Hardware Design & Test Engineer

About the Position

Neros Technologies is a defense technology company dedicated to rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. We are currently seeking a Hardware Design & Test Engineer to join our team in Torrance, California.

Responsibilities

• Hardware Design: Design and develop custom PCBAs for test fixtures, including signal conditioning, power distribution, and interface breakout boards.
• Rig Architecture: Lead the design and assembly of modular test racks (ATE), including component selection (COTS instruments), thermal management, and safety interlocks.
• Interconnects & Harnessing: Design and document complex wiring harnesses and interconnects that interface the test system with various drone subsystems.
• Signal Integrity: Ensure high-fidelity data acquisition by managing noise, grounding, and shielding for high-speed communication buses like CAN, SPI, and RF signals.
• Fixture Prototyping: Utilize 3D printing, basic machining, and rapid prototyping to create mechanical fixtures that secure drone components during vibration or thermal testing.
• Instrument Integration: Integrate and calibrate lab-grade hardware (Spectrum Analyzers, Programmable Loads, DAQs) into a cohesive, automated hardware environment.
• DFT Implementation: Collaborate with drone design engineers to ensure physical "Test Point" access and debug headers are included in the flight hardware.

Requirements

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in hardware design or test system integration.
• PCB Design Expertise: Proficiency in schematic capture and PCB layout (e.g., Altium, KiCad, or Orcad) for test-specific hardware.
• Hardware Fundamentals: Deep understanding of analog and digital circuit design, power electronics, and electrical debugging (Oscilloscopes, Logic Analyzers).
• Communication Protocols: Experience hardware-debugging protocols such as USB, I2C, SPI, CAN, and Ethernet.
• Systems Integration: Experience building end-to-end electrical systems, from power entry to final sensor interface.

Nice to Have

• Mechanical Aptitude: Experience with CAD software (SolidWorks/Fusion 360) for designing test enclosures and custom mechanical jigs.
• RF Testing Hardware: Experience designing shielded enclosures (Faraday cages) and selecting RF components for wireless validation.
• Environmental Testing: Experience designing hardware that survives and operates inside thermal chambers or on vibration tables (HALT/HASS).
• Python for Hardware: Ability to write basic scripts for hardware bring-up and verification of your custom circuit designs.

We Offer

• US Salary Range: $110,000 - $200,000 USD
• Competitive equity grants as part of Neros' total compensation package.

About the Company

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment. As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.