Electrical Engineer

The first Turtlebox was born out of necessity. After breaking every “loud” product on the market through routine outdoor use, the idea of the Turtlebox was born in our garage, not as a business but just for personal use. Nothing else could get the job done.

Most portable speakers aren’t actually meant for the outdoors and can’t withstand the elements, the ones that can aren’t loud enough to be heard. When you’re at the beach or on an ATV, you need sound to carry in order to hear it over the wind, waves, and boat engines, you need a Turtlebox.

We soon realized that there was a huge need for the Turtlebox among likeminded adventurers and our journey began to set out to make the world’s loudest most rugged outdoor portable speaker.

At Turtlebox, we build speakers that are meant to be used — not babied. Muddy job sites, boat docks, beach days, tailgates, hiking trails. Our products go where others don't, and they keep performing when others tap out.

The electrical systems behind that performance are everything. Audio signal paths that sound great at max volume. Battery systems that last a full weekend. Bluetooth that connects in the middle of nowhere. Charging that keeps up with how people actually use gear. None of that happens by accident — it's engineered.

We're looking for an Electrical Engineer who wants to own all of it. From the first whiteboard sketch to the last production build — and everywhere in between. You'll set the electrical direction for our products, make the key calls, and be accountable for what ships. This isn't a role where you contribute to someone else's vision. You define it, you build it, you own it.

This role demands someone who's as comfortable at the bench as they are in the design tool — prototyping, reworking boards, and debugging in the lab are as much a part of the job as architecture decisions and design reviews.

We're also in a team-building phase, which means this role will evolve. Today that includes directing external development partners and driving their work to Turtlebox standards. Over time, you'll take on increasing direct ownership as we build more capability in-house. If you want real ownership, the chance to shape how an engineering team is built, and a product people genuinely love using — this is it.

Key Responsibilities:

Own Electrical Systems

• Own electrical system architecture from concept through production — you are the decision-maker
• Take full technical ownership of all PCBA, battery systems, power management, and audio signal path development — working through external partners today, with increasing direct ownership as Turtlebox builds in-house capability
• Define and approve system architecture and make key component decisions
• Evaluate tradeoffs across performance, power consumption, cost, and reliability
• Define and maintain electrical design standards, best practices, and documentation across products

Build Products That Perform

• Design for durability, waterproofing, and real-world reliability
• Engineer for harsh environments (temperature, moisture, vibration, impact)
• Validate designs in real-world environments, not just lab conditions
• Translate field failures and customer feedback into design improvements

Direct External Development Partners

• Serve as Turtlebox's primary technical interface with external development partners — you own the relationship and the outcomes
• Set priorities, review designs, and hold partners accountable for quality, schedule, and technical accuracy
• Translate product requirements into clear technical inputs and acceptance criteria — and accept or reject deliverables accordingly
• Escalate and resolve issues before they reach production

Drive Cross-Functional Execution

• Work cross-functionally with product, mechanical, firmware, and operations teams
• Collaborate closely with the Design Engineering team on ECAD–MCAD integration through fit checks, joint design reviews, prototyping, and final production
• Act as the internal subject matter expert for all electrical decisions — you are the senior electrical voice on every product decision

Firmware Troubleshooting & System Integration

• Debug complex system-level issues across hardware, firmware, and connectivity
• Support Bluetooth performance, connectivity, and power optimization
• Identify and resolve root causes across hardware/firmware boundaries

Validation & Testing

• Own electrical validation strategy and test plan development — defining reliability, performance, and safety test requirements for electrical systems across all products
• Own reliability and performance testing methodologies
• Analyze test data and drive design improvements
• Act as the primary Turtlebox point of contact for suppliers and contract manufacturers
• Lead electrical development through EVT, DVT, and PVT builds
• Own electrical readiness, risk identification, and issue resolution through production ramp
• Support DFM, yield improvement, and production scaling efforts
• Support the quality team with electrical failure analysis, corrective action development, and incoming inspection standards

Be Hands-On

• Prototype and build circuits by hand — breadboarding, PCBA rework, soldering, and bench assembly are part of the job
• Use lab equipment fluently: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, power supplies, spectrum analyzers
• Troubleshoot issues from prototype through production — in the lab and in the field
• Build functional prototypes to validate designs before committing to fabrication
• Own problems end-to-end until fully resolved — no handoffs

Adapt and Build

• Take on responsibilities beyond traditional EE scope when needed
• Help build engineering processes, systems, and ways of working

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of Electrical Engineering experience in consumer or embedded products (BSEE or higher required)
• Proven track record of owning products from concept through mass production and sustainment — not just contributing, but leading
• Strong experience in battery systems, PCBA design, and Bluetooth systems
• Deep understanding of power systems, power management, and embedded electrical architecture
• Strong knowledge of component selection, schematics, and PCB layout considerations
• Current working knowledge of the PCBA component market — including available parts, sourcing alternatives, lead times, and material tradeoffs across key categories (MCUs, power management ICs, battery management, RF/Bluetooth modules, audio amplifiers, and passives)
• Proficiency in Altium Designer or similar (schematic capture, layout, and design review)
• Experience with firmware troubleshooting and system-level debugging across hardware, firmware, and manufacturing environments
• Experience managing or directing external development partners — including setting acceptance criteria and holding them accountable
• Experience developing validation plans and executing reliability testing
• Experience designing for EMI/EMC compliance in mixed‑signal systems (layout, grounding, and shielding for high‑current audio amplifiers, battery systems, and RF/Bluetooth)
• Experience supporting quality teams with electrical failure analysis and corrective action
• Working knowledge of audio systems — amplifiers, DSP, and signal path — as they relate to electrical design decisions
• Self‑directed and decisive — comfortable owning the electrical function with full accountability and no one to defer to
• Strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills

Preferred Experience:

• Consumer electronics experience strongly preferred
• Consumer audio experience is a major plus
• Experience with rugged or outdoor products
• Experience with international manufacturing partners, particularly in Southeast Asia
• Experience with regulatory and certification processes (FCC, CE, etc.)
• Startup or small team experience

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift 50lbs
• Must be able to work in multiple environments. Indoor and outdoor environments, depending on job details.
• Must be able and willing to travel domestically and internationally up to 20% as needed including China and Southeast Asia.
• Must be legally authorized to work in Texas without requiring visa sponsorship.