Navi — Founding Hardware Engineer

• →Own the full PCB lifecycle — architecture, component selection, layout, and iterative builds toward a fleet-ready device
• →Make build-vs-outsource calls on manufacturing, weighing cost, compute, and thermal constraints for an in-cockpit environment
• →Lead component sourcing and procurement across the supply chain
• →Plan and run environmental testing against heat, vibration, and RF-noise conditions in live aircraft
• →Develop and own embedded firmware and edge processing logic as the hardware matures
• →Partner with the software team so the hardware captures the data the analytics layer needs

Tech stack: PCB / schematic design, microcontrollers, embedded C/C++ or Python, RTOS or embedded Linux, wireless modules (cellular / Wi-Fi / Bluetooth), edge-to-cloud streaming, OTA updates.

• Roughly 5+ years of hands-on hardware or embedded systems engineering, with a track record of taking a complex connected device to market
• Able to design and lay out a PCB independently — schematic design, component selection, and board bring-up
• Solid electronics-design foundation across microcontrollers and wireless communication modules
• Strong embedded C/C++ or Python for edge applications, with RTOS or embedded Linux experience
• Comfortable with component sourcing and procurement, and the downstream trade-offs those choices create
• Familiar with edge-to-cloud architecture, device fleet management, and live data infrastructure
• Hands-on with hardware certification and environmental / regulatory testing for demanding operating conditions
• A startup or otherwise lean background where you personally owned hardware decisions end to end
• Able to walk fluently through a multi-month hardware plan and justify architectural trade-offs on the spot
• Willing to work in person in San Francisco and keep intense startup hours

• Edge processing and lossless streaming of high-bandwidth data, including real-time audio and signal processing
• Background building hardware for aviation, defense, or other safety-critical regulated industries
• Familiarity with avionics data formats, cockpit audio systems, or aircraft electrical environments
• Prior sensor-device or connected-hardware work in a startup setting
• Experience navigating environmental and regulatory testing programs

• Location — San Francisco, CA
• Work policy — On-site, five days a week; intense startup hours
• Compensation — $150,000–$200,000 + equity
• Visa sponsorship — Not available
• Employment type — Full-time