Principal Hardware Engineer

The role

You will own hardware architecture across the full system and lead its integration with electrical, power, embedded, and optics. You will make technical decisions from concept through production readiness and mentor engineers by example.

What you will do

• Hardware architecture across the full system and its integration with electrical, power, embedded, and optics
• Technical decisions on the hardest problems, from concept through production readiness
• Release and production process for hardware, with our Detroit manufacturing hub
• Pattern recognition and technical review
• Hands-on execution when the problem needs specific experience to solve fast
• Design and manufacturing trades across cost, mass, reliability, schedule, and field performance
• The technical bar for design reviews, documentation, and release standards
• Mentorship by example

Required qualifications

• 10+ years designing and shipping complex hardware systems
• Track record taking systems the full cycle from prototype through manufacturing and deployment, more than once
• Senior IC or technical leadership background at hardware companies that actually shipped
• Deep mechanical expertise plus real judgment in at least one of electrical, power electronics, or embedded
• Systems that had to survive real-world conditions
• Comfort being the technical anchor on a small team, not the manager of a large one
• BS, MS or PhD in Mechanical, Aerospace or related field

Nice to have

• Directed energy, laser or high-power systems
• Defense or aerospace program experience with MIL-STD or equivalent qualification
• Founder or founding engineer background at a hardware company
• Manufacturing depth: you've stood up production lines or worked closely with the manufacturers who do
• Active security clearance or ability to obtain one

Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity
• United Health Care medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible 18 days PTO plus 5 sick days
• Travel to field test events and range days
• Covered daily lunches and office snacks and drinks
• E-bike and scooter stipend up to $500
• Direct access to leadership and real ownership over your work

Before you apply

• Requires access to export-controlled information or items that require U.S. Person status

About the company

Aurelius Systems is a VC backed defense tech startup building autonomous, edge deployed directed energy systems for counter-UAS. They build laser weapons to shoot down drones.