Electronics & Hardware Engineer - Intern / Student Job - Defence

Touchwaves; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 17,000 - 22,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Access to a well-equipped hardware lab

Direct mentorship from experienced engineers

Flexible part-time hours

Competitive compensation

Growth opportunities

Job summary

A technology startup focused on wearables is looking for a hands-on Electronics & Hardware Engineering student for a part-time internship in Eindhoven, Netherlands. You will work on developing wearable prototypes, assist in PCB design, and write embedded firmware. Ideal candidates are enrolled in related technical programs and have experience with microcontrollers. This role offers mentorship, flexible hours, and the opportunity to build impactful technology for defence applications.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with microcontrollers like Arduino or STM32.
• Working knowledge of C or C++ for embedded firmware development.
• Comfortable using bench equipment such as oscilloscopes and multimeters.
• Familiarity with standard communication interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART)
• Comfortable working with bench tools
• Eager to learn in a fast-paced, early-stage deep-tech environment

Responsibilities

• Design and build functional wearable prototypes for demos.
• Contribute to schematic capture and PCB layout for wearable electronics.
• Write and test embedded firmware for microcontroller-based systems.
• Sensor Integration: Validate sensors, IMUs, environmental sensors, and motion sensing modules; calibrate data quality.

Skills

Hands-on experience with microcontrollers (Arduino, STM32, Nordic nRF, ESP32)

Working knowledge of C or C++ for embedded systems

Familiarity with standard communication interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART)

Comfortable working with bench tools

Eager to learn in a fast-paced environment

Education

Currently enrolled in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, or Mechatronics

Tools

PCB design tools (KiCad, Altium, or Eagle)

FreeRTOS/Zephyr

Python scripting

Job description

About Touchwaves

At Touchwaves, we are building the next generation of human–machine interfaces. We are a TNO spin-off working closely with defence partners to develop technology for environments where failure is not an option. Most wearables today are incremental: slightly better batteries, marginally improved sensors, more apps layered on top. We are not interested in incremental. Touchwaves is developing next‑generation wearable systems that operate where performance, reliability, and human limits collide. Our embodied haptics technology connects human physiology with intelligent systems, enabling pilots and operators to maintain situational awareness and perform at their best under extreme cognitive and physical stress. Our platforms integrate sensing, embedded intelligence, and haptic actuation directly into garments and equipment used by military and security professionals. By combining science, engineering, and design, we enhance human performance in defence, aviation, and dual‑use applications.

Your Role

We are looking for a hands‑on Electronics & Hardware Engineering student to join us part‑time and contribute directly to the development of our wearable prototypes. You will help build, test, and iterate on hardware that our customers — including drone operators, pilots and special forces — interact with in the real world. This is not a desk job. You will solder, debug, prototype, and present. If your mindset is do → fail → learn → iterate → do better, you will feel right at home here.

Location

Eindhoven, Netherlands

Type

Internship / Student Job

What You Will Build

Prototyping & Hardware Development

• Design and build functional wearable prototypes for customer demonstrations and field trials
• Iterate rapidly from concept to working prototype, prioritising speed and learnability over perfection
• Support demo preparation for drone operator use cases and other defence applications
• Assist in the integration of hardware into wearable garments and body‑worn platforms

PCB & Schematic Design

• Contribute to schematic capture and PCB layout for custom wearable electronics
• Support hardware bring‑up of new PCB designs and troubleshoot issues at the board level
• Assist in selecting and evaluating components for power, size, and performance constraints
• Use bench equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analysers, multimeters) to validate hardware designs

Embedded Firmware (C/C++)

• Write and test embedded firmware in C/C++ for microcontroller‑based wearable systems
• Integrate peripheral drivers (I2C, SPI, UART) for sensors and actuation modules
• Debug hardware–software interactions at the register and signal level
• Support integration of real‑time logic for haptic feedback and communication protocols

Sensor Integration

• Integrate and validate sensors, IMUs, environmental sensors, and motion sensing modules
• Support calibration and data quality validation pipelines for body‑worn sensing systems
• Work with both commercial off‑the‑shelf and custom sensor solutions
• Analyse sensor output data to identify and resolve signal quality issues

Required Experience & Skills

Must‑Have

• Currently enrolled in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Mechatronics, or a related technical programme
• Hands‑on experience with microcontrollers (Arduino, STM32, Nordic nRF, ESP32, or similar)
• Working knowledge of C or C++ for embedded systems
• Familiarity with standard communication interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART)
• Comfortable working with bench tools
• Eager to learn in a fast‑paced, early‑stage deep‑tech environment

Nice‑to‑Have

• Experience with PCB design tools (KiCad, Altium, or Eagle)
• Exposure to RTOS concepts (FreeRTOS, Zephyr) or bare‑metal real‑time programming
• Python scripting for data analysis, testing, or rapid prototyping
• Interest or experience in wearables, IoT, or body‑worn systems
• Affinity with defence, aviation, robotics, or high‑reliability systems
• Basic 3D printing or mechanical prototyping experience

Who You Are

• You build things to learn — not just to finish assignments
• You are comfortable with ambiguity and enjoy finding your way through a poorly defined problem
• You care about quality but know when to ship a working prototype over a perfect one
• You want to see your work used by real people in real conditions — not sit in a lab indefinitely
• You are motivated by technology that has genuine impact in high‑stakes environments

What We Offer

• A hands‑on role building prototypes that are demonstrated to real customers in defence and drone operations
• Direct mentorship from experienced engineers in embedded systems, wearables, and haptics
• Flexible part‑time hours that fit around your study schedule
• Access to a well‑equipped hardware lab
• Collaboration with world‑class experts in wearables, human performance, and applied engineering
• Competitive student compensation based on your level and contribution
• A culture that rewards ambition, curiosity, and ownership — even as a student
• Potential to grow into a larger role as you progress through your studies

Why Join Now

The architecture is still forming. The standards are not yet written.

Join now, and you won’t just optimize systems — you’ll define how next‑generation wearables are built, integrated, and trusted in the most demanding environments.

How to Apply

Send us your CV and a short note on why this role excites you to [e-mail]