Controls and Systems Integration Engineer

Description

SAIC is seeking a hands-on Controls and Systems Integration Engineer to support advanced unmanned maritime systems in San Diego, CA. This is an ON-SITE role.

This is an on-site engineering role for someone who enjoys making complex electromechanical systems work in the real world - not just on paper.

This position supports U.S. Navy unmanned systems programs involving large uncrewed surface vessels, large uncrewed underwater vehicles, and related maritime payloads. The work spans vehicle controls, embedded and networked systems, electric propulsion, power distribution, sensors, autonomy support, test, troubleshooting, and field operations.

The ideal candidate is a practical engineer with a background in either electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, robotics, controls, or a similar technical discipline. You should be comfortable moving between software, electronics, PLCs, vehicle hardware, test equipment, and operational troubleshooting. This is a strong fit for someone who can read schematics, write code, tune a control loop, troubleshoot a network, and work safely around real machinery.

You will work with multidisciplinary teams to integrate, test, operate, and improve unmanned maritime platforms that include electric thrusters, diesel-electric power systems, lithium battery banks, PLC-controlled switching, CAN bus devices, Ethernet networks, remote HMIs, autonomy software, navigation sensors, acoustic payloads, and shipboard support systems.

JOB DUTIES:

Controls, Automation, and Vehicle Integration

• Develop, integrate, tune, and troubleshoot control systems for unmanned maritime vehicles and payload systems.
• Work with PID controllers, control loops, actuator command interfaces, feedback signals, sensor data, and fault responses.
• Support integration of propulsion, steering, thrusters, ballast, payload, generator, battery, and power-management subsystems.
• Work with PLC-based control systems, including I/O mapping, relay control, interlocks, alarms, remote switching, and safety logic.
• Support the development and validation of manual, remote, semi-autonomous, and autonomous operating modes.
• Troubleshoot real-world control issues involving latency, noisy sensors, bad feedback, incorrect scaling, network loss, power interruptions, and actuator faults.

Software and Networked Systems

• Write, modify, and troubleshoot software in C/C++ and Python for robotics, controls, test automation, data logging, and hardware integration.
• Work with Linux-based systems, embedded computers, Ethernet devices, serial devices, CAN bus hardware, and networked sensors.
• Develop and debug TCP/UDP socket-based interfaces, device drivers, telemetry links, command interfaces, and test tools.
• Support integration of vehicle networks involving HMIs, PLCs, cameras, navigation systems, radar, AIS, power-monitoring devices, and control computers.
• Analyze logs, telemetry, packet captures, sensor data, and vehicle behavior to identify root causes and recommend corrective actions.

Electrical, Power, and Hardware Troubleshooting

• Support integration and troubleshooting of DC, and AC power systems used on unmanned maritime platforms.
• Work around electric propulsion systems, battery systems, chargers, inverters, DC/DC converters, generators, contactors, relays, breakers, and power distribution panels.
• Use multimeters, oscilloscopes, CAN tools, serial terminals, network tools, and other test equipment to diagnose system issues.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, network diagrams, mechanical drawings, interface control documents, and technical manuals.
• Assist with safe lockout, isolation, inspection, and functional testing of onboard systems.

Test, Field Operations, and Customer Support

• Plan and execute bench tests, dockside tests, integration tests, and field tests for unmanned maritime systems.
• Create and maintain test plans, procedures, checklists, configuration records, anomaly reports, and technical notes.
• Support government test events, demonstrations, sea trials, and operational exercises.
• Participate in launch, recovery, troubleshooting, and post-mission analysis for UUVs, USVs, ROVs, payloads, and supporting equipment.
• Work directly with engineers, technicians, operators, vendors, and government customers to solve problems quickly and safely.
• Support continuous improvement of system reliability, maintainability, documentation, and operational procedures.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, Controls, or a related technical discipline and five (5) years or more related experience.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must have an Active Secret Clearance to start
• Must be able to obtain a TS/SCI after start
• Hands-on experience with controls, robotics, automation, embedded systems, unmanned systems, marine systems, industrial systems, or complex electromechanical equipment.
• Working knowledge of C/C++ and Python.
• Familiarity with PLCs, discrete I/O, relays, interlocks, feedback signals, and automation logic.
• Understanding of PID control, basic control theory, sensors, actuators, and closed-loop system behavior.
• Experience with Ethernet networking and TCP/UDP socket communication.
• Familiarity with CAN bus, serial communications, or other fieldbus/device communication protocols.
• Ability to troubleshoot both software and hardware problems in a lab, shop, pier-side, or field environment.
• Ability to read schematics, wiring diagrams, network diagrams, mechanical drawings, and technical manuals.
• Willingness to work on-site in San Diego and support occasional field tests, sea trials, shipboard events, or travel as needed.

DESIRED SKILLS:

• Experience with UUVs, USVs, ROVs, AUVs, sUAS, robotics, autonomous vehicles, marine systems, or defense test programs.
• Experience with ROS, MOOS-IvP, autonomy frameworks, mission planning tools, or robotic middleware.
• Experience with Linux system administration, shell scripting, Docker, Git, and configuration management.
• Experience with WAGO, Beckhoff, Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Codesys, or similar PLC ecosystems.
• Experience with marine electronics such as NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000, AIS, radar, GNSS/INS, DVL, sonar, acoustic modems, or navigation sensors.
• Experience with lithium battery systems, BMS interfaces, Victron or similar power-monitoring systems, inverters, chargers, and generator controls.
• Experience with data analysis, telemetry review, fault trees, FMEA, safety cases, or formal test reporting.
• Experience operating safely around high-current DC systems, rotating machinery, marine propulsion, winches, launch-and-recovery equipment, or shipboard systems.

Target salary range: $120,001 - $160,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.