Lead Engineer

OPT

Lead Engineer overseeing multidisciplinary engineering efforts for marine robotics at Ocean Power Technologies in Richmond, CA. Driving technical execution and team coordination in innovative maritime solutions.

Posted 5/29/2026full-timeRichmond • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $155,000 - $165,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead day-to-day technical execution across multidisciplinary engineering efforts
Lead a team of 5-7 mechanical, electrical, and mechatronics engineers and work closely with software and integration teams to deliver reliable, field-ready systems
Support system integration, bring-up, debugging, and validation of WAM-V® and PowerBuoy® platforms
Coordinate engineering execution, planning, and resource allocation across multiple concurrent development efforts, prototype builds, and sea trials
Work directly on challenging technical problems involving electromechanical systems, communications, controls, and autonomous behaviors
Conduct design reviews and provide hands-on mentorship to engineers across disciplines
Collaborate closely with software architecture and systems integration teams to ensure subsystem compatibility and successful platform integration
Collaborate with the commercial team on contract-specific development efforts and overall VoM for internal project scope
Support prioritization, task coordination, and engineering execution in partnership with leadership
Assist with field testing, sea trials, and operational deployments
Help establish and reinforce engineering best practices, documentation standards, and development processes
Contribute to hiring and development of engineering staff

Requirements

What you’ll need

US citizenship
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, or related discipline)
Minimum 6+ years of engineering experience in complex electromechanical or robotics systems
Strong system-level understanding of integrated hardware/software systems
Hands-on experience with system design, integration, debugging, and field testing
Proficiency in project management tools
Familiarity with at least some combination of embedded systems, firmware, CAD, controls, networking, or electromechanical integration
Experience working across multidisciplinary engineering teams
Strong technical problem-solving skills in fast-paced development environments
Ability to mentor engineers and support cross-functional collaboration
Familiarity with networking, communications systems, embedded systems, or controls
Willingness to participate in field deployments and sea trials
Excellent communication and problem-solving skills and ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
401(k)

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

electromechanical systemsrobotics systemssystem designsystem integrationdebuggingfield testingembedded systemsfirmwareCADcontrols

Soft Skills

technical problem-solvingmentorshipcross-functional collaborationcommunicationleadershipresource allocationplanningtask coordinationengineering best practicesdocumentation standards