence or equivalent)
Experience working with embedded systems and basic programming (C++, Python, or similar)
Strong understanding of electrical components, wiring practices, and safety considerations
Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and resolve electrical issues in complex systems
Experience with power systems, battery integration, and energy management
Willingness to participate in field deployments and sea trials
Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams

Nice To Haves

Experience with marine, outdoor, or ruggedized electrical systems
Familiarity with environmental sealing, corrosion mitigation, and ruggedization techniques
Hands-on experience with prototype builds and field testing
Experience working with autonomous systems, robotics, or unmanned vehicles
Eligibility for U.S. government security clearance (if required)

Responsibilities

Design, analyze, and interpret circuit diagrams, schematics, and layouts
Plan, develop, and refine electrical systems for autonomous marine platforms, including power distribution, control systems, and signal integrity
Own electrical architectures for subsystems across WAM-V® and PowerBuoy® platforms
Develop and prototype electrical assemblies, including wiring harnesses, connectors, enclosures, and PCB-based systems for marine environments
Integrate electrical systems with mechanical and software components, working closely with cross-functional engineering teams
Perform diagnostics, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis on electrical systems in both lab and field environments
Support system bring-up, validation, and testing, including participation in field deployments and sea trials
Internalize feedback from team members, manufacturing, and customers and modify designs to fit those needs
Ensure designs meet reliability, safety, and environmental requirements for marine operation (corrosion, sealing, vibration, thermal)
Create and maintain electrical documentation, such as wiring diagrams, BOMs, and test procedures and simplify to allow use for operators of all skill levels
Support continuous improvement of electrical designs, standards, and best practices