---
title: 'Hardware Test & Integration Engineer at Quartermaster'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-test-integration-engineer-quartermaster-arlington-3h259071tfrk'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-09'
---

# Hardware Test & Integration Engineer at Quartermaster

- **Company:** Quartermaster
- **Location:** Arlington, VA
- **Compensation:** $190k–$210k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-08-27
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/quartermaster/bc8004f0-afb6-4a19-b6e0-88832de428b1

## Job description

About Us:

Quartermaster is building the world's most comprehensive maritime intelligence platform. Our SmartMast™ system transforms commercial and civilian vessels into a persistent, distributed sensing network—combining HD video, AI, radar, RF sensing, and AIS to deliver real-time maritime domain awareness at global scale. With 600+ sensors deployed across 25+ countries and more than 400,000 vessels identified outside of AIS, we are setting a new standard for what ocean surveillance and safety can look like.

We are a mission-driven, high-velocity team building dual-use technology for defense agencies, coast guards, and commercial maritime operators. If you want your code to run on vessels crossing every ocean on earth, this is the place.

Job Description: We're hiring Hardware Test & Integration Engineers to keep our test infrastructure running and growing as fast as our sensor roadmap does. You'll help maintain and expand our hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) test bench at our Virginia HQ, integrating hardware, configuring software, and writing the occasional automated test script (this is a hands-on integration role, not a software development role).

You'll use that infrastructure to evaluate new sensor types and produce clear test results that inform product decisions. You'll take the same rigor out into the field, testing hardware on vessels predominantly in the DC/MD/VA area but at other US sites as needed. Throughout, you'll work cross-functionally with engineering to keep test data and test work secure, efficient, and productive.

## KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Design, build, operate, and maintain test infrastructure at our DC-area office and future remote/vessel deployment sites
- Develop, refine, and execute manual and automated test procedures to evaluate current and candidate pieces of hardware
- Work cross-functionally across engineering and product teams at Quartermaster to prioritize and accelerate the evaluation of new sensor models and modalities to accelerate and inform the engineering organization’s development road
- Use and contribute to shared physical and digital test infrastructure across multiple sites and disciplines — coordinating scheduling, logistics, and configuration with the teams that depend on them
- Keep test data, equipment, and procedures organized, secure, and well-documented so results are trustworthy, traceable, and reusable across teams
- Execute field validation testing aboard vessels in the broader DC area and at other US sites as needed, adapting bench procedures to real-world maritime deployment conditions

## QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED):

- Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, Robotics/Mechatronics, Test Engineering, or a related hands-on technical field — or equivalent experience
- Hardware and testing expertise: 4–12 years of experience building and maintaining test benches, including proficiency with hand/power tools, 3D printing, integration of mixed custom and COTS hardware, and execution of manual/automated testing procedures.
- Demonstrated experience building or maintaining test benches or infrastructure — integrating COTS instrumentation, computers, sensors, and ensuring network access for remote engineers.
- Cross-team collaboration: A proven ability to work effectively across multi-disciplinary engineering and product teams while maintaining strong documentation and traceability habits.
- Operational initiative: Desire to conduct field testing in maritime environments and travel as needed to meet project goals. Ability to independently drive projects forward through ambiguity, resource limitations, and tight deadlines.
- US citizenship and valid driver's license required; current security clearance or ability to obtain one is preferred.

## About Quartermaster

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Quartermaster builds a real-time, distributed maritime awareness network by equipping vessels with AI-powered sensor packages (SmartMast) and an analytics platform.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A)
- **Headquarters**: Arlington, Virginia, United States
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Neil Sobin (CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Maritime intelligence, defense technology, AI/robotics, ocean sensing
- **Target customers**: Governments (navies, coast guards), commercial shipping operators, insurers, and maritime researchers (B2G, B2B)
- **Mission**: “Connect every vessel on the water to create a comprehensive, real-time picture of our oceans, unlocking critical data insights that underpin a prosperous global maritime ecosystem.” [quartermaster.us](https://www.quartermaster.us/about)

## Products & Services
- **SmartMast**: A weather-hardened hardware package (cameras, radios, sensors) mounted on a ship’s mast that continuously collects and relays maritime data. Combined with an AI analytics platform, it provides real-time vessel identification, anomaly detection, and environmental monitoring. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **Quartermaster Analytics Platform**: Cloud-based software that ingests SmartMast data and applies computer vision and machine learning to generate actionable intelligence for fleet operators, insurers, and government agencies.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: $43 million in Series A funding (announced May 20, 2026) [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Co-led by First Round Capital and Quiet Capital, with participation from TMV, Steel Atlas, BoxGroup, Operator Partners, Shorewind Capital, and David (surname not specified). Key hires from Anduril (Steve Ribaudo as CGO) and Scale AI (Matt Beck as COO). [quartermaster.us](https://www.quartermaster.us/about) | [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount grew 625% year-over-year to 40 employees (as of mid-2026). [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai)
  - Over 600 ships equipped with SmartMast, covering 10 million square miles of ocean. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
  - Assisted in “over 20 rescues of mariners at sea.” [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
  - Operates in 7 countries (Panama, Colombia, South Korea, UAE, Brazil, Taiwan, United States). [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proprietary hardware edge**: SmartMast is far more advanced than the standard AIS (Automatic Identification System), which is opt-in and easily spoofed. Quartermaster’s sensors provide persistent, verified, real-time data that is less susceptible to fraud. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **Pro-mariner incentive model**: Rather than selling sensors to fleet operators (a tough sell in a low-margin industry), Quartermaster creates value for mariners (e.g., rescue support, safety data) to encourage voluntary adoption, locking in network effects. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **First-mover in distributed ocean sensing**: No other company has deployed a real-time, AI-powered sensor constellation at this scale, giving Quartermaster a data moat and early relationships with governments and commercial fleets.

## Strategic Focus
- **Engineering hiring**: A large portion of the $43M Series A is earmarked for hiring engineers (RF, software, AI, systems) to accelerate product development. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **Fleet expansion**: Continue equipping more vessels with SmartMast, especially in key maritime corridors, to densify the network.
- **New applications**: Developing uses for government intelligence, marine autonomy training data, environmental monitoring, and insurance risk assessment.
- **Global presence**: Scaling operations in Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East (already in 7 countries). [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai)

## Why Work Here
- **High-impact mission**: Directly contribute to ocean safety, security, and sustainability – work that has tangible real-world results (e.g., rescues at sea).
- **Fast-growing startup**: 625% YoY headcount growth; employees have significant ownership and influence over product direction.
- **Engineering culture**: “A single engineer can make a significant impact in relatively short periods of time” because the ocean space is largely untapped. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
- **Remote-friendly**: Some roles (e.g., “Opportunity Hire”) are listed as remote, though the HQ in Arlington, VA likely expects hybrid for core engineering teams. [quartermaster.us](https://www.quartermaster.us/jobs/opportunity-hire)
- **Diverse, inclusive environment**: Equal opportunity employer that encourages individuals of all backgrounds to apply. [quartermaster.us](https://www.quartermaster.us/jobs/opportunity-hire)
- **Notable perks**: Not explicitly listed, but the company emphasizes pro-mariner values and a collaborative, mission-driven culture.

## Sources
1. [quartermaster.us/about](https://www.quartermaster.us/about)
2. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/this-startup-raised-43m-to-build-a-hive-mind-for-ships/)
3. [linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quartermasterai)
4. [quartermaster.us/jobs/opportunity-hire](https://www.quartermaster.us/jobs/opportunity-hire)
5. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/quartermaster](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/quartermaster)

## Other roles at Quartermaster

- [Recruiter](https://feeny.ai/job/recruiter-quartermaster-arlington-3sdcz2zcyhe3) — Arlington, VA
- [Senior Embedded Engineer – Robotics & Sensor Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-embedded-engineer-robotics-sensor-systems-quartermaster-arlington-g9ykt3vms2s7) — Arlington, VA
- [Senior Software Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-test-engineer-quartermaster-arlington-6nbzdydrbnja) — Arlington, VA
- [IT Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/it-engineer-quartermaster-arlington-dg98g3jag2ds) — Arlington, VA
- [Head of Launch (Africa)](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-launch-africa-quartermaster-united-states-tvqm6j5d7zc3) — United States
- [Head of Launch (Europe)](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-launch-europe-quartermaster-london-p4r55emm9sfw) — London, United Kingdom
- [Head of Launch (Middle East)](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-launch-middle-east-quartermaster-arabian-gulf-smed3h4gvyr0) — Arabian Gulf
- [Field Operations Lead - Arabian Gulf](https://feeny.ai/job/field-operations-lead-arabian-gulf-quartermaster-arabian-gulf-m7rvynds7114) — Arabian Gulf
- [Strategic Projects Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/strategic-projects-manager-quartermaster-arlington-4n11y1ksbf2n) — Arlington, VA
- [VP of Supply-Fleet Recruitment](https://feeny.ai/job/vp-of-supply-fleet-recruitment-quartermaster-new-york-jx7vs2ppd95y) — New York, NY