Staff Sensor Lead, Emerging Technologies

Oura; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity packages

Health insurance

Oura Ring device for employees

Paid time off

13 holidays

Wellness time off

Parental leave

Job summary

ŌURA is seeking a Staff Sensor Lead, Emerging Technologies in San Francisco to drive motion sensing architectures for next-generation wearables. You will partner with hardware, firmware, algorithm, and product teams to deliver high-fidelity sensing pipelines and robust sensor integration.

The role blends deep technical execution with cross-functional influence, shaping sensor roadmaps and platform strategy for mass production and product success.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in motion sensing, inertial measurement systems, or similar sensor design roles.
• Experience with optical, temperature, accelerometers, gyroscopes, MEMS sensors, and low-power embedded interfaces.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and written/verbal communication skills; cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Prototype, incubate, define and evolve motion and inertial sensor architectures for wearable platforms.
• Lead integration of sensors into hardware, ensuring calibration, noise management, power efficiency, and high-quality signal acquisition.
• Collaborate with firmware, algorithm, and systems teams to feed motion data into signal processing stacks.
• Develop and maintain test methodologies and validation tests across prototype to production.

Skills

Motion sensing

Inertial measurement systems

Sensor design

Embedded systems

Data integrity

Analytical problem-solving

Written/verbal communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

MEMS sensors

Optical sensors

Low-power interfaces

Job description

Our mission at Oura is to empower every person to own their inner potential. Our award-winning products help our global community gain a deeper knowledge of their readiness, activity, and sleep quality by using their Oura Ring and its connected app. We've helped millions of people understand and improve their health by providing daily insights and practical steps to inspire healthy lifestyles.

Empowering the world starts with living our values and empowering our team. As a quickly growing company focused on helping people live healthier and happier lives, we ensure that our team members have what they need to do their best work — both in and out of the office.

As a Staff Sensor Lead, Emerging Technologies at ŌURA, you will drive architecture, specification, development, and characterization of optical, temp, motion and inertial sensing systems for next-generation wearable products. You will partner closely with hardware, firmware, algorithm, and product teams to design robust motion sensing pipelines that unlock high-fidelity metrics, improve activity and gesture detection, and enhance user experiences.

This role blends deep technical execution with cross-functional influence, impacting ŌURA's sensor roadmap, performance outcomes, and long-term platform strategy. You will be reporting into the Director, Hardware Sensing and reporting out of our San Francisco office.

What you will do:

• Prototype, Incubate, define and evolve motion and inertial sensor architectures (optical, accelerometers, gyroscopes, IMUs, temp sensor etc.) for novel new low-power wearable platforms.
• Translate sensing requirements into robust hardware specifications aligned with product goals.

Development & Integration

• Lead integration of all sensors from optical, temp, motion and related sensors into ŌURA’s new hardware, ensuring calibration, noise management, power efficiency, and high-quality signal acquisition.
• Design and execute sensor characterization and validation tests from prototype through production.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with firmware, algorithm, and systems teams to ensure accurate motion data feeds into Oura’s signal processing and machine learning stacks.
• Contribute to product planning and sensor roadmap discussions based on performance feedback and technology advances.

Testing & Validation

• Develop and maintain rigorous test methodologies, metrics, and automation frameworks for motion sensor performance evaluation.
• Analyze sensor data to diagnose edge cases and performance bottlenecks and define corrective actions.
• Engage with sensor vendors, partners, and manufacturers to assess technology options, secure components, and optimize integration into mass-production workflows.

Documentation & Communication

• Produce clear technical documentation of sensor designs, trade studies, test plans, and performance metrics.
• Present findings and recommendations to engineering leadership and cross-disciplinary stakeholders.

We would love to consider you for this role if you have:

• 10+ years of experience in motion sensing, inertial measurement systems, or similar sensor design and integration roles.
• Experience with optical, temperature, microphone, accelerometers, gyroscopes, MEMS sensors, and low-power embedded sensor interfaces.
  Strong background in sensor characterization, signal quality analysis, embedded systems, and data integrity practices.
  Excellent analytical problem-solving and written/verbal communication skills.
• Collaborative mindset with experience working across hardware, firmware, and analytics teams.

At ŌURA, we care about you and your well-being. Everyone here at ŌURA has a ring of their own and we are continually looking to improve employee health.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary and equity packages
• Health, dental, vision insurance, and mental health resources
• An Oura Ring of your own plus employee discounts for friends & family
• 20 days of paid time off plus 13 paid holidays plus 8 days of flexible wellness time off
• Paid sick leave and parental leave

Oura takes a market-based approach to pay, which may vary depending on your location. US locations are categorized into tiers based on a cost of labor index for that geographic area. While most offers will be closer to the starting range, successful candidates' pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, internal peer equity, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future.

Oura is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Individuals seeking employment at Oura are considered without regard to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

We will work to ensure individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

To all recruitment agencies: Oura does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Oura employees, or any other organization's location. Oura is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.