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Subsea Rov Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Subsea Rov information

See California salary details

$58.7K

$110.2K

$200.3K

How much do subsea rov jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for subsea rov in California is $110,170.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,400.00 and $130,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a subsea ROV?

A Subsea ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) job involves operating and maintaining underwater robots used for inspection, maintenance, and repair tasks in offshore industries like oil and gas, renewable energy, and marine research. ROV pilots and technicians control the vehicle from a surface vessel, using cameras and sensors to navigate and complete tasks at great depths. Responsibilities include performing pre-dive checks, troubleshooting technical issues, and ensuring the safe operation of the ROV system. This role requires mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic knowledge, along with strong problem-solving skills.

What does a subsea ROV do?

As a Subsea ROV Technician or Pilot, your daily duties include preparing and launching the ROV, operating the vehicle to carry out subsea inspections, interventions, or repairs, and conducting routine maintenance and troubleshooting of both surface and subsea equipment. You’ll often work closely with engineers, offshore supervisors, and other ROV team members to ensure mission objectives are safely met. Documentation, reporting, and strict adherence to safety protocols are integral parts of your workflow. Working offshore typically means following a rotational schedule, often involving extended stays on vessels or oil rigs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the subsea ROV position?

To thrive as a Subsea ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) Technician or Pilot, you need a background in electronics, hydraulics, or mechanical engineering, typically supported by technical training or a relevant degree. Familiarity with ROV control systems, subsea navigation tools, and certifications such as IMCA ROV Pilot/Technician qualifications are common requirements. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are valuable soft skills in this position. These capabilities are essential for operating and maintaining complex underwater equipment safely and efficiently in challenging offshore environments.

Are Subsea ROV pilots in demand?

Subsea ROV pilots are in high demand due to the increasing need for underwater inspection, maintenance, and exploration in industries such as oil and gas, renewable energy, and scientific research. The role requires technical skills, certifications, and experience operating remotely operated vehicles in challenging underwater environments, which contributes to steady employment opportunities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Subsea Rov jobs in California?

The most popular types of Subsea Rov jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Subsea Rov jobs in California?

For Subsea Rov jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Subsea Rov jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Subsea Rov jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Subsea Rov job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,170 per year, or $53 per hour.

Principle Electronics Engineer - Robotics

EV.Careers

Irvine, CA • On-site

$145 - $220/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Irvine, United States | Posted on 07/16/2026

We're hiring a Senior Electronics Engineer for a small-team underwater robotics manufacturer in Irvine that builds ROVs used by the Navy, oil and gas operators, marine research groups, and commercial dive teams worldwide. This is a hands‑on IC seat where you'll own the electronics side of new product development: schematic capture, PCB design, motor drive, battery systems, embedded firmware, sealed enclosures, and sensor integration on hardware that ships to real customers.

If you're at a big company waiting six months for a design review to close, this is the opposite. You'll ship real hardware, fast, on a small team where the person who designs the board also brings it up.

Comp: $145,000 to $220,000 base depending on level of experience, DOE, plus performance bonus. Onsite in Irvine.

What you'll actually do

  • Own PCB design in Altium (or transition from Cadence, OrCAD, PADS, Mentor, or KiCad; a 3 to 4 week ramp is fine for someone senior)
  • Design and validate power electronics: DC power distribution, motor drive for underwater thrusters, battery management, charging and protection circuits
  • Write and debug embedded firmware on ARM Cortex M, STM32, PSoC, or similar for real‑time control
  • Design sealed and pressure‑rated electronics for underwater operation: conformal coating, enclosure integration, connector selection, waterproofing
  • Integrate sensors, comms modules, and control systems into finished product
  • Take a board from concept through bring‑up, validation, and manufacturing release
Requirements

What we need you to bring

  • 8 or more years of hands‑on electronics design experience on shipping products
  • Strong PCB design chops with a professional tool (Altium preferred; adjacent tools OK with willingness to transition)
  • Real power electronics or motor drive experience on production hardware
  • Embedded firmware fluency at the register level, not just app‑layer
  • Comfort at a workbench with oscilloscope, logic analyzer, and power supply solving real problems
  • Ability to work onsite in Irvine
  • Marine, subsea, ROV, AUV, UUV, or underwater electronics background
  • Sealed, ruggedized, or IP‑rated hardware experience (medical implants, aerospace, defense, EV, industrial automation all count)
  • Battery pack design for high‑drain applications
  • Active DoD clearance (some of our work supports Navy customers)
  • Experience owning a product end to end from prototype through production
  • Multi‑hat, small‑team engineering culture experience
Why this seat over your current job
  • Small team, so you own the hardware end to end instead of being one specialist on a 40‑person program
  • Real product that ships to global customers today, not a lab prototype or PowerPoint concept
  • Hands‑on IC track, no forced move into people‑management to progress
  • Direct line to the product roadmap; if you think a design should change, you talk to the person who decides
  • Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Paid time off and company‑paid holidays
  • Fast decision cycles and short reporting chain

Logistics

  • Onsite in Irvine, CA
  • Occasional travel up to 15% for customer sites and sea trials
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds when handling test equipment and prototype hardware
  • Authorized to work in the US
  • Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Paid time off and company‑paid holidays
  • Fast decision cycles and short reporting chain
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