Chief Hardware Engineer

Department: Engineering

Location: El Segundo, CA

Compensation: $220K – $270K • Offers Equity • Offers Bonus

Employment Type: FullTime

Who we are

Picogrid is a leading venture-backed defense technology company founded to bridge the decades-long gap between modern technology and the critical demands of national security. Today, we're building the essential infrastructure to unify sensors, autonomy, and operators with our technology deployed in active operations around the world. Our mission is to deliver an operational advantage to secure the United States and its allies.

About the Role

As the Chief Hardware Engineer at Picogrid, you will be the foundational technical leader responsible for defining, building, and scaling our entire hardware engineering function. You will lead the "cradle to grave" development of Picogrid’s physical products, with a hard focus on generalist hardware engineering, end-to-end design ownership across all disciplines, industrial design, and delivering best-in-class consumer product experiences. This is a highly demanding, hands-on role for a true generalist and leader ready to stand up a world-class department from the ground up. Work with a team of hardworking, ambitious, world-leading talent to build the future of unmanned system behavior orchestration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the comprehensive hardware development lifecycle from initial concept and architecture through mass production.

• Architect and execute all technical aspects of electrical and embedded systems, including circuit design, PCB design and layout, component selection, and system integration.

• Architect and execute all technical aspects of mechanical and industrial design, including CAD, FEA, structural analysis, thermal analysis, DFMA, and GD&T.

• Participate in defining engineering process standards, part numbering and revision systems, vendor relationships, R&D of supply chain, and design philosophy.

• Define and implement the necessary design tools and methodologies for embedded design, ensuring a modern and efficient generalist hardware skillset across the team.

• Act as the primary interface between Engineering, and Manufacturing, ensuring a product-minded approach that balances technical requirements with user experience and aesthetic quality.

• Set the technical bar and drive a culture of being fast, flexible, and prolific, rapidly iterating on prototypes and moving from concept to high-volume production at record speed.

• Embody and teach how to use intuition, judgement, and domain knowledge to speed up technical decisions and the design process.

• You will be the founding member of the Hardware Engineering Department, tasked with hiring, mentoring, and leading a high-performing team of hardware engineers.

• Successfully stand up a fully operational Hardware Engineering Department, deliver the next generation of our consumer-focused physical products, and establish the technical infrastructure for long-term product success.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in hardware product development, with significant experience in a hands-on technical lead or director-level role.

• Preferred past founding or early stage fast-growth startup experience.

• Ability to work with ambiguity in the managed chaos of a rapidly growing startup.

• Expert-level proficiency in the full generalist hardware skillset, encompassing PCB design, power electronics, mixed-signal circuit design, firmware integration, CAD, mechanical/thermal engineering, industrial design, and manufacturing.

• Proven experience in taking at least two distinct products through the entire development lifecycle, from initial concept to high-volume manufacturing.

• Deep knowledge of DFMA (Design for Manufacturability and Assembly) and supply chain management for consumer electronics.

• Demonstrated expertise with Altium and Onshape software suites. Familiarity with Arena PLM.

• Passion for designing beautiful products.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with a clear ability to articulate technical strategy to executive leadership.

• Core values or relentless execution, boundless ambition, continued learning, and kindness. Low ego and open-mindedness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a former founder or founding engineer at a successful, fast-moving hardware startup, demonstrating the capacity for standing up a department or discipline from zero.

• Strong portfolio of successful products with a hard focus on industrial design and consumer product experience.

• Experience managing or leading product development efforts that are highly iterative, complex, and require an open-minded and flexible approach to problem-solving.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field. (Degree not required).

• A track record of being prolific and delivering rapid, high-quality results in a resource-constrained and fast-paced environment.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary range: $220,000- $270,000 per year. Base salary is just one part of your total compensation package at Picogrid.

• Significant stock options with a high potential upside as an early-stage company

• 401(k) with employer matching

• Full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance)

• Relocation assistance provided (if applicable)

• Unlimited PTO (two-week minimum) and 11 paid holidays per year

• Paid parental leave for both parents

• Lunch provided when working in-office and a fully stocked kitchenette

Export Control Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.