Electrical Engineer

Cantos Ventures; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotechnology company in California is seeking a hands-on Electrical Engineer. In this role, you will drive the design and development of advanced biotechnology systems. Responsibilities include designing and developing PCBs, building prototypes, and collaborating with mechanical engineers. Ideal candidates should possess a B.S. in Electrical Engineering or related fields, alongside a portfolio demonstrating applied hardware design skills. Opportunities for travel and direct engagement in field demonstrations offered.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering or related discipline preferred.
• Portfolio of independent projects demonstrating hardware design required.
• Hands-on experience with PCB design software and mixed-signal circuits.
• Proficiency with lab equipment: oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, logic analyzers.
• Soldering and wiring skills for prototypes and board bring‑up.
• Experience with SPI, I2C, UART.
• Understanding EMI/EMC in board/system design.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop PCBs balancing electrical performance and packaging.
• Build and test prototypes to validate design concepts.
• Collaborate with other engineers to integrate electronics into assemblies.
• Bring up and validate new hardware, debugging with standard test equipment.
• Develop and test circuits for sensing, actuation, and power management.
• Design, assemble, and troubleshoot wire harnesses and cabling for ruggedized systems.
• Collaborate with mechanical and systems engineers to integrate electronics into complex assemblies.
• Travel to conduct live demonstrations, stress-test prototypes, and gather operator feedback.

Skills

PCB design

Mixed-signal circuit design

Soldering and wiring

Communication protocols (SPI, I2C, UART)

Embedded systems programming (C/C++ and Python)

Board bring-up

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

KiCad

Altium

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Fusion 360

Job description

As an Electrical Engineer at Pilgrim, you will be a hands‑on member of our engineering team, driving the design, development, and deployment of advanced biotechnology. This is not a theoretical or routine R&D role—you’ll own initiatives end‑to‑end, transforming mission needs into prototypes, refining them through field demos and rapid iterations, and engaging directly with operators and decision‑makers to ensure breakthroughs reach warfighters where they matter most. This role is ideal for an engineer eager to learn fast, take ownership early, and grow through building systems that operate under real‑world pressure.

You are highly encouraged to share a portfolio that demonstrates your skills and experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop PCBs — from schematic capture and component selection to layout—spanning rigid, rigid‑flex, and flex circuits that balance electrical performance with packaging constraints.
• Build and test prototypes and breadboard circuits to validate design concepts.
• Apply design‑for‑manufacturing principles to ensure prototypes can scale to production.
• Bring up and validate new hardware, debugging with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and other standard test equipment.
• Develop and test circuits for sensing (e.g., magnetic, capacitive, pressure), actuation, and power management subsystems.
• Design, assemble, and troubleshoot wire harnesses and connectorized cabling to ensure reliable integration of boards, sensors, and actuators in ruggedized systems.
• Collaborate with mechanical and systems engineers to integrate electronics into complex electromechanical assemblies.
• Travel to conduct live demonstrations, stress‑test prototypes in field conditions, and capture direct operator feedback, refining systems through iterative, hands‑on engagement.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering (preferred) or related discipline (e.g., Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering), or demonstrated equivalent capability (formal degree not required).
• Portfolio of independent projects demonstrating applied hardware design and prototyping skills (required).
• Hands‑on experience with PCB design software (KiCad preferred; Altium acceptable) + proficiency in mixed‑signal circuit design.
• Proficiency with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, logic analyzers).
• Hands‑on skills in soldering and wiring for prototypes and rework, and board bring‑up.
• Experience with communication protocols (SPI, I2C, UART).
• Understanding of EMI/EMC considerations in board and system‑level design.

Nice to Have

• Experience with edge computing platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson, NXP i.MX, Qualcomm Snapdragon, Rockchip) and embedded microcontrollers/SoCs for low‑power or connected systems (e.g., Nordic nRF, STM32/STM32MP1).
• Experience deploying ML models on embedded systems or working with RTOS‑based firmware, with strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python for firmware development and test automation.
• Background in low‑power design / power optimization for embedded electronics.
• Familiarity with CAD tools (Fusion 360 preferred) and rapid prototyping methods (3D printing + machining) to support integration with the mechanical team.
• Exposure to ruggedized electronics or instrumentation designed for harsh environments.