Founding Hardware Engineer

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE Join an early-stage consumer AI hardware team as its founding hardware engineer. You will own the device hardware from the next board revision through production, helping build a compact wearable designed for private, hands-free interaction with computers. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Improve PCB layout and optimize power, RF performance, size, reliability, and cost. - Advance the device from prototype toward production, including design for manufacture, testing, supplier coordination, and assembly. - Identify and resolve risks during hardware bring-up, real-world testing, and manufacturing. - Make hardware decisions and maintain quality across the units produced. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - Typically 2 to 7 years of hardware engineering experience, with hands-on individual contributor experience. - Personally designed PCBs that shipped in a real product, ideally a compact wearable, IoT device, or consumer electronic product. - Experience taking hardware from prototype to production, or strong engineering fundamentals and demonstrated ability to work quickly with AI tools. - Ability to take ownership across PCB layout, power, RF, testing, suppliers, and assembly. - A practical, hands-on approach to design, validation, and manufacturing. Experience in the specific product domain is not required. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS Base salary is $70,000 to $80,000 USD annually. Visa sponsorship is available. LOCATION On-site in San Francisco, United States. Candidates willing to relocate are welcome.