Tinkerer Hardware Engineer: Sensors & Prototyping

Proto-Town; Lockhart (SC); On-site; USD 54,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Proto-Experiments is seeking a hands-on tinkerer to join our team in Lockhart, TX, focusing on ML-driven crystal growth systems that integrate sensors, microcontroller control, and hardware fabrication. You will prototype, wire, and optimize sensing rigs, perform firmware tasks, and contribute to rapid hardware iterations.

We value curiosity, fast learning, and practical bench skills, with a path toward longer-term collaboration on new builds.

Qualifications

• Must be a natural tinkerer with rapid learning and curiosity.
• Strong sensor integration experience.
• Solid microcontroller programming skills.
• Breadboard and prototype fabrication ability.
• Light mechanical fabrication with basic CAD and 3D printing.

Responsibilities

• Build sensing side of growth rigs with sensors, wiring, and clean signals.
• Program microcontrollers for sensor sampling, control loops, and host communications.
• Prototype at breadboard level and create basic mechanical scaffolding.
• Manage heater control, motor drives, and PID loops on rigs.
• Validate rigs to run reliably for extended growth and debug across the stack.

Skills

Sensor integration

Microcontroller programming

Breadboard prototyping

Tools

3D printing

CAD basics

Job description

Proto-Experiments is seeking a hands-on tinkerer to join our team in Lockhart, TX, focusing on ML-driven crystal growth systems that integrate sensors, microcontroller control, and hardware fabrication. You will prototype, wire, and optimize sensing rigs, perform firmware tasks, and contribute to rapid hardware iterations.

We value curiosity, fast learning, and practical bench skills, with a path toward longer-term collaboration on new builds.