Hardware Design and Engineering Lead

Ultrahuman’s products are where cutting-edge technology meets elegant design – all meticulously crafted under one roof. As the Hardware Design and Engineering Lead, you will drive the creation of our next-generation devices, from concept sketches to mass production. In this role, you are an equal part visionary engineer and pragmatic builder. Ultrahuman’s ethos of first-principles thinking will be your guiding light: you’ll be encouraged to question traditional assumptions about wearable design and innovate in materials, form factors, and functionalities. This job is for someone who wants to build iconic hardware that people love, much like the leaders at Apple or Dyson, who blend form and function seamlessly. You’ll have end-to-end ownership of hardware development, leveraging our in-house UltraFactory capabilities to iterate quickly and ensure that every component, down to the screws and sensors, embodies excellence.

Responsibilities:

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  Product Conception & Architecture: Lead the ideation and system architecture for new Ultrahuman hardware products or major upgrades to existing ones. Work closely with the product team to define device requirements (size, battery life, sensor capabilities, durability, etc.), then translate those into engineering specifications. Make key architecture decisions, such as selecting core chipsets or determining sensor configurations, based on first principles and feasibility.
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  Mechanical and Electrical Design: Oversee and contribute to the detailed design of both electronics (PCB design, component selection, circuit architecture) and mechanical parts (enclosure, chassis, wearability features). Use CAD and EDA tools to create and review designs. Ensure that the mechanical and electrical aspects are harmonized. E.g., the layout of a PCB is optimized to fit a sleek ring form factor, and materials are chosen to allow wireless signals to pass while maintaining strength.
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  Prototyping and Testing: Drive rapid prototyping cycles, leveraging in-house 3D printing, CNC, or external vendors as needed. Test prototypes for performance and durability – this could range from bench testing electronics for signal fidelity to strapping prototypes on and using them in daily life. Identify issues and iterate. Use a hands-on approach to solve problems: whether it means soldering and debugging a board or tweaking a 3D model for a better fit, you’re not afraid to dive in.
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  Design for Manufacture (DFM): As designs mature, ensure they are optimized for mass production at the UltraFactory (and any partner factories). Work on DFM and DFA (Design for Assembly) improvements – simplify parts, choose processes that scale (injection molding, stamping, etc.), and work with manufacturing engineers to refine production processes. Own the transition from prototype to production, including creating necessary documentation, assembly instructions, and QC checkpoints for hardware.
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  Team Leadership & Collaboration: Lead a multidisciplinary team of electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and CAD designers. Provide technical mentorship, set high standards for design reviews, and foster an environment of innovation and meticulousness. Collaborate with firmware, industrial design, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure every hardware design decision aligns with overall product goals and timelines.

Requirements

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. A solid understanding of both disciplines (electro-mechanical systems) is important.
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  Experience: 7+ years in hardware development, with experience taking at least one consumer electronic product from concept to production. Prior roles as a lead or principal engineer in hardware design. Experience with wearable devices, medical devices, or compact consumer gadgets is highly desirable.
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  Technical Skills: Proficient with hardware design tools: EDA software (Altium, Eagle, or similar) for PCB design and CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo, or similar) for mechanical design. Strong grasp of electronics (analog, digital, RF) and mechatronics. Familiarity with sensor technologies (optical sensors, accelerometers, bio-sensors) and power systems (battery tech, charging circuits).
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  Problem-Solving: Demonstrated ability to solve complex design challenges – whether it was achieving an aggressive form factor, dealing with heat dissipation in a tiny enclosure, or eliminating noise in a sensor reading. A track record of innovative solutions and patents or notable projects would be a plus.
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  Communication: Excellent communication skills for cross-functional coordination. Ability to document designs and rationale clearly, and convey complex engineering concepts in simple terms when needed (to explain trade-offs or decisions to leadership or other teams).

Preferred Experience:

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  Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Background that includes both mechanical and electrical design responsibilities. For example, you started as an electrical engineer but picked up a lot of mechanical know-how or vice versa, enabling you to foresee issues and collaborate effectively across domains.
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  Manufacturing Exposure: Significant time spent on a factory floor or working with manufacturing teams to bring a product to life. Understanding of quality control processes, yield improvement, and supply chain considerations for key components.
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  Innovative Projects: Experience in projects that pushed boundaries – such as ultra-miniaturized devices, novel wearable form factors, or devices with stringent requirements (waterproof, rugged, or medically certified).
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  Passion & Curiosity: A love for tinkering and staying on top of the latest in hardware. Maybe you have side projects like building custom electronics, or you avidly follow emerging materials science breakthroughs. Your passion for hardware should inspire your team and drive Ultrahuman’s devices to be truly best-in-class.