Senior Hardware Architect - Drone Systems & Firefighting Tech

Transition Ventures; Sausalito (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity

Health coverage

HSA

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Seneca is building cutting‑edge drone and sensor technology for wildfire suppression, aiming to eliminate wildfire risk across 500 million acres of high‑risk U.S. + allied territory.

You will lead hardware development across airframe design, propulsion, payload, and thermal management, partnering with software, electrical, and operations teams to deliver integrated systems. This hands-on leadership role requires a driver who can architect scalable systems, recruit and grow a strong hardware

Qualifications

• Experience with hardware leadership and systems thinking.
• Ability to design and iterate mechanical systems from concept to production.
• Proven track record building and mentoring high‑performing hardware teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive hardware roadmap and architecture across airframe design, propulsion, payload, structural, thermal, and manufacturing.
• Design, prototype, and iterate hardware from CAD through fabrication and test.
• Recruit, mentor, and manage a hardware team with engineering processes and best practices.

Skills

Hands-On Leader

Systems Thinker

Fast-Moving Operator

Plays to Win

Kind

Tools

CAD

FEA/CFD analysis

GD&T

DFM/DFA

Job description

Seneca is building cutting‑edge drone and sensor technology for wildfire suppression, aiming to eliminate wildfire risk across 500 million acres of high‑risk U.S. + allied territory.

You will lead hardware development across airframe design, propulsion, payload, and thermal management, partnering with software, electrical, and operations teams to deliver integrated systems. This hands-on leadership role requires a driver who can architect scalable systems, recruit and grow a strong hardware