Electrical Engineer Intern

Sonatech, LLC is a premier undersea acoustics engineering and manufacturing company. With a focus on supplying advanced SONAR solutions for the US Navy, our technical expertise, customized design capabilities and diverse manufacturing abilities have led to Sonatech products being deployed in virtually every class of underwater Navy system currently in operation.

Located in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA, we pride ourselves on having a culture of innovation as well as first-class customer service. Sonatech has a challenging and rewarding work environment where employees have the opportunity to develop their careers by taking on new responsibilities and providing innovative solutions.

Position Summary: The Electrical Engineering Intern collaborates with cross-functional product teams to support the development of acoustic navigation and location tracking hardware. Under the guidance of senior engineers, this role assists with circuit design, prototyping, testing, and validation activities. The intern will gain hands-on experience in both development and manufacturing/test environments, contributing to verification efforts, troubleshooting, and engineering documentation. This position offers practical, real-world exposure within a fast-paced, high-impact product development setting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Assist in the design of analog and digital circuits supporting acoustic navigation and location devices under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Support design analysis and circuit-level testing to help validate engineering concepts and designs.
• Perform bench-level testing (functional, parametric, acoustic, environmental) to help verify compliance with specifications.
• Help document test procedures, record results, and compare findings against design targets.
• Aid in basic component-level troubleshooting activities under supervision.
• Assist in the preparation and submission of Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), and Variant (VAR) documentation.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following.

Technical Skills – Understands core Electrical Engineering concepts and basic engineering tools (CAD, Oscilloscope, Multimeter).

Problem Solving – Exhibits foundational problem-solving skills. Able to identify and fix simple issues.

Team Work – Has basic team collaboration skills.

Communication – Is able to communicate via clear written documentation (design notes, test reports) and concise oral presentations with peers and immediate teams.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E. or M.S.E.E.), or a closely related field, from an accredited institution.
• Completed or currently enrolled in coursework such as circuit analysis, digital logic design, electronics, signals and systems, and/or embedded systems.
• Hands-on laboratory experience in circuit design, testing, and measurement using standard equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, multimeters, signal generators).
• Familiarity with basic engineering documentation practices, including lab reports, test procedures, and technical presentations.
• Exposure to programming in C# and/or Python is a plus.

Language Ability:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations.

Mathematical Ability:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills:

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software

Citizenship:

U.S. Citizenship is required as the ability to obtain a security clearance is required for this position. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Benefits

Benefits include medical, dental and vision, life insurance, paid vacation and sick time, 3% 401K contribution (no matching required), company events.

Sonatech is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Job Type:

• Summer - Full-time, Onsite
• School Year - Part-time, Onsite

Pay range: $23-$27 / hour

Salary : $23 - $27