a16z 
Lightspeed Electrical Engineer (Forward Deployed)
Posted Updated 13
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Description
- We are seeking a versatile Forward Deployed Electrical Engineer to join our technical team. You will have a strong electrical background and be responsible for bringing our technology from the lab to the fleet
- This is not a traditional engineering role. You will be responsible for deploying our systems into the real world, directly supporting maritime missions. You will integrate electrical payloads, debug complex system-level problems, and iterate hardware designs in the field to ensure success. This is a highly hands-on and field-oriented role with time split between the lab, fabrication spaces, and the waterfront
- Design systems to support electrical integration of novel systems and payloads onto our Autonomous Service Vessels (ASVs) and maritime platforms
- Lead rapid prototyping efforts (electrical) to support field experimentation and platform evolution
- Perform system bring-up, integration, and troubleshooting of power, networking, sensor, and compute subsystems. Candidates need to be capable of understanding full system topologies, balancing power budgets, thermal constraints, and signal integrity
- Own dockside and sea trials — prepare vessels, install new electrical hardware packages, and perform system validation in operationally relevant environments
- Drive design-for-assembly and design-for-deployment feedback into electrical product development
- Work closely with cross-functional teams, including Mechanical, Software, and Autonomy Engineers, to evolve and harden system designs
- Interface with suppliers and fabrication shops to support fast turnarounds of custom components and harnesses
- Contribute to documentation and training to support the scaling of deployment and manufacturing
- Physical Demands
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Occasional standing and walking within the office
- Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment
- Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports
- Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies
- Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages)
- Understanding of networking protocols and distributed systems, including TCP/IP, UDP, and message-passing frameworks
- Strong sense of ownership and bias for action; thrives solving open-ended problems in real-world environments
- Willingness to work in dynamic, hands-on environments, including on and near the water
- Familiarity with maritime environments or naval platforms preferred
- Experience working with other types of comms: serial (rs232, rs485) and CANbus
- Exposure to ruggedized or IP-rated hardware design preferred
- Hands-on expertise in rapid prototyping and system-level debugging
- Hands-on expertise in electrical integration (power systems, cabling, connectors, PCB bring-up)
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field. Master’s degree is a plus
- 3+ years of experience working on integrated electrical/electromechanical systems, preferably in fielded or mission-critical environments
- Experience working with a Linux-based operating system
- Ability to write basic software tools (e.g., Python, shell scripts) for hardware bring-up or test automation preferred
- Experience in systems integration or test engineering preferred
- Comfort working with basic electrical test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes) and field integration setups
- Experience with autonomous systems, drones, or other robotic platforms preferred