Jr Software Test Engineer Jobs in Newport, RI (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a Test Engineer to support daily on-water testing and quality control of JaiaBot autonomous underwater vehicles. This role sits at the intersection of field operations and engineering feedback—deploying vehicles in Narragansett Bay, validating performance across rapidly iterating mechanical, electrical, and software builds, owning quality control across all JaiaBots tested, and producing the clear, actionable reports that drive our development cycle. The ideal candidate is hands‑on, methodical, and experienced with ocean technology systems, with the instincts to triage and resolve issues in the field when conditions demand it.

Bristol, RI is not just an office location— it’s one of the most accessible and dynamic coastal test environments on the East Coast. For someone who loves working on the water, this is the job.

On‑Water Testing & Deployment

• Conduct daily JaiaBot deployments and test missions from our Bristol, RI waterfront facility across varied sea states and mission profiles.
• Execute structured test plans developed in collaboration with engineering, and adapt in real time as builds and conditions change.
• Operate and maintain small vessels and support equipment used in test operations.

Quality Control

• Own quality control for all JaiaBots tested, ensuring each vehicle meets defined performance and reliability standards before and after deployment.
• Develop, document, and continuously refine QC procedures covering mechanical, electrical, and software systems across the JaiaBot fleet.
• Establish and maintain QC checklists, acceptance criteria, and pass/fail protocols that scale with the pace of engineering iteration.
• Track quality trends across vehicles and test cycles, flagging systemic issues and contributing to root‑cause analysis with the engineering team.

Field Troubleshooting & Issue Resolution

• Identify, diagnose, and where possible resolve hardware, sensor, and software issues on the water and at dockside.
• Triage anomalies across mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems and communicate findings clearly to the responsible engineering team.
• Maintain vehicles and test equipment to deployment‑ready standard between test cycles.
• Write structured, detailed test and QC reports documenting observed behavior, failure modes, and recommended changes following each test session.
• Close the loop between field observations and engineering decisions by communicating issues with precision and context.
• Track recurring issues and contribute to regression testing as new components are introduced.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers during active iteration and prototype phases.
• Support bench‑level validation and system integration checks prior to water deployment.
• Contribute to refinement of test and QC procedures and documentation standards as the team scales.

• Undergraduate degree in engineering, oceanography, marine technology, or a related field, or equivalent hands‑on experience in ocean systems.
• 3–6 years of experience operating, maintaining, or testing ocean technology platforms—AUVs, ROVs, oceanographic sensor systems, or similar.
• Practical field troubleshooting experience: comfortable diagnosing and addressing hardware and sensor issues without a full bench setup.
• Experience developing or maintaining quality control procedures, acceptance criteria, or test protocols in a hardware or systems environment.
• Familiarity with marine sensor suites (IMUs, GPS, pressure transducers, acoustic systems, or similar) and comfort working across system interfaces.
• Strong technical writing skills—QC procedures and test reports must be clear, structured, and actionable for an engineering audience.
• Ability to work outdoors in varied weather and sea conditions; comfort operating in a fast‑paced, prototype‑heavy environment.
• Being an effective communicator at all levels within Jaia and with our customer, partner, vendor, and collaborator organizations will be an essential skill.

• Experience supporting defense, commercial, or research maritime programs.
• Familiarity with ROS, Python, or basic software debugging in an embedded or robotics context.
• USCG boating safety certification or equivalent small‑vessel handling experience.
• Background in fast‑iteration or hardware prototype environments.
• Familiarity with formal QC or QA frameworks (ISO, MIL‑SPEC, or similar) in a hardware or systems context.
• Knowledge of environmental testing considerations for subsea and marine systems.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. You must also be eligible to obtain security clearance. Your employment is conditional upon reference and background checks. You must sign all required Jaia documents including, but not limited to, Assignments of Intellectual Property, Inventions, Non‑Disclosure Agreements, and such other agreements deemed necessary by Jaia.