Staff Electrical R&D Lead

Whoop; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

WHOOP in Boston is seeking a Staff Electrical R&D Lead to guide advanced wearable sensing development. You will manage exploration, design, validation, and system integration across analog, digital, and sensor interfaces while balancing performance with product feasibility.

You will mentor engineers, collaborate with Electrical, Mechanical, Firmware, Signal Processing, and WHOOP Labs teams, and drive technical decisions that push sensing capabilities forward in real-world use cases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related technical field.
• 8+ years of relevant electrical engineering, hardware R&D, or sensing systems development experience with leadership.
• Deep electrical engineering fundamentals across analog/digital circuit design, sensor interfaces, signal integrity, noise analysis, and system-level architecture.
• Strong systems-level understanding of sensing technologies.
• Hands-on experimentation, hardware characterization, and debugging skills with first-principles analysis.
• Proficiency in Python or equivalent tools.
• Ability to lead ambiguous, cross-functional technical initiatives, mentor engineers, and drive challenges to resolution.
• Strong commitment to embracing and leveraging AI tools in day-to-day tasks.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced electrical development initiatives, driving technical direction from early-stage technology exploration through feasibility, prototyping, system characterization, and design validation.
• Develop a deep understanding of the complete sensing signal chain to inform electrical architecture decisions and optimize end-to-end performance.
• Define and execute experiments to characterize sensor/system behavior and evaluate interactions under various conditions.
• Execute data analysis to translate findings into actionable design improvements and performance requirements.
• Drive evaluation, integration, and validation of new sensing technologies with clear test methodologies and system-level requirements.
• Partner with Electrical, Mechanical, Firmware, Signal Processing, and WHOOP Labs teams to understand system dependencies and tradeoffs.
• Lead complex technical investigations and root-cause analysis to identify risks and drive design solutions.
• Guide and mentor engineers, set priorities, review designs, and drive cross-functional alignment while contributing hands-on.
• Translate ambiguous challenges into actionable development plans and communicate risks, recommendations, and progress.
• Remain hands-on with circuit design, simulation, prototype bring-up, hardware debugging, and design iteration.

Skills

Python

Systems thinking

Hands-on debugging

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Job description

At WHOOP, we're on a mission to unlock and inspire performance for life. WHOOP empowers members to perform at a higher level through a deeper understanding of their bodies and daily lives.

WHOOP is hiring a Staff Electrical R&D Lead to drive the advanced development of next-generation wearable sensing technologies. As part of the Hardware Engineering team, you will lead the exploration, design, characterization, and validation of novel sensing systems, developing a deep understanding of the complete signal chain - from the underlying physiological signals and sensor interfaces through analog and digital electronics to downstream system requirements. You will combine strong electrical engineering fundamentals, hands-on experimentation, and advanced data analysis to translate complex system behavior into architecture and design improvements that optimize sensing performance.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role for an engineer who combines deep electrical expertise with exceptional systems thinking, analytical rigor, and technical judgment. You will guide and mentor engineers while working closely with Electrical, Mechanical, Firmware, Signal Processing, and WHOOP Labs teams to evaluate emerging technologies, define system requirements, identify performance limitations, and drive technical decisions. You will help establish the technical direction for advanced electrical development, balancing innovation with product feasibility, performance, and development timelines.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead advanced electrical development initiatives, driving technical direction from early-stage technology exploration and sensor evaluation through feasibility, prototyping, system characterization, and design validation

• Develop a deep understanding of the complete sensing signal chain, including sensor behavior, analog front-end performance, electrical interfaces, physiological characteristics, and downstream system requirements, to inform electrical architecture decisions and optimize end-to-end sensing performance.

• Define and execute experiments to characterize sensor and system behavior, isolate variables, identify performance limitations, and evaluate interactions across electrical, mechanical, physiological, and environmental conditions

• Execute data analysis to translate experimental findings into actionable electrical design improvements, technical recommendations, and quantitative performance requirements.

• Drive the evaluation, integration, and validation of new sensing technologies, establishing test methodologies, performance criteria, and system-level requirements that support reliable operation across real-world use cases

• Partner closely with Electrical, Mechanical, Firmware, Signal Processing, and WHOOP Labs teams to understand system dependencies, evaluate technical tradeoffs, and ensure electrical designs support broader sensing system performance objectives

• Lead complex technical investigations and root-cause analysis, combining first-principles engineering, bench measurements, system telemetry, and structured experimentation to identify risks and drive effective design solutions

• Guide and mentor engineers across advanced development projects, setting technical priorities, providing design review and technical direction, and driving cross-functional alignment while maintaining strong hands-on engineering contributions

• Translate ambiguous technical challenges into actionable development plans, proactively communicating technical risks, recommendations, and progress while balancing engineering rigor with product and schedule objectives

• Remain hands-on with circuit design and simulation, prototype bring-up, hardware debugging, and design iteration, directly contributing to critical technical investigations and design decisions

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience

• 8+ years of relevant electrical engineering, hardware R&D, or sensing systems development experience, with demonstrated technical leadership and ownership of complex engineering projects

• Deep electrical engineering fundamentals across analog and digital circuit design, sensor interfaces, signal integrity, noise analysis, and system-level electrical architecture

• Strong systems-level understanding of sensing technologies

• Exceptional hands-on experimentation, hardware characterization, and debugging skills, with the ability to apply first-principles engineering and structured analysis to complex technical challenges

• Proficiency in Python or equivalent tools

• Demonstrated ability to lead ambiguous, cross-functional technical initiatives, guide engineering decisions, mentor other engineers, and drive technical challenges to resolution

• Strong commitment to embracing and leveraging AI tools in day-to-day tasks, ensuring AI-assisted work aligns with the same high-quality standards as personal contributions