AUV Multi-Skilled Prototype & Support Technician

AUV Prototype & Support Technician (Multi Skilled) – Contract 6 Months - Southampton We are a marine robotics company developing an innovative Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) system, with a vision of deploying swarms of AUVs to acquire high-quality seabed data from a range of sensors. Applications span defence, commercial, scientific, and environmental sectors, with systems designed to operate in water depths of up to 3,000 metres. We are now seeking an AUV technician to play a critical role in supporting our prototyping, test & integration and field trials. This role could easily suit an ex Royal Navy Engineer / Artificer. THE ROLE The AUV technician will be responsible for operating, maintaining, testing, and building AUV systems, as well as supporting field trials and early customer projects. You will work closely with the core engineering team to ensure systems are reliable, well-tested, and ready for deployment. Field testing will typically occur several times per month, with the remainder of time spent on assembly, diagnostics, rework, preparation, and support activities. TASKS / DUITES / KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Production and Assembly Assemble AUV systems, including: Mechanical assembly Pressure vessels and sealing systems Electrical integration and cabling Support low-volume, one-off or small-batch production Document build procedures and improvements Electronics & Diagnostics Perform advanced electronic diagnostics and fault finding Competent in the use of laboratory equipment such as: Oscilloscopes Logic analysers Multi-meters and power supplies Comfortable performing PCB rework down to 0603 components and 100 pin 1.27mm pitch components. Diagnose issues at board and system level Perform acceptance testing and design-proving tests Write and modify embedded C code for fault finding and hardware testing Trials & Operations Operate the AUV during trials, demonstrations, and tests Prepare vehicles and support equipment before deployments Perform post-trial inspection, fault finding, and maintenance Work safely in marine and offshore environments Promote safe working practices and ensure HSE requirements are followed during trials and technical activities. Client & Project Support Support client-facing demonstrator Assist with system setup, deployment, and troubleshooting Represent the company professionally during trials and demos REQUIRED SKILLS & PROVEN ABILITY Essential Strong hands-on experience with electronics test and fault finding Confident using oscilloscopes and other diagnostic tools Comfortable performing PCB rework skills down to 0603 components Good mechanical assembly skills Happy working independently in a small engineering team Desirables Proven ability operating in marine environments (e.g. ex-forces, offshore, oil & gas, subsea, or marine robotics) Pressure vessels and subsea systems Leading or coordinating field trials Any embedded C programming experience for testing and diagnostics