About this position
Senior Hardware Engineer — Field Instrumentation
Oscar Six · Charleston, SC (On-site) · Full-time · $130k–$150k
Ever wonder who decides whether a new technology is actually ready for the real world? Someone has to build the instruments that deliver the answer. That's this role.
Oscar Six designs and runs live experiments for the DoD and other mission partners — across unmanned systems, sensors and tactical networks. As our Senior Hardware Engineer you'll own those instruments end to end: the sensor packages that capture ground truth, the mounts and power that put them on platforms, and the integration that ties systems under test into our data. You're not building the next platform — you're building what measures it.
What you'll work on
- Data-collection instrumentation, owned end to end — sensor packages, loggers and timing sources — from requirements through design, build and field verification
- Power: derive power requirements and design to them — batteries, regulation and distribution — under tight SWaP limits
- Enclosures, mounts and assemblies in CAD that survive platforms and ranges; rapid prototyping with 3D printing and shop fabrication
- Integration that ties systems under test (UxS, sensors, radios) into our data-collection and network architecture
- Field events: you'll travel with the team (~15–20%) to stand up range power, networking and masts, and diagnose and repair on site
- The team itself: mentor engineers and set our hardware standards and design-review practices
What we're looking for
- B.S. or M.S. in Electrical, Mechanical or Computer Engineering, or a related field
- 7+ years leading hardware designs from concept through field deployment
- Power systems: circuit analysis, power budgets, and battery/regulator design
- Fine-pitch soldering, harness fabrication and rapid prototyping; sensors, DAQ and buses (CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet)
- A hands-on maker attitude — you diagnose failures fast and adapt hardware under live test conditions
- U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance. No existing clearance needed; we sponsor it.
Nice to have
- Test & evaluation or range instrumentation background
- Time synchronization (GPS, PTP) for distributed data collection
- RF and antenna integration; tactical or mesh radios
- Schematic and PCB design (Altium, KiCad) — a capability you'd build out here
- MIL-STD-810/461 ruggedization, CNC or sheet-metal design
What you get
- $130k–$150k salary, plus paid overtime when the mission requires
- End-to-end design ownership and a team to mentor
- 401(k) with a 100% match up to 6%, fully vested after six months
- Monthly reimbursement toward the health plan you choose
- Flexible schedule
- PTO plus federal holidays
Don't check every box? Apply anyway. We care more about what you've built than a perfect match.
Apply: oscar-six.com/careers
- Oscar Six is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Location and commute
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466.
Plan your route with Google Maps. Travel times and transportation options vary; confirm the work location with the employer before commuting.
How to apply
Review the vacancy and complete the application on the employer or recruitment partner’s website. Requisition ID: WJ-3173668266.