Hardware Lab Technician

Persimmons; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

401(k)

Job summary

Persimmons, a startup building AI hardware infrastructure, is looking for a Hardware Lab Technician to join its in-office lab in San Jose. You will perform chip-level bring-up, validation, and testing on Persimmons’ custom silicon boards, collaborating closely with hardware engineering to reach production-ready builds.

You will build and bring up hardware from components to full system integration, troubleshoot power and cooling issues, execute structured test plans, maintain lab equipment, and

Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in electrical/related field.
• 2–5 years hardware lab bring-up/validation experience.
• Proficiency with test equipment and debugging.

Responsibilities

• Build and bring-up hardware in-office lab, ensure spec compliance.
• Troubleshoot hardware, power, and cooling issues with engineers.
• Execute test plans and capture repeatable data.
• Maintain lab equipment and test benches.
• Document builds, bring-up steps, and results.
• Collaborate with hardware and test teams daily.
• Support rapid iteration during bring-up cycles.

Skills

Hands-on debugging

Test equipment

PCB reading

Troubleshooting

Lab operations

Education

Associate degree or higher

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Multimeters

Logic analyzers

Bench power supplies

Job description

Who we are:

Persimmons is building the infrastructure that will power the next decade of AI. Founded in 2023 by veteran technologists from the worlds of semiconductors, AI systems, and software innovation, we’re on a mission to enable smarter devices, more sustainable data centers, and entirely new applications the world hasn't imagined yet.

Why join us:

We’re growing fast and looking for bold thinkers, builders, and curious problem‑solvers who want to push the limits of AI hardware and software. If you’re ready to join a world‑class team and play a critical role in making a global impact, we want to talk to you.

What you’ll do:

As a Hardware Lab Technician, you will work inside our in‑office hardware lab performing chip‑level bring‑up, validation, and testing on Persimmons’ custom silicon boards, working closely with hardware engineering to get every build production‑ready. Your primary duties and responsibilities include:

• Build and bring‑up Persimmons’ hardware, from individual components through full system integration, entirely within our in‑office lab, making sure every unit is verified and spec‑compliant.
• Troubleshoot issues across Persimmons’ hardware, power delivery, and cooling subsystems, isolating root cause quickly and partnering with design engineers to drive fixes.
• Execute structured test plans for system‑level and board‑level validation, capturing clean, repeatable data that hardware and test engineering teams can rely on.
• Maintain lab equipment, test benches, and diagnostic tools, keeping the lab organized, calibrated, and ready for the next build.
• Document builds, bring‑up steps, test results, and known issues so engineering has a clear, accurate record to work from.
• Collaborate daily with hardware engineering and test engineering to prioritize lab work, unblock design issues, and turn prototypes into production‑ready systems.
• Support rapid iteration during bring‑up cycles, adapting quickly as designs change and new hardware revisions come through the lab.

What you bring to the table:

• Educational foundation: Associate’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electronics, or a related technical field, or equivalent hands‑on experience.
• Proven experience: 2-5 years of hands‑on experience in a hardware lab, system‑level test environment, or similar bring‑up/validation role.
• Technical mastery: Comfort with hands‑on debugging using test equipment like oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers, and bench power supplies, plus a willingness to dig into a problem until you find the root cause.
• Hardware engineering fluency: Ability to read schematics, wiring diagrams, and test specs, and a genuine curiosity for how hardware works, you’re the type who takes things apart just to see how they go back together.
• Problem‑solving mindset: A knack for isolating root cause on hardware issues, and the patience to document findings clearly for the engineers you’re supporting. You don’t need to have seen every failure mode before, you just need to enjoy chasing one down.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Flexible PTO
• 401(k)