Junior R&D Engineer

Laminar; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401k matching

Equity

Transit benefits

Greentown Labs network

Job summary

Laminar is seeking an entry-level Hardware Engineer to join our hardware and embedded systems teams. You will swiftly evaluate new sensing technologies, design PCBs, and help integrate them into field prototypes. Your work will influence product hardware, accelerate iteration speed, and reduce resource waste.

You will collaborate with senior engineers, perform measurements, and contribute to multiple projects as you grow in a fast-paced startup environment focused on industrial AI and clean tech.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years experience in electronics design and data analysis.
• PCB SMD and THT soldering, rework, troubleshooting with oscilloscope.
• Basic coding: Python, C, C++. Embedded programming concepts.
• Experience with electromechanical assemblies, test design, and documentation.
• Clear, efficient communicator with ability to manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Design prototype PCBs using KiCAD and SolidWorks.
• Develop and implement test strategies with the Data Analysis team; present findings.
• Assemble PCBAs and perform rework during board bringup.
• Design mechanical housings and perform thermal, vibrational tests.
• Integrate sensors to testing platform using Zephyr RTOS.
• Own early projects and contribute across multiple hardware initiatives.

Skills

Electronics design

Mechanical design

Data analysis

Embedded programming

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in EE/CS

Tools

KiCAD

SolidWorks

PSPICE

Zephyr RTOS

Python

C/C++

PCB assembly

Job description

Machines learned to understand language. We’re teaching them to understand matter.

Forty percent of global manufacturing happens through physical and chemical processes inside pipes, tanks, and reactors. Despite decades of industrial automation, much of what happens inside them remains remarkably invisible. Manufacturing is the most ubiquitous and foundational sector in global economy, yet the way factories are fundamentally run have used the same control philosophies, manual operations, and legacy software for the past 60 years.

Laminar deploys state-of-the-art patented sensors and edge hardware directly into live production environments, generating data that didn’t previously exist to build foundation models deployed in factory floors that understand chemistry, composition, quality, and material state in real time. We use that understanding to run autonomy and rethink how things are made.

The last generation of industrial automation taught machines to execute instructions reliably. The next will teach them to understand the processes they control and run autonomously, adaptively, and agentically: higher quality, safety, more efficiently, sustainably, and productively.

That future is already taking shape. Today, Laminar works with 7 of the world’s 10 largest food and beverage manufacturers and operates across hundreds of factories globally across six continents. Our systems have materially reduced waste, cut manufacturing downtime, saved water, chemicals, energy, and helped prevent safety and quality failures. Our technology has gained international recognition, from being selected as a 2026 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, Gold 2026 Edison Award, Unilever Startup of the Year, to Innovator Awards by both Coca-Cola and AB InBev, and more.

We are backed by tier-one investors in physical AI to make intelligent, self‑improving production the new standard for industry.

Join us to build what makes matter intelligible, and the intelligible controllable.

The Role

We’re seeking an entry level Hardware Engineer whose work will focus on new system Research and Development. You will work closely with Senior Engineers across both the Hardware and Embedded Systems teams to rapidly evaluate new technologies, test performance of sensing systems, and integrate them into field prototypes. This role will perform PCB design, assembly and testing along with mechanical housing design and cable harnessing. We value a self‑sufficient, hands‑on engineer who isn’t afraid to ask questions and learns new skills quickly. Your work will directly impact our hardware product design, improve prototype iteration speed, and help Laminar to save more resources every day.

What You Will Do

• Design protype PCBs from commercially available and custom sensors using KiCAD, Solidworks, and simulation softwares such as PSPICE
• Develop and implement test strategies alongside the Laminar Data Analysis team. Collect and present this data in informal and formal reviews to allow for rapid analysis and sensor comparisons
• Assemble complex PCBAs using reflow soldering techniques. Rework non-functional units and perform modifications as needed during board bringup
• Design mechanical housings for sensors and edge compute. Conduct thermal, vibrational and ingress progression tests with guidance from senior engineers
• Integrate sensors to established testing platform using Zephyr RTOS
• Bring new ideas and creatively pursue new approaches to product sensing to solve critical problems for our clients
• Contribute to the overall hardware team by providing design, assembly, and debug assistance on multiple projects. Own your own projects early in career and drive direct impact on hardware shipping to our customers

Required

About You

• 1-3 years (entry level) experience in electronics design, mechanical design, and data analysis
• Electronics experience: PCB SMD and THT soldering, rework, troubleshooting, oscilloscope use, digital signal analysis. Ability to read and debug electrical schematics
• Basic coding experience: Python, C, C++ and comfortable with the core concepts of embedded programming and data analysis
• Generalist mindset: comfortable working with all parts of electromechanical assemblies, experiment design, and documentation
• Wants to learn new things rapidly and apply them. Comfortable with ambiguity and desires rapid growth in early career
• Clear, efficient, and respectful communicator, good at balancing multiple projects and shifting priorities
• Previous project experience. Clubs, research, internships, volunteering, or personal projects. Be prepared to discuss projects and your contribution to them

Preferred

• Extensive project or work experience in electronics design, chemical process engineering or manufacturing
• Experience working with PCB contract manufacturers, machine shops both domestic and international
• PCB design experience with microcontrollers, industrial communications protocols and analog electronics combined
• Significant prior experience navigating the balance between “move fast and break things, but not the important things”
• Experience with Zephyr RTOS
• Design experience in sanitary or hazardous environments. ATEX and ASME BPE or similar

Benefits

• Direct impact on product and culture
• Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Disability, Transportation benefit, Health and Wellness benefit, and more
• 401k plan with employer matching
• Equity
• Competitive salary and bonus opportunities
• Dynamic and inclusive work environment
• Opportunities for growth and professional development
• Access to Greentown Labs' extensive network of cleantech startups
• Transportation benefit for your commute
• A team that celebrates together from rooftop lunches, ping pong matches, Lunch & Learns, and regular team events

Learn How We Think

• Learn about our startup journey: Our Journey
• How we're combating climate change: AI-Powered Climate Tech
• A customer story: Unilever uses Laminar precision automation to cut time & water usage

There are many easier places to work on AI. Laminar is for people who want the hardest version of their discipline. Models here must survive contact with physics. Hardware must survive years of continuous industrial operation. Software must integrate with machinery built decades ago. Everything we build ultimately has to work on a factory floor.

We believe exceptional people should be given exceptional amounts of ownership. At Laminar, you will have the context to form your own view, the permission to challenge ours, and the resources to pursue the right answers, whatever technical or organizational boundaries stand in the way. There are few layers between identifying something important and changing it.

We’re fortunate to work with a small polymathic team of hardware and software engineers, chemists, AI researchers, factory operators, and go-to-market wizards who are unusually capable, curious, rigorous, ambitious, and low-ego. If that sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.

Our Interview Process

• Phone screen with Laminar HR/Recruiter (15-20 minutes)
• Intro call with Hiring Manager (30 minutes)
• On-site interview, overview of tech, and interview/presentation with the Hiring Manager and a few team members. Depending on the role, a skills exercise that should take no longer than an hour to prep, would be sent ahead of time. We record your skills exercise to share with any team members who could not join the interview and/or with Founder's ahead of their Founder's Interview. If you are not local, we can conduct this virtually
• Finalists for Full-Time positions will have a Founder’s Interview in-person

Final steps

• Two professional references are requested, ideally one from your current organization and one who served as your Manager

Laminar is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. Even if you are unsure you are a perfect fit, we strongly encourage you to apply! If you're ready to play a key role in scaling a game-changing company that’s transforming the industrial sector and advancing sustainability, we want to hear from you.

If an Offer Letter is extended, a Background check is conducted

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Our pay ranges are established per Pave Compensation Software. We’re also proud to offer equity in our fast‑growing startup and one of the most comprehensive benefits packages among startups at our stage. Laminar pays 100% of the individual health insurance premium for HMO medical, vision, and dental, offers flexible PTO, a $90/month transportation benefit, a $65/month health and wellness benefit, FSA, 12 company‑paid holidays, an employer‑matching 401(k) (unheard of at this stage!), and Greentown Labs membership, among other valuable resources. (*subject to change)