Electronics Field Engineer (Reliability / RCA Focus)

Darwin, Northern Territory
Initially a 12-month fixed term contract
Salary – negotiable + support package

Embark on an exciting journey as an Electronics Field Engineer at a dynamic company at the forefront of cutting-edge marine robotics. In this contract role, you’ll apply your practical expertise in electronics systems engineering, testing and commissioning, while playing a key role in improving reliability through structured root cause analysis and design improvement recommendations.

About the Company
My client is an Australian engineering-led marine robotics company reinventing ocean operations with low-emissions, long-range surface systems that gather and relay real-time insights, safely, autonomously and at scale. These USVs use the energy of the weather (sun, wind, and waves) to act as persistent monitoring and communications platforms. They are embarking on an ambitious program of building and deploying multiple USVs for operations around Australia and beyond.

The Role
You’ll collaborate with a talented, multi-disciplined team to test, troubleshoot and improve sophisticated mechatronic systems, responding to operational and production requirements to drive continuous improvement. You’ll support the Darwin operations and maintenance team, ensuring the northern fleet remains on-water and fully operational.
This role is not just “fix and replace like-for-like”. The client is looking for someone who can proactively identify emerging or recurring issues, perform root cause analysis, and recommend practical design and reliability improvements.



You’ll be bridging the gap between the field-based maintenance team and the head office design/engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

- Provide expert-level electronic/electrical support to Darwin operations and maintenance to keep the fleet operational
- Troubleshoot complex electronics/mechatronics faults using structured fault-finding methods and test equipment
- Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA) on recurring or high-impact failures and document findings clearly for engineering/design teams
- Proactively identify trends, weak points and reliability risks (not just respond to breakdowns)
- Recommend and support implementation of permanent corrective actions (design changes, component upgrades, process improvements), rather than temporary “like-for-like” replacements
- Act as the technical link between field teams and head office design, translating real-world fault symptoms and constraints into actionable engineering improvements
- Support electronics design improvement initiatives via feedback loops, testing, validation and commissioning support
- Maintain explicit service/fault reports, test evidence and improvement recommendations

Skills and Experience (Essential)





- 3–5 years’ experience working on complicated electronic/electrical systems in operational environments
- Demonstrable experience performing root cause analysis (RCA) and driving corrective actions to improve reliability
- Strong capability to bridge field maintenance and design engineering, communicating faults, evidence, and recommended fixes in a way designers can act on
- Proficiency in troubleshooting complex electronics equipment, including confident use of test equipment for fault finding
- Strong understanding of reliability improvement in systems currently in operation (i.e., improving the design/solution, not just replacing failed parts)
- Ability to read schematics to understand system architecture and support deep-level fault finding
- Hands-on experience building, repairing and reworking electronics systems
- Proactive, self-guided approach: comfortable operating in an unstructured environment and taking ownership of issues through to resolution

Preferred Qualifications / Desirable

- Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering (or equivalent practical experience)
- Australian citizenship and the ability to obtain an NV1 security clearance
- Marine or defence experience
- Proficiency in SolidWorks/KiCAD (or similar)
- Experience with 24v/48v low-power solar systems and marine electro-mechanical systems
- Familiarity with reliability tools/approaches (e.g., fault-tree thinking, 5 Whys, basic FMEA) and ability to produce clear technical reports

N.B. You must be an Australian citizen with the ability to obtain an NV1 security clearance to be eligible for this role.

📌 Electronics Field Engineer (Darwin)
🏢 Rhl
📍 Darwin