Sofar is the leading ocean intelligence platform. We’ve built the world’s largest real-time ocean network, turning billions of measurements into insights trusted by scientists, governments, and shipping fleets. Our technology makes the ocean more predictable and sustainable, helping customers save costs, cut emissions, and unlock insights that were once out of reach.
As the Lead Test Automation Engineer on our hardware team, you will spearhead the design and implementation of our testing systems, ranging from sensor calibration fixtures to embedded system test scripts. You’ll work closely with design engineers to develop functional test requirements, collaborate with on-site manufacturing and production teams to ensure testing tools and fixtures are in optimal condition and used effectively, and mentor junior engineers across testing and production. You will maintain comprehensive and detailed documentation of all test and automation requirements, processes and instructions. You will report directly to Sofar's Embedded Software Engineering Lead.
You excel in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment, and you’re energized by the opportunity to build tools that will play a pivotal role in deploying Sofar systems in oceans worldwide. These systems gather vital data to drive conservation efforts, enhance climate and weather science, improve coastal safety, and support sustainable practices in the marine industry. You’re excited about the opportunity to join a growing startup, expand your technical and leadership expertise, make a significant, positive impact on our planet, and learn from a dynamic team of engineers, scientists, and ocean enthusiasts.
Impact You’ll Own:
- Drive improvements in production capacity and reduce TAKT time to meet ambitious production scaling targets, while maintaining highly accurate systems with rigorous test coverage that ensure only fully validated high quality products are shipped to our customers and oceans.
- Support the launch of new products by collaborating with engineering and manufacturing team members to capture, and training technicians on new processes.
- Exceptionally supportive, with a strong focus on "keeping the line running." Handles interruptions with a positive attitude and provides clear, respectful training to technicians. A true team player, offering respectful guidance and training to technicians while actively collecting and sharing data.
About You
- 6+ years of relevant experience in software engineering, embedded firmware architecture and development, hardware validation testing, and manufacturing automation tooling.
- Proficient in modern Python, with a strong track record of applying it to embedded systems and automation challenges.
- Expertise in synthesizing complex requirements from cross-functional teams (manufacturing, engineering) into a clear, actionable strategy and cohesive system design.
- Proven leadership guiding the efforts of 1-2 team members, setting and tracking milestones, meeting deadlines, and delivering clear, effective updates to non-technical stakeholders.
- Meticulous execution, ensuring every detail is thoroughly addressed and all tasks are completed with precision, consistently maintaining high standards in all aspects of work.
Bonus Points
- A passion for or connection to the ocean.
- Experience with OHTF or other test-automation frameworks.
- $140,000 - $170,000
- The range listed is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and may be modified in the future. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, experience, and equity package.
We at Sofar Ocean acknowledge that careers in the marine sciences “... have traditionally been, and remain, non-diverse work environments”, thereby limiting the entry and prosperity of underrepresented groups in the space. (Johri et al., 2021) Many of these same groups are disproportionately affected by climate change, and are often excluded from decision making that directly address their interests and needs.
We are committed to addressing these climate injustices and highly encourage people who identify as women, LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to apply.
It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers, and vendors.
Equal Employment OpportunityAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.
Top Skills
What We Do
Sofar connects the world's oceans to power a more sustainable future. Sofar unlocks ocean data at scale. We deployed hundreds of Spotters globally to create the world’s largest privately-owned network of ocean sensors that collects 1.5 million real-time observations daily. Our team of ocean scientists assimilates this real-time data into our marine weather forecasts, which are up to 50% more accurate than traditional models.
In maritime shipping, we use these high-accuracy forecasts and vessel performance models to provide optimized guidance and save ships time, fuel, and emissions. We also equip researchers, operators, and innovators with our devices and data to power marine research and sustainable commercial solutions. Customers access data from our global sensor network and deploy our extensible Spotter platform to collect real-time surface and subsurface observations.
Sofar’s team of engineers, ocean scientists, and business professionals is based in San Francisco, California.
