Founding Engineer

Department: Engineering

Location: San Francisco

Employment Type: FullTime

About the Role

This is a founding engineering role at an early-stage hardware-meets-software startup building AI-assisted PCB design tooling and EDA automation. You will own the core platform from day one, working directly with the founding team to shape both the product and technical direction. The work sits at the intersection of software craft and electronics, and it matters because faster, smarter design tooling changes how hardware gets built.

What You'll Do

• Build AI-assisted PCB design tools and EDA automation features that ship directly to users.

• Integrate manufacturing pipelines and manage the full hardware-to-production workflow.

• Own full-stack problems across the platform, from backend systems to user-facing tooling.

• Collaborate closely with the founding team to define product direction and technical strategy.

• Ship fast, iterate on user feedback, and clear whatever blockers get in the way.

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years shipping software products, including at least one physical or hardware product delivered to end users.

• Hands-on experience with PCB design, schematic review, KiCad, or electronics hardware work.

• Proficiency in at least one systems or low-level language: C, C++, Rust, or Go.

• Strong software engineering fundamentals across algorithms, data structures, and systems design.

• Experience building and shipping embedded systems or firmware.

• An active portfolio of side projects, open-source contributions, or personal hardware builds.

• High agency and self-directed drive, demonstrated through building outside of normal work obligations.

• Comfort with startup-style ambiguity, wearing many hats, and moving quickly.

• Prior startup or founder experience is a plus.

• Experience with EDA tools, manufacturing pipelines, or hardware supply chain integration is a plus.

• Experience integrating AI or machine learning into tooling or design automation is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $120,000 to $200,000 USD annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

On-site in San Francisco, California, United States.