Staff Systems Engineer

WHOOP; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

WHOOP is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer to lead system architecture and long-term platform strategy across wearable hardware programs. You will partner with Electrical, Mechanical, Firmware, and Product teams to deliver robust, scalable solutions and drive system-level decision-making.

This leadership role, based in Boston, MA, requires deep expertise in hardware integration, verification, and validation across disciplines, mentoring engineers and guiding design reviews to ensure

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in electrical systems engineering, hardware design, or a related domain.
• Defined system architecture for complex, highly integrated electronic products from concept through production.
• Deep understanding of hardware system integration and V&V testing across electrical, firmware, mechanical, sensing, and algorithm domains.
• Proven ability to lead technical direction across multiple cross-functional teams without direct organizational authority.
• Experience developing system requirements, interface definitions, verification strategies, and validation plans for complex hardware systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Experience with schematic/layout reviews and laboratory equipment for hardware bring-up, debugging, and validation.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive system architecture across multiple hardware programs, aligning product goals with technical feasibility and long-term platform strategy.
• Lead cross-functional technical decision-making across Electrical, Mechanical, Firmware, Signal Processing, Manufacturing, and Product teams to resolve complex system-level challenges.
• Own development and evolution of system requirements, interface definitions, and architecture documentation with traceability throughout the product lifecycle.
• Develop system verification and validation strategies that confirm product performance, reliability, and compliance with system requirements.
• Lead architecture and design reviews, providing technical guidance to improve performance, scalability, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Identify technical risks early, develop mitigation strategies, and influence product roadmaps through data-driven engineering recommendations.
• Serve as a technical mentor and trusted advisor across the hardware organization to elevate systems engineering practices.
• Partner with external suppliers, manufacturing partners, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure successful execution from concept through production.
• Travel up to 15% domestically and internationally to collaborate with partners, suppliers, and manufacturers.

Skills

System architecture

Cross-functional leadership

V&V testing

Hardware bring-up

Schematic/layout reviews

Mentoring engineers

Technical leadership

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Job description

At WHOOP, we're on a mission to unlock human performance and healthspan. WHOOP empowers members to perform at a higher level through meaningful insights into their bodies and daily lives, transforming the way they approach health and performance.

WHOOP is seeking a highly skilled Staff Systems Engineer to join our Systems Engineering team within the hardware organization. This role is responsible for driving system architecture and technical strategy across current and future wearable platforms, partnering closely with Electrical, Mechanical, Firmware, Signal Processing, Product, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to deliver exceptional member experiences. As a senior technical leader, you will solve complex cross-disciplinary challenges, establish engineering best practices, and influence the long‑term direction of WHOOP hardware through deep systems thinking and collaborative leadership.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Define and drive system architecture across multiple hardware programs, ensuring alignment between product goals, technical feasibility, and long‑term platform strategy.

• Lead cross‑functional technical decision‑making across Electrical, Mechanical, Firmware, Signal Processing, Manufacturing, and Product teams to resolve complex system‑level challenges.

• Own the development and evolution of system requirements, interface definitions, and architecture documentation, ensuring traceability throughout the product lifecycle.

• Develop system verification and validation strategies that confirm product performance, reliability, and compliance with system requirements.

• Lead architecture and design reviews, providing technical guidance that improves system performance, scalability, manufacturability, and reliability.

• Identify technical risks early, develop mitigation strategies, and influence product roadmaps through data‑driven engineering recommendations.

• Serve as a technical mentor and trusted advisor across the hardware organization, elevating systems engineering practices and helping develop engineers through design reviews, coaching, and technical leadership.

• Partner with external suppliers, manufacturing partners, and cross‑functional stakeholders to ensure successful execution from concept through production.

• Travel up to 15% domestically and internationally to collaborate with partners, suppliers, and manufacturers.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 8+ years of experience in electrical systems engineering, hardware design, or a related domain.

• Demonstrated experience defining system architecture for complex, highly integrated electronic products from concept through production, ideally in high‑volume manufacturing environments.

• Deep understanding of hardware system integration and V&V testing across electrical, firmware, mechanical, sensing, and algorithm domains.

• Proven ability to lead technical direction across multiple cross‑functional teams without direct organizational authority.

• Experience developing system requirements, interface definitions, verification strategies, and validation plans for complex hardware systems.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence technical and business stakeholders at multiple levels.

• Experience with schematic/layout reviews, and laboratory equipment for hardware bring‑up, debugging, and validation.

• Experience mentoring senior engineers and establishing systems engineering best practices across an organization.

This role is based in the WHOOP office located in Boston, MA. The successful candidate must be prepared to relocate if necessary to work out of the Boston, MA office.

WHOOP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-verify to determine employment eligibility. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The WHOOP compensation philosophy is designed to attract, motivate, and retain exceptional talent by offering competitive base salaries, meaningful equity, and consistent pay practices that reflect our mission and core values.

At WHOOP, we view total compensation as the combination of base salary, equity, and benefits, with equity serving as a key differentiator that aligns our employees with the long‑term success of the company and allows every member of our corporate team to own part of WHOOP and share in the company’s long‑term growth and success.

The U.S. base salary range for this full‑time position is $175,000 - $215,000 Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within each range, individual pay is based on factors such as job-related skills, experience, performance, and relevant education or training.

In addition to the base salary, the successful candidate will also receive benefits and a generous equity package.

These ranges may be modified in the future to reflect evolving market conditions and organizational needs. While most offers will typically fall toward the starting point of the range, total compensation will depend on the candidate’s specific qualifications, expertise, and alignment with the role’s requirements.