Chief Hardware Officer (+ Equity) at Stealth physical AI startup

About the role

The role of Chief Hardware Officer involves leading the development of proprietary tactile sensing hardware for the next generation of physical AI. The position requires ownership of the hardware lifecycle from prototype to volume manufacturing, including firmware development and MCU bring-up, as well as setting the long-term hardware roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Own the hardware lifecycle from prototype to a manufacturable, qualifiable product, including firmware development and MCU bring-up.
• Develop calibration and reliability qualification processes to ensure high-resolution tactile sensing scales effectively for volume manufacturing.
• Set the long-term hardware roadmap and lead the hiring and management of a world-class hardware engineering team.

Requirements

• Proven track record of shipping real sensing, embedded, or MEMS/semiconductor hardware to production at scale.
• Extremely hands-on technical leader who writes firmware, designs systems, and can personally debug MCUs during long bring-up cycles.
• Previous experience as a founder or early engineer at a hardware startup, with a strong sense of personal accountability for delivery dates.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in hardware engineering and product development.
• Experience with MCU design and bring-up, as well as firmware development.
• Strong understanding of reliability testing and qualification methods.

Skills

• Strong leadership skills and ability to manage a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Benefits

• C-level mandate and cofounder-level equity.
• Join a well-funded, stealth-stage founding team with a working prototype and a clear technical moat in a high-growth sector.
• Transition from a working laboratory prototype to a scalable, manufacturable product that solves a fundamental bottleneck in modern autonomous systems.

Pay

Salary Not Disclosed + Equity

Schedule

Full-time

Company Description

Stealth physical AI startup

Why this role is remarkable

Receive a C-level mandate and cofounder-level equity to build the tactile sensing layer for the future of robotics and physical AI. Join a well-funded, stealth-stage founding team with a working prototype and a clear technical moat in a high-growth sector. Transition from a working laboratory prototype to a scalable, manufacturable product that solves a fundamental bottleneck in modern autonomous systems.

What You Will Do

• Own the hardware lifecycle from prototype to a manufacturable, qualifiable product, including firmware development and MCU bring-up.
• Develop calibration and reliability qualification processes to ensure high-resolution tactile sensing scales effectively for volume manufacturing.
• Set the long-term hardware roadmap and lead the hiring and management of a world-class hardware engineering team.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven track record of shipping real sensing, embedded, or MEMS/semiconductor hardware to production at scale.
• Extremely hands-on technical leader who writes firmware, designs systems, and can personally debug MCUs during long bring-up cycles.
• Previous experience as a founder or early engineer at a hardware startup, with a strong sense of personal accountability for delivery dates.

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