Founding Hardware Engineer — Avionics, Equity, Flight Training

David Joseph & Company; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

David Joseph & Company is seeking a founding hardware engineer in San Francisco to own the device end-to-end. You will drive architecture decisions, move from a 3D-printed prototype to fleet-ready hardware, and work closely with the CTO and lead software engineer.

The role requires hands-on hardware ownership, six-month roadmap reasoning, and a startup mindset to ship a cockpit device already used in training and with a U.S. military customer.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on hardware or embedded systems engineering with device bring-up.
• Able to design and lay out a PCB independently — schematic design and board bring-up.
• Strong electronics-design across MCUs and wireless modules.
• Proficiency in C/C++ or Python for edge applications with RTOS or embedded Linux.
• Experience with component sourcing and procurement decisions.
• Familiarity with edge-to-cloud architecture and live data infrastructure.
• Startup experience or lean environments with end-to-end ownership.
• Able to discuss a multi-month hardware plan and justify trade-offs on the spot.
• Willing to work in person in San Francisco.

Responsibilities

• Own the full PCB lifecycle — architecture, component selection, layout, and builds.
• Make build-vs-outsource calls on manufacturing considering cost, compute, and thermal.
• Lead component sourcing and procurement across the supply chain.
• Plan and run environmental testing for heat, vibration, RF noise in live aircraft.
• Develop and own embedded firmware and edge processing as hardware matures.
• Partner with software so hardware captures data the analytics layer requires.

Skills

Embedded systems

PCB design

C/C++

Python

Edge-to-cloud

Sourcing/procurement

Regulatory testing

In-person SF

Tools

RTOS / Embedded Linux

Wireless modules

Microcontrollers

Embedded Linux

Job description

David Joseph & Company is seeking a founding hardware engineer in San Francisco to own the device end-to-end. You will drive architecture decisions, move from a 3D-printed prototype to fleet-ready hardware, and work closely with the CTO and lead software engineer.

The role requires hands-on hardware ownership, six-month roadmap reasoning, and a startup mindset to ship a cockpit device already used in training and with a U.S. military customer.