Technical Project Lead (TPL) Embedded Systems & Thermal Imaging

Seek is a growth tech company working to bring thermal imaging to as many people as possible. With a focus on safety critical missions and high quality products, Seek is a fun tech company working to bring advanced hardware and software to its customers. This position will be located at Seek HQ in Santa Barbara, CA.

We love where we work, and so can you.Join us to lead innovative projects that transform our organization’s technological landscape! Your expertise will be instrumental in delivering high-impact solutions that drive efficiency and growth across the enterprise.

As a Technical Project Lead (TPL) at Seek Thermal, you will own the technical critical path of one or more new-product programs-the chain of design decisions, integrations, and verifications that determines whether the product works and ships. You will be accountable for design outputs, design reviews, and technical trade-offs-working alongside program management while coordinating engineering across electrical, mechanical, software/firmware, optics, and systems to bring LWIR thermal imaging products from concept through production. The Technical Project Lead will report directly to the SVP of Engineering.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Own the technical critical path of new product development (NPD) programs through phase gates (concept through DV, PV, and production release)-know at all times which technical task gates the program, and keep the multidisciplinary team focused on it.

· Ensure design outputs and design-review materials are complete and defensible at every gate, and provide the technical readiness signal for gate sign-off.

· Make and document technical trade-offs (e.g., image quality, runtime, cost, architecture), with cross-functional approval for scope and design changes.

· Identify technical risks early, assess their critical-path impact, and drive mitigation of technical exposure across the program.

· Assign engineering tasks, drive technical status at program meetings in step with program management, and own design documentation and approvals per Seek’s design-control process.

· Drive root-cause and corrective action (8D) when sensor, manufacturing, or integration failures threaten a milestone

· Ensure PRD requirements are testable and verification is defined before design gates; pull hardware/software integration risks off the critical path early.

· Provide technical deliverables (SOWs, specifications) for supplier engagements and represent engineering with customers, change control boards, and leadership.

· Hands-on embedded systems depth (e.g., RTOS debugging, multicore SoC/MPSoC platforms, I2C/SPI, MIPI CSI, hardware/software co-design) with independent technical judgment.

· Experience developing products under structured quality and development processes (e.g., functional safety, ASPICE, ISO 9001, or similar) within formal design controls.

· Fluency with phase-gate development, PRD/requirements management, DV/PV verification, 8D, RASIC, and planning tools (Jira, SmartSheets).

· Proven technical coordinator of distributed cross-functional teams and a clear communicator-holds a technical position, escalates cleanly, and commits once decided.

· Preferred: thermal/IR imaging (FPA/ROIC, NUC/AGC, LWIR optics), automotive qualification, semiconductor packaging/yield analysis, Agile/Scrum leadership.

QUALIFICATIONS: (Education and experience)

· Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechatronics, Physics, Optical Engineering, or related field.

· 5+ years of engineering experience, including 2+ years owning the technical critical path of embedded hardware/software programs, with at least one shipped sensing or electro-optical product taken through production.

· Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as required by ITAR/EAR export control regulations.

Pulled from the full job description

• Referral program
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Parental leave
• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• 401(k) matching, * 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Relocation assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Due to export controls, we are unable to sponsor work Visas. Are you a U.S. Citizen or permanent Resident?