This isn't just another hardware role.
A well-funded, pre-seed climate tech startup is seeking a Founding Hardware Engineer to own their edge AIoT platform. You'll lead everything from prototype to deployment and grow into a key technical leader.
This role offers significant, negotiable equity and a chance to shape a product from scratch in the SF Bay Area (hybrid). If you thrive in fast-paced environments and have a background in IoT and embedded systems, let's talk.
location: Palo Alto, California
job type: Permanent
salary: $100,000 - 150,000 per year
work hours: 8am to 5pm
education: Bachelors
responsibilities:
What You Will Do
- Product Development: Lead the end-to-end firmware development for a cutting-edge AIoT device used for predictive monitoring of critical power assets.
- System Design: Translate customer needs into robust firmware architecture and component specifications, collaborating with internal teams and external experts.
- Prototyping & Integration: Build, test, and iterate on firmware and hardware prototypes, managing third-party partners with clear specifications and diligent oversight.
- Testing & Validation: Spearhead all testing, debugging, and system integration efforts, establishing CI pipelines to enable rapid and reliable iteration.
- Deployment & Analytics: Deploy prototypes with pilot users in the field, collect critical data, troubleshoot issues, and feed insights back into the development cycle to continuously improve the product.
- Technical Leadership: Play a key role in shaping the product roadmap, technical hiring, and operational strategy, including supporting supply chain and manufacturing efforts.
qualifications:
Requirements (Must-Haves):
- A degree in Electrical, Computer, or Mechanical Engineering (BS, MS, or PhD).
- 3+ years of professional experience in IoT hardware and embedded system development.
- Proven, hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, debugging, and system integration.
- Demonstrated experience integrating FPGAs with MCUs and other low-power edge compute platforms.
- Proficiency in edge communication protocols (e.g., MQTT, LoRa, Wi-Fi, cellular) and familiarity with wireless compliance and cloud APIs.
- A solid understanding of power management, battery optimization, and sensor integration for IoT devices.
- A collaborative mindset with strong communication skills, comfortable working across hardware and software domains.
- The ability to thrive in an early-stage, fast-moving environment with ambiguity and rapid iteration.
- Willingness to travel up to 25% to customer sites for deployment, testing, and data collection.
skills:
- Experience with Python or embedded scripting for automation and testing.
- Experience implementing ML/AI models on edge devices.
- Knowledge of digital signal processing (DSP) on FPGA/ASIC.
- Familiarity with cloud IoT platforms (e.g., AWS IoT, Google Cloud IoT, Azure IoT).
- Previous experience working in an early-stage startup environment.
- Embedded Systems Development
- Hardware Bring-Up & Debugging
- FPGA & MCU Integration
- IoT Communication Protocols (MQTT, LoRa, Wi-Fi, Cellular)
- Power Management & Battery Optimization
- Sensor Integration
- System Architecture
- Prototyping
- CI/CD Pipelines
Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.
At Randstad Digital, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact HRsupport@randstadusa.com.
Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Randstad Digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).
This posting is open for thirty (30) days.
Qualified applicants in San Francisco with criminal histories will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
Qualified applicants in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County with criminal histories will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County's Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers.
We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
