Nautilus Defense LLC Staff Electrical Engineer Pawtucket, RI · Full time

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Rhode Island based Nautilus Defense builds state-of-the-art textile-integrated systems for monitoring high-value assets and their environments. Our technologies enable the broad distribution and interconnection of electronics in textiles without detracting from their mechanical properties. We leverage these technologies to develop systems of immediate value to our customers while continuously advancing their readiness for manufacturing and use at scale.

Nautilus is a small interdisciplinary team structured to facilitate the rapid experimental development of novel integrated systems. Nautilus team members all demonstrate high levels of technical leadership and personal autonomy. The ideal candidate for this position has experience working both independently and as a member of a fast-moving, high-performing team. Technical craftmanship and integrity are paramount to success in this position. 

Nautilus is seeking a Staff Electrical Engineer to provide technical leadership in the design, development, and delivery of low-power, compact embedded electronics for textile-integrated systems. The ideal candidate brings deep experience architecting embedded hardware, with a strong track record of taking products from early concept through validation, manufacturing, and deployment. 

This role spans the full embedded hardware lifecycle—from early system architecture through schematic capture, PCB layout, validation, and production support. As a Staff Engineer, you will help shape technical direction, guide design decisions that impact manufacturability and reliability, and collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to productize systems where power efficiency, physical footprint, RF performance, and robust communication are critical. 

This position requires US Citizenship. 

Job Responsibilities: 

• Architect, design, and deliver embedded PCBs integrating microcontrollers, SoCs, sensors, and power management circuits 
• Provide technical ownership of schematic capture and PCB layout, balancing electrical performance, RF considerations, mechanical constraints, and manufacturability 
• Lead board bring-up, debugging, and validation of prototype and production hardware using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and related lab equipment 
• Drive hardware through verification, qualification, and release to manufacturing, supporting multiple product revisions as needed 
• Support system-level integration, test strategy development, and root-cause analysis of field or manufacturing issues 
• Define and implement digital interfaces such as I²C, SPI, UART, USB, GPIO, and wireless interfaces 
• Collaborate closely with firmware engineers to ensure reliable hardware/software co-design and integration 
• Support rapid prototyping, iterative board revisions, and design-for-manufacture (DFM) and design-for-test (DFT) activities 
• Establish and maintain clear documentation for hardware designs, test procedures, and revision history to support product lifecycle needs 
• Participate in and lead design reviews, contributing to system architecture and long-term platform decisions 
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to other engineers on embedded and RF hardware best practices 
• Contribute to R&D efforts to evolve core technology capabilities and transition them into shipped products 

Preferred Skills and Experience: 

• 9+ years of experience designing, debugging, and deploying embedded hardware products from concept through production 
• Demonstrated ownership of hardware that has entered manufacturing or fielded use 
• Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium Designer, KiCad, OrCAD) 
• Strong understanding of PCB design best practices for signal integrity, power distribution, grounding, EMI/EMC, and mixed-signal layouts 
• Hands-on RF experience, such as integrating wireless modules, designing RF signal paths, antennas, or supporting RF validation and tuning 
• Experience using high-speed lab equipment (e.g., spectrum analyzers, VNAs, high-bandwidth oscilloscopes) 
• Experience integrating microcontrollers, SoCs, sensors, wireless modules, and power management into compact, low-power designs 
• Deep familiarity with embedded interfaces and protocols (I²C, SPI, UART, USB, GPIO) 
• Experience collaborating with firmware teams on complex hardware/software integration and debugging 
• Working knowledge of DFM, DFT, and manufacturing workflows with contract manufacturers 
• Strong documentation and communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain design decisions and tradeoffs 
• Ability to operate independently, take initiative, and provide technical leadership in small, fast-moving teams 
• Comfortable working on ambitious, early-stage technologies with evolving requirements and tight iteration cycles