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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Electrical Engineer Hardware Development in San Francisco - **Company:** Energy Jobline - **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States - **Experience:** Experienced - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Altium Designer, C++ (Programming Language), Communications Protocols, Computer Engineering, Software Debugging, Desktop Computing, Linux, Electronic Design Automation, Ethernet, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Design, Integrated Development Environments, Python (Programming Language), Rapid Prototyping Process, Cadence Virtuoso, Schematic Capture, Software Requirements Analysis, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter, USB, PIC Microcontroller, Hardware Testing, Software Troubleshooting, System-level Testing, Build Management, Pcb Layout - **Published:** August 8, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.energyjobline.com/job/electrical-engineer-hardware-development-san-francisco-31390145 ## About the Role * BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience * 3-7 years of relevant hardware-development experience * Experience with schematic capture and PCB development * Strong understanding of analog, digital, and power electronics * Hands-on experience with oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, logic analyzers, and related laboratory equipment * Experience bringing up and debugging assembled PCBs * Familiarity with embedded hardware interfaces and common communication protocols * Ability to interpret component datasheets and translate system requirements into practical hardware designs * Strong troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills * Ability to work effectively in a fast-moving prototype-development environment * Practical, curious, and comfortable working directly with hardware * Able to work independently while seeking guidance when appropriate Experience * Experience with Altium Designer, Cadence, KiCad, or similar PCB design tools * Experience designing multi-power-rail systems with power-sequencing requirements * Familiarity with RF-aware PCB layout, grounding, shielding, and EMI/EMC practices, and exposure to controlling RF ICs, data converters, or multichannel hardware * Working knowledge of microcontrollers, Linux-based single-board computers, or FPGA interfaces, plus experience with thermal sensors, current monitoring, fan control, or system-health monitoring * Basic Python, C, or C++ skills for hardware testing and automation, and exposure to low-volume prototype manufacturing and contract manufacturers * Experience in aerospace, communications, sensing, robotics, or other advanced-hardware environments * Comfortable with shifting requirements in an early-stage environment, with interest in growing into broader technical responsibility as the team scales ## Description Our client is seeking a hands-on Electrical Engineer to support the development of advanced electronic and RF-enabled systems for a novel distributed sensing platform. This role owns electronics development from schematic design through PCB bring-up, integration, and system-level validation for early prototypes and future product platforms. This is a highly hands-on role built around building hardware, troubleshooting systems in the lab, and taking designs from initial concepts through validation. You will work closely with RF and mechanical engineers across the full hardware development cycle. This is the company's first Electrical Engineer hire, and one of the first two hires on its new Hardware Engineering team, reporting directly to the Head of Hardware. The role sits on the antenna/hardware side of engineering, with immediate priority on rapid prototyping toward the company's next field-test milestone. Responsibilities * Design and build prototype hardware rapidly, iterating toward near-term field-test milestones ahead of longer-term production design * Design and develop analog, digital, power, and control electronics for prototype and product hardware, including power-distribution, regulation, monitoring, and protection circuits * Create schematics and support PCB layout for mixed-signal and control boards * Develop control and interface electronics for RF components, sensors, converters, switches, and related modules, supporting interfaces such as SPI, I²C, UART, USB, Ethernet, and GPIO * Perform PCB bring-up, debugging, rework, and functional testing * Integrate RF, digital, power, mechanical, and computing subsystems * Develop test fixtures, cables, harnesses, and prototype support hardware, coordinating with fabrication and assembly vendors and reviewing manufacturing packages * Prepare design documentation, test procedures, bills of materials, and engineering reports * Support environmental, thermal, field, and system-level testing * Collaborate with RF engineers to address grounding, shielding, noise, interference, and signal-integrity issues ## Related Videos - [Docker network without Docker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1418-docker-network-without-docker) - [Prototyping with Hardware and the Web](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/651-prototyping-with-hardware-and-the-web) - [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips) - [The Gashlycrumb Tinies of AI Networking You Must Know (or Languish!)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2067-the-gashlycrumb-tinies-of-ai-networking-you-must-know-or-languish) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Breaking the Hardware Mindset: Overcoming Barriers to System-Level Innovation](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1635-breaking-the-hardware-mindset-overcoming-barriers-to-system-level-innovation) ## Related Articles - [Is Software Engineering Hard?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/448-is-software-engineering-hard) - [Where To Find Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/396-where-to-find-software-engineering-jobs) - [Software Engineer Career: Things You Should Know](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/143-software-engineer-career-things-you-should-know) - [What Jobs Can You Get with a Software Engineering Degree?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/398-what-jobs-can-you-get-with-a-software-engineering-degree) - [The Ultimate Software Engineer Career Path Guide for 2023](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/146-the-ultimate-software-engineer-career-path-guide-for-2023) - [Where to Find Entry-Level Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/397-where-to-find-entry-level-software-engineering-jobs)