ELECTRICAL ENGINEER 3

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

The Ocean Engineering (OE) team at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington is hiring – see yourself at APL!

The Applied Physics Laboratory is a research unit at the University of Washington. Our research expertise is in ocean physics and engineering, ocean and medical acoustics, polar science, environmental remote sensing, and signal processing. We conduct research and development that is sponsored by a variety of federal and state agencies, and take great pride in our long-standing status as a US Navy-designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). Our work takes place not only on the University of Washington campus and medical centers, but in field locations around the world – at sea, in the air, and on polar ice caps. We apply rigorous scientific inquiry and engineering excellence in pursuit of solutions to important problems for the good of our region, nation, and world.

Diversity is a core value at University of Washington and the Applied Physics Laboratory shares this commitment. We are focused on building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable research environment for all students, staff, and collaborators. We believe every member on our team enriches our community by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions.

The Ocean Engineering (OE) department of the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) conducts engineering design, development, and field operations in support of fundamental and applied research programs sponsored by Federal, State, local and private entities. The work of the Applied Physics Laboratory is innovative. Our sponsors seek novel solutions to research problems, at times within tight timeframes for response. The platforms we create may be the first of their kind. There may not be reference points in existing technology for our work, or the way our sponsors wish to apply existing technology.

APL has an outstanding full time opportunity for a Electrical Engineer 3.

The Electrical Engineer 3 in the Applied Physics Laboratory’s Ocean Engineering Department will be responsible for the design, construction and field deployment of specialized electrical systems for oceanographic, marine robotics, marine renewable energy and acoustic instrumentation. Design tasks will be varied and may range from custom circuit boards to extremely complex data acquisition systems.  Special emphasis will be placed on the design of electrical systems for long term operation in the ocean. Design decisions are complex and also involve non-technical factors such as budgetary considerations, and project timelines and milestones.

The person selected for this Electrical Engineer 3 roll will be a part of a dynamic team that supports APL’s wide-reaching research enterprise. Your expertise will enable the success of researchers who are clearing hazardous seafloor debris from coastal areas, developing ultrasound technologies that advance medical care, conducting fieldwork on glaciers, polar regions, and the world’s oceans, and performing robotic exploration beneath oceanic ice shelves and on space missions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the general guidance of Electrical Engineer 4s or higher and for sponsored research projects that are medium to large in scope, a workday may include the following activities:

*Designing moderately complex circuit boards using the PADS software suite.
*Preparing and analyzing electrical power budgets that are moderately complex.
*Designing moderately complex data acquisition devices.
*Identifying and documenting electrical component requirements and specifications.
*Adhering to APL Ocean Engineering documentation standards.
*Coordinating with APL technicians and external vendors in the fabrication, assembly, and bench testing of electrical components.
*May perform electrical component fabrication, assembly, integration, and bench testing as needed.
*May assist Electrical Engineer 4s or higher with designing, building, and testing electrical components that are extremely complex; and/or projects that are extremely large in scope.
*Under limited guidance from Engineers or Principal Investigators, participating in or planning at-sea installation, operation, maintenance, repair and recovery of scientific systems.
*Contributing to and improving a PADS parts library.
*Contributing to and improving a common electrical components inventory system.
*Managing Lab safety compliance in the Electrical Engineering workspaces.
*Participating and providing input into proposal budgets.

REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics or related field and three years of experience.

Work experience and/or educational experience with the following:
-PCB design using PADS or similar software.
-Experience with electrical system design for ocean engineering, marine renewable energy, ocean physics, and/or marine robotics applications.
-Able to meet the physical requirements necessary to work at sea in small to large vessels for extended periods and willing to perform the required duties aboard ships.
-Able to work independently, and as part of a research team, interacting cooperatively with people from diverse backgrounds, academic levels, and nationalities.
-Able to acquire and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance.
-Experience with digital signal processing applications.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

May be subject to successful completion of E-Verify process.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.