Electrical Engineer Intern

About WindBorne Systems

WindBorne Systems is supercharging weather models with a unique proprietary data source: a global constellation of next-generation smart weather balloons targeting the most critical atmospheric data. We design, manufacture, and operate our own balloons, using the data they collect to generate otherwise unattainable weather intelligence. Our mission is to eliminate weather uncertainty, and in the process help humanity adapt to climate change.

About the Role

We are looking for an Embedded Electrical Engineer to run hardware design, initial bringup, hardware debug, and manufacturing support of key elements of our flight hardware and ground support systems. This role involves creating systems that can reliably operate from -70°C to +40°C using components that are unrated for such a task, while counting every gram and milliwatt. We need someone who can quickly ship a design that doesn’t appear to be broken, and who genuinely enjoys troubleshooting issues at the bench.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and test PCBs for critical new flight and ground systems
• Develop firmware for initial bringup of new boards and custom testing of existing boards
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues on existing hardware
• Conduct comprehensive bench and environmental testing to validate electrical systems under extreme conditions
• Work closely with mechanical engineers to ensure proper integration
• Support flight operations with troubleshooting of deployed hardware via realtime telemetry
• Coordinate PCBA manufacturing for both R&D and production

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Strong fundamentals in embedded circuit and system design
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting circuit boards and electronic assemblies
• Proficiency with reading schematics and datasheets
• Familiarity with embedded firmware development (C/C++)
• Familiarity with common communication protocols (SPI, I2C, UART)
• Experience with PCB layout and design tools (we use Altium)
• Comfort with lab equipment including oscilloscopes, multimeters, and logic analyzers
• Interest in the underlying physics
• Enjoy applying out-of-the-box solutions to reduce part count and complexity

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field (Nice to have)
• Interest in RF system development and antenna design (Nice to have)
• Deep knowledge of power management circuit design (Nice to have)
• Ability to solder 0402 components by hand (Nice to have)

Compensation

• $33/hr

Location

• 1600 Bridge Pwky, Redwood City, CA
• In person required