Job advert – Electronic Hardware Engineer
Electronic Hardware Engineer – High‑Performance Underwater Sonar Systems
Location: Yateley (hybrid, on‑site bias)
An innovative marine technology business is looking for an Electronic Hardware Engineer to help design and build the electronics that power some of the world's most advanced underwater sonar and sensing systems. Their technology underpins critical missions in offshore energy, ocean science and defence, from subsea positioning and navigation to high‑resolution seabed imaging and intruder detection around ports, vessels and offshore infrastructure.
You will join a small, focused engineering team (currently three electronic engineers) that owns the full lifecycle of complex electronics: from requirements capture and schematic design through to PCB layout, firmware/FPGA, test, productionisation and through‑life support. It is a hands‑on role where your designs will quickly make a visible impact in real‑world subsea applications.
What you will be doing
Working across the full electronic design lifecycle: requirements definition, detailed design, development, productionisation and through‑life support for sonar and underwater sensing products.
Schematic capture and design of analogue and digital hardware for signal and data processing chains.
Design and layout of multi‑layer PCBs for demanding subsea environments.
Testing, verification and fault‑finding on electronic hardware, including root‑cause analysis and corrective actions.
Contributing to firmware development and FPGA design (e.g. VHDL on modern toolchains) as part of tightly integrated hardware/firmware solutions.
Developing test processes, rigs and automated test equipment to support manufacture and in‑service diagnostics.
Managing through‑life support and obsolescence for existing hardware platforms to ensure long‑term availability of fielded systems.
Producing clear design documentation to support certification, production and customer delivery.
You will be working on technology closely aligned with a leading global provider of marine acoustic, inertial, optical and sonar systems used to track, navigate, position and communicate with underwater and surface platforms such as AUVs, ROVs and USVs. Typical applications include:
Long‑baseline and ultra‑short‑baseline acoustic positioning that effectively deliver "underwater GPS" for vessels and subsea vehicles.
High‑resolution imaging sonars for seabed mapping, mine countermeasures and infrastructure inspection.
Intruder detection sonars that protect harbours, naval assets and critical marine infrastructure.
Subsea monitoring systems that can detect minute hydrocarbon leaks or environmental changes in huge volumes of water.
About you
Essential:
Degree (2:1 or above) in Electronic Engineering or a closely related discipline.
Demonstrable electronic design skills in analogue and/or digital hardware.
Ability and desire to learn across the full stack of electronic design, including PCB, firmware and FPGA.
Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
Self‑motivated, curious and comfortable taking ownership in a small, highly capable team.
Desirable (any mix of):
Masters degree in Electronic Engineering or related field.
FPGA design experience (e.g. VHDL, Intel Quartus Prime or similar toolchains).
Analogue circuit design: signal conditioning, filtering, data acquisition.
Proficiency in schematic capture and multi‑layer PCB layout (e.g. Altium Designer).
Experience with common communication interfaces such as Ethernet, RS232, RS485, SPI, I2C.
Embedded C/C++ for microcontrollers or SoC platforms.
Experience transitioning PCB designs to manufacture, applying Design for Test and developing automated test fixtures.
Location and working style
You will be based at the company's engineering facility in Yateley where the lab, test equipment and prototyping capability are located. Some flexibility for home working is available, but hardware development is inherently hands‑on, and you should expect to spend the majority of your time on site.
Why join?
Direct impact: Your designs will be deployed in mission‑critical sonar and underwater sensing systems used worldwide across offshore energy, defence and ocean science.
Technical variety: Mix of analogue, digital, FPGA, embedded and test engineering, with end‑to‑end ownership of products.
Learning environment: The company invests in formal training and on‑the‑job development to help you grow into any gaps.
Niche domain: Develop expertise in underwater acoustics, inertial navigation and sonar imaging, in collaboration with a market‑leading group in this field.
To explore this opportunity, please apply with your CV and a brief note on your experience with electronic hardware design and any exposure to FPGA or embedded systems.