Senior Electrical Engineer IV - Communications

OTTO Engineering is hiring a Senior Electrical Engineer IV to help develop ruggedized communications solutions that must perform when failure is not an option. This onsite role in Carpentersville, IL supports full concept-through-production work, from technical specifications and electrical architecture through bring-up, validation, documentation, and customer-facing issue resolution.

As a key contributor in OTTO’s Communications Division, you will partner with cross-functional teams across Sales, Quality, Mechanical, Firmware, and Manufacturing to support timely product development and strong performance. OTTO is privately owned, proudly American, and invests in long-term business success with a focus on innovative technology, superior quality, value, and responsiveness. Employees share in company profit through a twice-year distribution.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the end-to-end product development life-cycle, including concept, design, bring-up, integration of initial HW/SW, factory support, test & validation, and customer support
• Create technical specifications from internal and customer product requirements
• Drive electrical architecture, design, prototyping, and test strategy
• Lead component research, selection, and validation
• Design digital interface logic and circuits involving sensors, peripherals, microprocessors, and memory
• Design audio circuitry (A/D & D/A converters, audio power amps, op-amps, etc.)
• Design analog circuitry including filters, FETs, power supplies (linear and switchmode regulators), and battery monitoring & charging
• Design and optimize for minimal current drain to maximize battery life
• Generate schematics in Altium CAD, and provide PCB designer guidance for routing, high speed interfaces, impedance matching, power routing, and EMC compliance
• Produce engineering documentation such as schematics, BOMs, ECNs, test plans, and specifications
• Lead electrical bring-up, debug, and validation of analog and digital designs, using oscilloscopes, DMMs, and other test equipment
• Define and execute performance, reliability, and EMC testing, including field failure analysis
• Define requirements for board-level test coverage and end-of-line functional product testing, including selection of test equipment
• Participate in design reviews and DFMEAs
• Collaborate to ensure compliance with industry standards, including coordination with test labs and regulatory agencies
• Support project timelines and cost estimates, and contribute to development of Intellectual Property
• Perform other related duties as required

Requirements

• BSEE
• U.S. Citizen
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in concept-through-production product development
• Proficiency in electronic circuit design across digital and analog/audio, including bring-up skills and integration of initial HW/SW
• Experience taking feature requirements through production, including designing for manufacturability
• Experience with microprocessor peripheral interfaces: SDIO, I2C, SPI, RS232, Parallel and Serial/UART, JTAG
• Experience with sensor selection (GPS, Accelerometer, IMU, etc.) and audio interface/design (speaker & mic)
• Strong understanding of Bluetooth and USB connectivity protocols
• Knowledge of battery charging circuits and batteries
• Experience applying mitigation methods for circuit noise, ESD standards, and EMC compliance
• Knowledge of embedded software is not required, but is a plus
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and analyze product failures and use test results to improve designs
• Experience using schematic/layout CAD tools (Altium is a plus)
• Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and contribute to multiple simultaneous projects
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Flexible, results-oriented problem-solver who can work independently and as part of a team

Technologies

Altium CAD, SDIO, I2C, SPI, RS232, Parallel and Serial/UART, JTAG, Bluetooth, USB, A/D & D/A converters, oscilloscopes, DMM's, FETs, linear and switchmode regulators, EMC, ESD, DFMEA

Benefits

• Target base salary hiring range: $110,000 to $125,000 per year, based on qualifications and experience
• Profit Sharing Bonus (distributed twice a year; paid at the discretion of the company and not guaranteed)
• Vacation: 120 hours (earned on the anniversary date)
• Medical Insurance: HMO Plan, Standard PPO Plan, Enhanced PPO Plan, High Deductible PPO Plan, FSA, LFSA, and HSA
• Dental Insurance: Base Plan and Buy-Up Plan
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Life insurance: Life/AD&D, Voluntary Life/AD&D, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability
• 10 paid holidays
• Company picnic
• Holiday party
• Numerous OTTO celebrations throughout the year

Federal notices: Federal EEOC Know Your Rights, NLRB Notice, and E-Verify participation are available at the links provided in the original posting.

Reasonable accommodation: If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and need a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the online application process, contact OTTO Engineering at 847-428-7171 or [email protected].

Note: OTTO Engineering does not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, agencies, or similar organizations; submissions will not be honored.