Head of Hardware

Apply on YC · Original job listing

• Role: Engineering / Hardware
• Experience: 3+ years
• Visa: US citizen/visa only

We are looking for someone to take Subvocal from a working research system built with laboratory equipment to a reliable wearable that someone can use in the real world.

This is a systems role. Our hardware combines sensitive physiological sensing, mixed-signal electronics, embedded and FPGA systems, high-speed data acquisition, wireless communication, batteries, firmware, mechanical constraints, and eventually custom ASICs. All of those pieces have to work together inside a device that is small, comfortable, stable, and manufacturable.

The difficult part is that this is not ordinary consumer electronics. The hardware is part of the measurement itself. Changing a cable, ground plane, enclosure, sensor position, or power system can alter the data distribution seen by the model. You will work closely with the sensing and ML leads to preserve signal quality while aggressively reducing size, power consumption, and complexity.

Some of the problems you will own include:

• Designing custom mixed-signal, sensing, compute, power, and communications electronics.
• Integrating ADCs, DACs, FPGAs, MCUs, sensor front ends, memory, and wireless systems.
• Building portable prototypes that are reliable enough for large-scale data collection.
• Miniaturizing the system into a small wearable and eventually a pair of glasses.
• Designing for signal integrity, low noise, thermal performance, battery life, and electromagnetic compatibility.
• Writing or overseeing embedded firmware, acquisition pipelines, device control, logging, and update systems.
• Working with industrial designers and mechanical engineers on enclosure, fit, charging, and serviceability.