Electrical Engineer

About Turtlebox Audio

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.

Click here for a peek inside our workplace!

Role Overview

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

Supplier & Manufacturing Partnership

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.
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