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