Vehicle Diagnostic Engineer

Every idea starts with a problem. Ours was simple: Boats are special — but they’re loud, pollutant, unreliable, and stuck in the past. Gas-powered boats dominate not because they’re great, but because no better option has existed. Until now.

Arc is here to change that. We’re building 100% electric boats from the ground up — quicker, quieter, easier to maintain, and better for the water they ride on. We’re not just swapping gas for batteries. We’re rethinking every detail on the boat — from propulsion and powertrain to software and ownership model — applying first‑principles engineering from aerospace and EVs to deliver a better boating experience.

Electric boats haven’t taken over yet. The tech hasn’t been ready. The talent hasn’t been focused here. That’s our opportunity — and we’re moving fast.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who’s fired up by our mission and ready to build. You’ll thrive here if you adapt quickly, take ownership, and care about the details.

This is a full‑time, on‑site role at our Los Angeles headquarters. You will work on vehicle‑level debugging, system analysis, and root‑cause investigation. You’ll report to the Director of Field Service and work closely with a lean, high‑trust team where everyone’s work matters.

Core responsibilities

• Fault isolation: determine whether an issue is a software logic bug, a communication protocol error, a configuration mismatch, or a physical hardware defect.
• End‑to‑end debugging: own the investigation of vehicle‑level issues from the first symptom through to the root‑cause hypothesis.
• Drive structured root‑cause investigations using data, instrumentation, and experimentation.
• Contribute to validation strategies, including bench testing, HIL, and production‑level verification.
• Improve system reliability, diagnosability, and serviceability across product iterations.
• Participate in code reviews, design reviews, and technical problem solving within the controls team.
• Signal diagnostics: perform deep‑dive timing analysis, plausibility checks, and state‑transition reviews of ECUs, sensors, and actuators.
• Hands‑on testing: reproduce complex issues on real vehicles, capturing logs (ECU, network, and system traces) to document findings.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams to implement improvements on boat designs, production methods, or service processes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in embedded systems, controls, or vehicle electrical integration.
• BS in Electrical, Computer, or Automotive Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Ability to work an on‑call schedule that includes off‑hours and weekends.
• Strong hands‑on experience building and debugging real‑time, hardware‑integrated systems.
• Deep familiarity with CAN‑based architectures and network‑level debugging tools.
• Demonstrated experience shipping complex hardware‑integrated systems into production.
• Strong intuition for system‑level trade‑offs under real‑world constraints.
• Ability to operate independently and drive execution without heavy oversight.
• Physical proficiency: comfortable working hands‑on with vehicles in a shop or test environment.
• Travel up to 20% for field investigations and global engineering sprints.
• Experience with EV or marine electrical architectures.
• Proficiency in C/C++, Rust, Python, or similar languages for embedded or automation development.
• Experience with Asana, Grafana, ion, Slack, and other web‑based communication platforms.
• Experience with model‑based design or control algorithm development.
• Familiarity with DFMEA, functional safety, or reliability engineering practices.
• Experience building automated validation or HIL infrastructure.
• Comfort working directly with oscilloscopes, data loggers, and ECU flashing tools.
• Comfortable pushing a fast but sustainable pace.
• Enthusiasm for boating and clean energy.

Diversity & Inclusion

At Arc, we encourage diversity and consider all qualified applicants equally for employment, regardless of background, identity, or status. You’re always welcome to reach out even if you don’t meet many of these qualifications. Passion and aptitude make up for a lot.

Our values

• Ownership over both your work and the company’s success
• Empathy for colleagues and for customers
• Humility in problem solving and collaboration
• Pragmatism for navigating ambiguity quickly and sensibly Inclusion of different backgrounds, opinions, cultures, and perspectives

What we offer

We don’t think great work happens by accident. We invest in the people building Arc — because when you’re supported, you do your best work.

• Salary P2: $125,000/year; P3: $150,000
• Ownership – Equity in Arc
• 99% employer-paid health coverage – Medical, dental, and vision
• Arc Water Fund – Annual stipend to get out on the water, however you choose
• Captain Training – Get certified to take the boat out with friends and family
• 401(k) access – Plan your future
• Semi-annual bonuses – Tied to your impact, not just your tenure
• Daily team lunches, snacks, and good coffee while onsite
• Parental leave – Because family comes first
• Boat days – Yes, we actually go out on the water. A lot
• A chance to define the future of boating

The ability to drive positive environmental change through your work

Hope to hear from you soon!

The Crew at Arc