Senior Staff Hardware Engineer, Sensor Architecture

Wing; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 304,000 - 323,000; Full time

Job summary

Wing is seeking a Senior Staff Sensor Architect to lead the sensor systems architecture for its autonomous delivery aircraft and ground operations. This hybrid role is based in Palo Alto, CA, and will coordinate across hardware, perception, software, and manufacturing teams to define the sensors roadmap, performance models, and validation plans.

You will drive sensor technology choices across vision, radar, LiDAR, IMUs, GNSS, and other modalities, ensuring scalable, high-quality sensor data

Qualifications

• 15+ years of deeply technical experience in sensor architecture, hardware systems engineering, or complex sensor integration.
• Experience taking complex hardware or sensor subsystems from early R&D through high-volume manufacturing.
• Experience in RF technologies (UWB, LTE, wifi, ADS-B).
• Mastery in at least two sensor modalities critical to autonomous navigation (vision, LiDAR, radar, IMUs, GNSS/GPS, or barometers).
• Proven ability to build mathematical performance models and define error budgets for complex sensor data pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end architectural definition and technical roadmap for Wing’s sensor systems across aircraft and ground operations.
• Lead cross-functional trade studies translating product goals into system-level requirements.
• Evaluate, select, and integrate sensor components within SWaP-C constraints.
• Develop mathematical performance models, error budgets, and link budgets to guide design.

Skills

Sensor architecture

Hardware systems engineering

Sensor integration

RF technologies

Mathematical modeling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

About Wing: Wing offers drone delivery as a safe, fast, and sustainable solution for last mile logistics. Consumer appetites for on-demand services are increasing, but current delivery methods are inefficient, costly, and contribute to road accidents and air pollution. Wing’s fleet of highly automated delivery drones can transport small packages directly from businesses to homes on-demand, in minutes. We design, build, and operate our aircraft, and offer drone delivery services on two continents. Our technology is designed to be easy to integrate into existing delivery and logistics networks, offering a scalable drone delivery solution for a broad range of businesses. Wing is a part of Google's parent company, Alphabet, and our mission is to create the preferred means of delivery for the planet. If you're ready to do the greatest work of your life, come join us.

About Wing: Wing offers drone delivery as a safe, fast, and sustainable solution for last mile logistics. Consumer appetites for on-demand services are increasing, but current delivery methods are inefficient, costly, and contribute to road accidents and air pollution. Wing’s fleet of highly automated delivery drones can transport small packages directly from businesses to homes on-demand, in minutes. We design, build, and operate our aircraft, and offer drone delivery services on two continents. Our technology is designed to be easy to integrate into existing delivery and logistics networks, offering a scalable drone delivery solution for a broad range of businesses. Wing is a part of Google's parent company, Alphabet, and our mission is to create the preferred means of delivery for the planet. If you're ready to do the greatest work of your life, come join us.

About the Role:

Wing is looking for a Senior Staff Sensor Architect to join our Hardware Engineering Team. This role is Hybrid based in Palo Alto, CA.

As a Senior Staff Sensor Architect, you will be a pivotal technical leader within our Hardware Engineering organization. This is a highly critical role partnering with the overall hardware team and perception team on the development and design of our future-generation delivery aircraft. Because sensors are the eyes and ears of our autonomous fleet, the decisions you make will define the efficiency, quality, performance, and scalability of Wing's future systems.

You will act as the central authority leading our sensors roadmap, sensor architecture, driving the vision from early concept through mass production. Candidates should have a breadth of experience across sensors from visual, radar, acoustic, optical, and other sensors to make a high impact on our future aircraft designs.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the end-to-end architectural definition and technical roadmap for Wing’s sensor systems across both aircraft and ground operations.
• Lead cross-functional trade studies across hardware, software, and manufacturing teams, translating ambiguous product goals into rigorous system-level requirements.
• Evaluate, select, and integrate sensor components by navigating extreme SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) constraints.
• Develop comprehensive mathematical performance models, error budgets, and link budgets to guide hardware board design and software algorithm development.
• Architect characterization, calibration, and validation protocols to guarantee robust sensor performance across highly diverse and punishing environmental conditions.
• Collaborate intimately with manufacturing and contract partners to design scalable, automated calibration and high-volume QA test systems.
• Identify, prototype, and champion emerging sensor technologies to keep Wing at the bleeding edge of autonomous flight.
• Manage deep technical relationships and drive customized component designs with external sensor partners, Tier 1 suppliers, and foundries.

What You’ll Need:

• 15+ years of deeply technical experience in sensor architecture, hardware systems engineering, or complex sensor integration.
• A track record of taking complex hardware or sensor subsystems from early R&D through high-volume commercial manufacturing.
• Experience in RF technologies, such as UWB, LTE, wifi, ads-b.
• Mastery in at least two sensor modalities critical to autonomous navigation (e.g., vision/cameras, LiDAR, radar, IMUs, GNSS/GPS, or barometers).
• Proven ability to build mathematical performance models and define error budgets for complex sensor data pipelines.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mechatronics, or a directly related field (or equivalent practical experience).

The US base salary range for this full-time position is the salary range below + bonus + equity + benefits. Wing’s salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

Salary Range: $304,000 USD - $323,000 USD

Wing is an equal opportunity employer and it is Wing's policy to comply with all applicable national, state and local laws pertaining to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. Employment at Wing is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. Wing does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), or any other basis protected by law.

If you have a need that requires accommodation during the interview process due to a disability or special need, please let us know by completing our Candidate Accommodations Request Form.