Electrical Engineer

About The Role

As an early-career Electrical Engineer at Noble Machines, you will design, build, and bring up embedded electronics and internal tools for robots. You will work closely with senior electrical engineers and cross-functional teams (mechanical, firmware, software) in a small, ownership-focused environment. This role is suited for individuals at the start of their career who have a passion for building hardware, demonstrated through personal projects, co-ops, or internships. You will begin by owning smaller boards and test hardware end-to-end, progressing to larger subsystems as you grow.

Key Responsibilities

• Design schematics and multilayer PCB layouts for embedded boards, test fixtures, and debug tools, with senior engineer review.
• Manage boards from design through fabrication, assembly, and bring-up, including issue resolution.
• Select and integrate microcontrollers, sensors, power circuits, and interfaces like I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, and USB.
• Define firmware requirements for new boards and collaborate with the firmware team for implementation.
• Design and build test fixtures, bring-up stations, and diagnostic hardware for the engineering team.
• Support motor-control and power-electronics work on robot subsystems.
• Design, analyze, and test wire harnesses, including connector/wire selection, routing, voltage-drop/current-capacity checks, and continuity/functional testing.
• Debug hardware in the lab using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, and electronic loads.
• Execute validation tests, record results, and contribute to design fixes based on failures.
• Liaise with PCBA vendors for quotes, assembly questions, and part substitutions; maintain BOMs and documentation.
• Collaborate with mechanical, firmware, and software engineers for hardware integration into the robot.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• A bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field, completed by your start date.
• At least two hardware internships or co-op terms, or equivalent hands-on work on a student engineering team.
• At least one PCB you personally designed (schematic and layout) and brought up, using tools such as Altium, KiCad, or OrCAD.
• Experience with microcontrollers and common interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART).
• Sufficient C programming knowledge to read and debug firmware.
• Proficiency in the lab with tools like oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, and soldering.
• A design portfolio showcasing schematics, layouts, project photos, or write-ups, detailing your personal contributions.
• Clear written communication skills and a practice of documenting work.
• Ability to work onsite in Sunnyvale five days a week.

Nice to Have

• Hardware internships at robotics, automotive, aerospace, or consumer electronics companies.
• Involvement in student teams such as Formula SAE, robotics, rocketry, or solar car, particularly with ownership of the electrical system.
• Projects in power electronics or motor control, such as a designed motor driver, DC/DC converter, or battery charger.
• Experience building test fixtures or test automation in Python.
• Exposure to CAN, Ethernet, or USB hardware design.
• Sensor integration experience (e.g., IMUs, encoders, current or force sensors).
• Experience managing board production through a contract manufacturer.

Compensation And Benefits

• Expected base salary in Sunnyvale, CA: $120,000 - $150,000 per year.
• Equity.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Paid time off and other perks.