Senior Electrical Engineer (Embedded Systems & Tools)

Noble Machines · Sunnyvale, CA (On-site)

About Noble Machines

Noble Machines builds multipurpose robots to support human workers in the world's toughest jobs—turning dangerous work from a necessity into a choice. Our work demands reliability, robustness, and readiness for the unexpected—on time, every time. We're assembling a mission-driven team focused on delivering real impact in heavy industry, from construction and mining to energy. If you're driven to build rugged, reliable products that solve real-world problems, we'd love to talk.

Position Overview

We're looking for an exceptional Senior Electrical Engineer to design and own the embedded devices and internal tools that power the next generation of Noble Machines' general-purpose robots. This is a high-impact, high-ownership role: you'll be the person other engineers rely on for reliable hardware and the tooling that makes their own work faster and safer. You'll work across the full stack — from schematic design and layout to bring-up to field validation — building electronics that have to work the first time, every time, in environments where failure isn't an option.

Responsibilities

• Own electrical design end-to-end for embedded devices and internal developer tools — schematics, PCB layout, bring-up, and validation — supporting the robot's compute, sensing, and communication subsystems.
• Design and build test fixtures, debug tooling, and diagnostic hardware that accelerate development and validation across the broader engineering team.
• Architect embedded electronics for reliability in harsh field conditions (dust, vibration, temperature extremes, power transients common to construction, mining, and energy sites).
• Select and integrate microcontrollers, sensors, and communication interfaces (I2C, SPI, CAN, Ethernet, USB) to support real-time control and data acquisition.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, firmware, and software teams to ensure electrical designs integrate cleanly with the full robot system.
• Own component lifecycle management and vendor relationships, including PCBA fabrication and assembly partners.
• Develop and execute validation and test plans (DVT/PVT), using lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies) to verify performance, safety, and reliability.
• Mentor other engineers on hardware design, documentation, and debugging best practices as the team grows.

Requirements

• 6+ years of professional experience in electrical engineering, ideally in robotics, embedded systems, automotive, or consumer/industrial electronics.
• Strong hands-on PCB design experience (multi-layer, mixed-signal), using tools such as Altium or equivalent.
• Deep familiarity with embedded systems: microcontroller-based design, firmware/hardware interfaces, and common communication protocols (I2C, SPI, CAN, UART, Ethernet, USB).
• Track record of taking hardware from concept through prototyping, validation, and production.
• Proven experience building test fixtures, debug tools, or developer-facing hardware/tooling.
• Comfortable with root-cause debugging of hardware and firmware issues using lab equipment.
• Strong communication skills — you'll be documenting designs and mentoring others, not just building in isolation.
• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering or a related field.

Nice to Have

• Experience with power electronics: DC/DC converters, motor drives, battery management systems.
• Background in legged or humanoid robotics, or other complex electromechanical systems.
• Familiarity with ROS 2 or embedded Linux/RTOS environments.
• Experience designing for ruggedized or explosion-proof/hazardous-area electronics.
• Sensor integration experience (IMUs, encoders, force/torque sensors, LIDAR).

California Pay Transparency Statement

Pay Transparency & Compensation: In accordance with California's Pay Transparency Act (SB 1162), the expected base salary range for this position located in Sunnyvale, CA is $185,000 – $215,000 per year.

Actual compensation within this range will be determined based on several factors, including the candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, technical skills, and specialized expertise. Base salary is just one component of Noble Machines' total rewards package, which may also include equity options, comprehensive healthcare benefits, retirement plan contributions, and performance-based incentives.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Noble Machines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.