Hardware Engineer, Embedded Systems & Electronics

Era is the AI orchestration layer for the next generation of physical devices. We don't just write software. We design electronics, build modular reference hardware, develop firmware, and work with ODM partners to bring AI-powered devices to life. We just raised our seed and launch our first partner product in Q2 2026.

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The Role

When a user speaks to their Era-powered device and gets a real-time AI response, your work is the critical first and last link in the chain. From the PCB that powers the device, to the firmware that captures audio from the microphone, packetizes it into a custom BLE GATT protocol, streams it to the Era iOS app, and eventually receives synthesized speech back for playback. All within a latency budget measured in hundreds of milliseconds, on hardware you helped design, running from a small battery.

You'll own Era's embedded systems design and firmware, and you'll be a key decision-maker in the electronics and PCB design process.

What You'll Do

• Own embedded systems architecture and firmware - boot sequences, BLE communication stacks, sensor integration, power management, and real-time audio pipelines across Nordic, Espressif, and Qualcomm platforms
• Drive PCB design and electronics decisions - schematic review, component selection, power architecture, RF layout, antenna placement, and design-for-manufacturability
• Build and evolve the BLE communication protocol - audio streaming, device configuration, firmware commands, and state synchronization with the Era mobile app
• Implement sensor integration layers - microphones, IMUs, biometric sensors, touch, and future input modalities
• Develop OTA update and fleet management systems - reliable firmware updates over BLE, device telemetry reporting, provisioning flows
• Build the embedded SDK for partners - the developer kit that ODMs and hardware partners use to integrate Era's intelligence layer
• Work directly with ODM partners. Translate reference designs into manufacturable products, support bring-up, validate production units
• Prototype at speed. Schematic to working board in days, not months

What We're Looking For

• Strong electrical engineering fundamentals. You can read and critique a schematic, make informed component selections, understand power tree design
• Experience with Nordic, Espressif, and/or Qualcomm platforms. You've shipped firmware on at least one of these families
• Extensive BLE experience - GATT service/characteristic design, connection parameter negotiation, MTU optimization, audio streaming over BLE
• Experience taking designs from prototype through manufacturing - DFM review, test fixture input, production validation
• Track record of shipping firmware and/or hardware in consumer products
• Comfort working with overseas manufacturing partners and ODMs

Nice to Have

• PCB design tool proficiency (Altium, KiCad, OrCAD)
• Experience with wireless audio protocols beyond BLE (LE Audio, LC3, aptX)
• Experience with real-time audio processing on embedded devices
• Edge AI/ML inference on constrained devices - TinyML, on-device wake word detection
• Experience building embedded SDKs used by third-party developers
• Familiarity with Shenzhen ODM workflows and factory bring-up
• Background in consumer audio products, wearables, or IoT at scale

NYC, SF, or remote. We have teams in SF and Australia and are building out our NYC presence. Competitive salary, healthcare, and meaningful equity.