Electrical Systems & Automation Design Engineer

Reekon-Tools; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

REEKON Tools is seeking an Electrical Systems & Automation Design Engineer to bridge custom hardware design with automated manufacturing on the factory floor. You will own board-level hardware, build test fixtures, and integrate sensors and actuators in a robust production environment.

The role emphasizes hands-on hardware bring-up, C/C++ firmware, Python automation, and a maker mindset. This on-site position offers opportunities to influence product tooling and manufacturing processes.

Qualifications

• A degree in EE, Mechatronics, Robotics, or equivalent.
• Portfolio highlighting hardware projects you led from concept to completion.
• Expert-level EDA capability in Altium or KiCad.
• Hands-on automation systems and automated test fixtures experience.
• Experience in component sourcing, BOM design, and multi-source strategy.
• Lab and field debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and test rigs.
• Proficiency in C/C++ for hardware bring-up and Python for test automation.
• Maker mindset with hands-on builds of CNCs, 3D printers, or DIY robotics.

Responsibilities

• Own board-level hardware design and PCB layout from schematic to layout.
• Design low-noise analog front-ends, high-speed digital routing, motor drive circuits, and power management.
• Source components with long-term availability; optimize BOMs and second sources.
• Architect and deploy custom factory automation rigs and automated test equipment.
• Integrate motor drives, pneumatics, actuators, sensors, and industrial communications.
• Write firmware (C/C++) and Python scripts for line diagnostics and test fixtures.
• Debug hardware on the production line and perform rapid prototyping of ideas.

Skills

Electrical design

PCB layout

EDA proficiency

Automation & mechatronics

Sourcing & BOM

Diagnostics & debugging

Embedded software

Python scripting

Maker mindset

Education

Electrical Eng degree

Portfolio evidence

Tools

Altium Designer

KiCad

Job description

Join REEKON Tools as we enable the next generation of construction and home improvement professionals to complete their work quicker, more accurately, and faster than ever before. REEKON Tools is developing and launching innovative, completely new, hardware products at an unprecedented pace across the power and hand tool industry and establishing itself as a leader in professional tools and equipment.

We are looking for an Electrical Systems & Automation Design Engineer who bridges the gap between custom hardware design, sensor electronics, and automated manufacturing equipment. This role is built for a physical-world generalist who thrives on both designing custom circuit boards and building, deploying, and debugging custom automation systems on the factory floor.

You will own the board-level hardware from schematic capture, component sourcing, and layout, while simultaneously building custom automated test fixtures, integrating sensors and actuators, and debugging complex edge-case failures directly on the production line.

Key Responsibilities

Professional Electrical Design & PCB Layout

1. Production Schematic & PCB Layout: Own multi-layer PCB layout (2 to 6+ layers) using Altium Designer or KiCad for both product hardware and internal factory automation tooling.
2. Signal & Power Integrity: Design low-noise analog front-ends, high-speed digital routing, motor drive circuits, power conversion (DC-DC, LDOs), and power management.
3. EMC/EMI Compliance: Design schematics and board layouts for noise immunity in high-noise factory environments, incorporating ESD protection, isolation, shielding, and filtering from day one.

Component Sourcing & Supply Chain Architecture

1. Vendor Ecosystem Mastery: Evaluate components across major vendors (TI, STMicroelectronics, Analog Devices, Microchip, etc.) balancing performance, cost, footprint, and lead times.
2. Datasheet Deep Dives: Analyze complex IC datasheets, register maps, pin constraints, thermal limits, and application circuits before committing to a design.
3. BOM Optimization: Select components with long-term availability and design for second-source equivalents to protect both product delivery and factory uptime.

Custom Factory Automation & Line Integration

1. Automated Equipment & Fixtures: Architect, build, and deploy custom factory automation rigs, automated test equipment (ATE), and smart assembly fixtures to optimize production yield and throughput.
2. Actuation & Motion Control: Integrate motor drives, pneumatics, linear actuators, optical sensors, safety interlocks, and industrial communications into unified, rugged automation equipment.
3. Manufacturing Diagnostics: Write firmware (C/C++) and automation scripts (Python) to drive test fixtures, interface with line sensors, log metric data, and automate line diagnostics.

Hardware Debugging & Line Troubleshooting

1. Production Line Debugging: Serve as the primary technical responder for complex hardware bugs on the shop floor, isolating root causes ranging from electrical issues to systems-level bugs
2. Bench & Shop Floor Mastery: Utilize oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, bus sniffers, and precision multimeters to diagnose live physical signals on boards and automated rigs.
3. Fault-Path & Stress Testing: Inject deliberate faults (brownouts, reversed polarity, shorted sensors, stalled buses, ESD strikes) to ensure production equipment fails safely and recovers gracefully.

Rapid Prototyping & Skunkworks

1. Passionate about ideating, architecting, and prototyping electrical systems without a documented playbook (datasheets, design notes, etc)
2. Can make proof-of-concept designs that help the team make decisions about the utility as well as viability of the solution

Qualifications

• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or equivalent practical experience.
• Portfolio: A portfolio highlighting hardware projects you led from concept to completion, with an emphasis on custom electronics.
• EDA Tool Proficiency: Expert-level capability in Altium Designer, KiCad, or equivalent professional EDA software.
• Automation & Mechatronics Experience: Hands-on experience developing custom automation systems, automated test fixtures, motor controls, or sensor networks for hardware assembly/testing.
• Component Sourcing Track Record: Demonstrated experience reviewing IC availability, building production BOMs, and sourcing equivalent multi-source components.
• Lab & Field Debugging: High comfort level working with bench top instruments (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers) and diagnosing live hardware on a manufacturing line.
• Embedded & Automation Software: Proficiency in C/C++ for hardware bring-up and microcontrollers (STM32, ESP32, etc.), and Python for test automation and data logging.
• The Maker Mindset: A track record of hands-on builds custom CNCs, 3D printers, DIY robotics, or automated lab setups demonstrating deep technical curiosity

Even if you don’t check every box mentioned above, we still strongly encourage you to apply! At REEKON Tools, diversity is a cornerstone of the business we are building. We know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful and are committed to building our team that encompasses a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills!

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

For any questions - please email us at [e-mail]