Senior Hardware Engineer

About the role

Seekr is an AI‑focused firm delivering advanced, mission‑critical agentic edge solutions for defense and national‑security customers. Our AI platform powers intelligence‑surveillance‑reconnaissance (ISR) and command‑and‑control (C2) solutions that run on cloud, on‑premises, and edge environments, supporting both classified and unclassified operations. The Senior Hardware Engineer will join the Director of Mission Solutions’ multidisciplinary team of architects, ML engineers, and integration specialists. The role focuses on designing, prototyping, and fielding ruggedized hardware platforms that enable AI/ML‑driven signal processing, image exploitation, sensor fusion, and C2 decision‑support workloads. The engineer will work closely with software/ML leads to ensure tight integration of hardware and algorithms, drive “build‑once, deploy‑many” productization, and translate customer operational challenges into reusable, resellable solutions. This position offers the opportunity to work on cutting‑edge AI solutions that directly impact national security within a collaborative, mission‑driven environment alongside senior technical leaders, with a hybrid work model providing access to state‑of‑the‑art labs and test ranges.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop high‑performance, low‑latency hardware (FPGA/ASIC, GPU, edge compute units, custom boards) optimized for AI/ML inference on ISR and C2 sensor streams.
• Collaborate with ML engineers to create end‑to‑end MLOps pipelines, including model deployment, monitoring, and lifecycle management at the edge.
• Harden proven AI capabilities into rugged, field‑ready hardware products that can be resold across multiple mission areas, following the “build once, deploy many” philosophy.
• Work with engineering leadership to feed field‑driven requirements into the Seekr product roadmap and influence platform investment decisions.
• Lead hardware verification, testing, and certification activities to meet U.S. defense standards (e.g., MIL‑SPEC, DO‑178C, cybersecurity requirements).
• Produce technical documentation, integration guides, and support materials for productization and customer deployment.
• Participate in cross‑functional reviews with systems architects, software leads, and acquisition stakeholders to ensure mission‑critical performance and reliability.

Requirements

• Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance at the Top Secret level.
• 5+ years of experience developing hardware for defense, national‑security, or related mission‑critical systems, with a strong track record of end‑to‑end delivery.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Demonstrated expertise in signal‑processing hardware, sensor‑fusion architectures, and AI/ML inference acceleration (FPGA, ASIC, GPU, or dedicated AI processors).
• Hands‑on experience with hardware‑software integration, firmware development, and MLOps at the edge.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary environment and translate operational requirements into scalable hardware solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
• Domain gap experience: Cybersecurity, Cyber‑Physical Systems, Space System Architecture, ELINT/RF, Digital Signal Processing, and/or Realtime Stream Processing.
• Prior military service or direct operational exposure in ISR, C2, intelligence, or communications fields.
• Experience at a defense prime, systems integrator, or high‑growth AI/technology company delivering mission systems.
• Knowledge of trusted/explainable AI, LLM ecosystems, or mission‑AI workloads.
• Familiarity with defense acquisition processes, MIL‑SPEC testing, and cybersecurity compliance (e.g., NIST 800‑53, RMF).

Benefits

• Meaningful Mission & Impact – Work with a deeply talented, collaborative team solving some of the toughest AI challenges that matter.
• Equity Ownership – RSUs that let you share directly in Seekr’s long‑term success and growth.
• Time Off That Respects Real Life – Unlimited PTO plus 14 paid company holidays to truly recharge.
• Work Your Way – A flexible hybrid work environment with offices in Reston, VA and Austin, TX, plus remote options and flexible working hours.
• Competitive Total Rewards – A role‑appropriate compensation structure that supports long‑term growth, including base salary, bonuses, or commission plans depending on role.
• 401(k) with Company Match – Build your future with a retirement plan that includes employer matching.
• Comprehensive Health & Wellness – Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage starting day one—for you and your family.
• Parental Leave – Paid parental leave to support employees as they welcome a new child through birth, adoption, or foster placement.

Pay

The proposed salary range for this position is $160,000 USD – $230,000 USD. Placement within the range depends on factors including geographic location, applicable labor categories under Seekr’s federal government contracts, relevant prior work experience, specific skills, education, and certifications. This role may also be eligible for annual bonus, equity, and other incentive compensation.