Senior Hardware Systems Engineer - AQNav

About the Role

The Senior Hardware Systems Engineer within AQNav is anticipated to play an integral role in developing hardware, firmware, and other validation tools for the prototyping and product development team. You will use your strong software and hardware engineering skills to rapidly develop system concept design of novel sensing systems while working closely with our research teams.

This role will be on-site and hands-on, working on various projects across the Sensing organization as needed. This is an on-site, hands-on position, focusing on system development. The Senior Hardware Systems Engineer will ensure reliable and efficient system functionality throughout the product lifecycle, with a focus on software-driven methodologies to enable seamless design and implementation. This role requires a hands-on approach to design and field operations, ensuring reliable and efficient system functionality throughout the product lifecycle.

As a Senior Hardware Systems Engineer, you will be involved in developing novel, multi-modal sensing systems. You will play a critical role in building prototypes from the earliest stages of development to field deployments. You will be responsible for three major work streams:

1. Discovery: Collaborate with R&D to conceptualize, source, build, and validate new, innovative prototypes. Drive software-driven validation tools to support prototype testing and functionality.
2. Design: Apply DFX principles to create robust software architecture within system designs, ensuring a smooth transition from prototype to scalable production.
3. Assessment: Evaluate performance, identify improvement paths, and innovate software methods for automated testing and diagnostics. You will also identify problem areas in need of remediation or new conceptual approaches.
4. Implementation: Act as a hands-on expert in realizing concepts and fielding solutions, emphasizing robust and scalable software architecture.
5. Support: Provide remote support, including assisting deployments, troubleshooting, and optimizing hardware performance in diverse real-world environments.

What You’ll Do:

• Design, code, and build sophisticated prototype systems that translate conceptual designs into rigorously testable, high-functionality hardware, ensuring alignment with project specifications and aviation compliance standards for software and hardware certification.
• Develop technical roadmaps that integrate Design for Excellence (DFX) principles, de-risking all aspects of the system architecture and ensuring a smooth transition from prototyping to scalable production.
• Collaborate closely with the R&D team and stakeholders across product, software engineering, and customer engineering to manage expectations, timelines, and hardware readiness while developing and documenting software architecture, specifications, and testing plans.
• Generate comprehensive design, safety, and certification documentation to meet industry standards.
• Make strategic adjustments to execution plans as needed, balancing project requirements with operational constraints to ensure efficient, timely progress without compromising quality or compliance and mitigating technical risks.
• Travel to project sites to integrate hardware systems, monitor performance, and ensure reliable operation in real-world environments.
• Collect, evaluate, and analyze data from deployed systems, communicating insights and results to internal teams and external partners to drive product development.

About You

• You hold a masters level education in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline and 6+ years of experience in a rapid prototyping industry.
• Proficient in high- and low-level programming (e.g. Python, Julia, C, C++, Rust, MatLab, etc.).
• Proficiency in software development methodologies and best practices (e.g., Agile practices, CI/CD, test-driven development.)
• You can diagram and specify requirements at system, subsystem, and component levels to aid in the finalization of design decisions; this includes responsibility for design documentation such as software architecture, software specification documents, and testing plans.
• You function effectively as a team player, adept at multitasking across a portfolio of projects and managing competing priorities within specified timelines.
• You have a demonstrated capacity to evaluate, interface with, and develop novel sensing methods and concepts, including but not limited to quantum sensors.
• Serve as a technical expert to guide a growing team of engineers to support development and deployment of software.
• Ability to lead and mentor a growing engineering team, guiding software-driven approaches in design and deployment.

Job Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required due to USG contract requirements.
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Secret security clearance.
• You’re willing and able to work from our Palo Alto location 80% of the time (hybrid).
• You’re willing and able to travel internationally if required (less than 25% of the time) to support operational units, including military installations.

Nice to Haves: 

• Knowledge of Aerospace applications and environments.
• Experience building real-time systems in RTOS environments.
• Guidance, Navigation, and Control experience.
• Passion for Physics and AI.
• Bonus - Familiarity with magnetometers, accelerometers, gyroscopes, precision clocks, and other navigation-related sensors.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is expected to be $142k-$239k per year. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range, individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. This role may be eligible for annual discretionary bonuses and equity.