Senior Hardware Engineer: UAV Systems & Prototyping

Rainmaker; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Rainmaker is seeking a senior hardware engineer to lead system design and rapid prototyping for complex electrical platforms. You will define interfaces, design PCBs in Altium, and drive bring-up, testing, and documentation for flight-ready hardware.

The role requires 6+ years in electronics, strong MCU experience (Raspberry Pi, Jetson, STM32, ESP32), and expertise in power integrity, signal integrity, EMI/EMC. Mentoring engineers and collaborating across teams are key aspects.

Qualifications

• Bachelors in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or significant demonstrated technical ability and professional experience (6+ years in related electronics).
• 4+ years of professional PCB design experience with Altium including digital, mixed-signal, and analog front-end designs.
• Proven track record leading hardware designs from concept through manufacturing (DFM/DFT) and working with contract manufacturers.
• Deep experience with embedded platforms and microcontrollers (Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson, STM32, ESP32, RP2040).
• Experience with high-speed digital design, power integrity, signal integrity, and EMI/EMC considerations.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and lead technical reviews.
• Embedded programming experience (C++, C, Rust, or Python), including board bring-up and low-level driver development for sensors and interfaces.

Responsibilities

• System Design: Lead architecture and define system-level requirements and interfaces.
• Rapid Hardware Prototyping: Build functional prototypes and iterate with test feedback.
• PCB Design: Create schematics and layouts for power, sensors, and communications using Altium.
• Board Bringup and Testing: Assemble, debug, and validate PCBs; develop test procedures.
• Documentation: Write technical docs and prepare fabrication/assembly data.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams: Mechanical, software, research, and manufacturing.

Skills

PCB design

Altium

Embedded programming

Microcontrollers

Power integrity

Signal integrity

EMI/EMC

DFM/DFT

Board bring-up

C/C++/Python

Education

Bachelors in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Job description

Rainmaker is seeking a senior hardware engineer to lead system design and rapid prototyping for complex electrical platforms. You will define interfaces, design PCBs in Altium, and drive bring-up, testing, and documentation for flight-ready hardware.

The role requires 6+ years in electronics, strong MCU experience (Raspberry Pi, Jetson, STM32, ESP32), and expertise in power integrity, signal integrity, EMI/EMC. Mentoring engineers and collaborating across teams are key aspects.