Hardware Engineer
Constellation · San Francisco
About Us
Constellation is creating the AI-human translation layer that ensures humanity evolves alongside our technology. Our mission is to leverage AI towards addressing deep and meaningful problems at the core of the human experience: empowering people towards their goals, augmenting our cognition and emotional wellness, and understanding ourselves and each other. Our path forward is to move away from AI that captures human knowledge towards AI that truly understands what it is to be human. We are generating the richest multimodal dataset ever collected to build a new class of foundation models and we're seeking the founding team of engineers to build the infrastructure that makes this ambitious future a reality.
The Role
We are looking for a Hardware Engineer to own the hardware behind our data collection. Our multimodal collection rigs combine biosensors with video and audio capture, and every stream has to stay synchronized and running, session after session. Your job is to keep that growing fleet of rigs synchronized, healthy, and repeatable, and to build the custom hardware and firmware that make it work better.
This is a generalist role on a small founding team, spanning analog electronics, embedded firmware, and the software glue between devices and our data pipeline. It's research hardware, not volume manufacturing: we move quickly to answer questions, then make what works reliable enough to run every day. You'll work closely with our data collection team, software engineers, neuroscientists, and researchers.
We're hiring at multiple levels and will set title and scope to your experience.
Responsibilities
Keep our fleet of collection rigs synchronized and healthy: integrate and maintain off-the-shelf devices, such as biosensors, cameras, and audio equipment, and diagnose failures quickly.
Own time synchronization across every device and data stream.
Build reliable, documented rigs, test fixtures, and automated validation that let researchers focus on the science.
Design and bring up custom boards and sensor integrations where you determine off-the-shelf equipment falls short, from schematic and PCB layout through assembly and testing.
Write and debug C/C++ firmware for microcontrollers and Python tooling for device control, signal-quality checks, and data validation; work with the Linux drivers on our capture machines.
Partner with our software team on the interface between devices and our data ingestion infrastructure.
Handle light mechanical work: enclosures, connectors, mounts, and 3D-printed parts that keep hardware durable and comfortable for participants.
Decide what to build in-house versus contract out, and manage vendors and contractors when we do.
Qualifications
3+ years of experience designing and bringing up electronic hardware, with significant hands-on work in both board design and embedded firmware.
A track record of building physical things that worked in real use: instruments, devices, or research rigs.
Able to work independently, make sound technical calls, and explain trade-offs clearly to non-hardware teammates.
Hands-on experience with biosignals (e.g., EEG, ECG, EMG) or other low-noise measurements, including electrode contact, noise sources, grounding, and shielding.
Schematic capture and PCB layout in Altium or KiCad, including mixed-signal boards.
Strong C/C++ skills for writing microcontroller firmware (e.g., on ARM Cortex-M, ideally with an RTOS such as Zephyr or FreeRTOS). Comfortable going below the application layer on Linux to debug device drivers, USB and serial issues, and kernel behavior when hardware misbehaves.
Python for test scripts, device control, and data analysis.
Hands-on experience synchronizing data across multiple devices (hardware triggers, shared clocks, timestamping).
Comfortable at the bench with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG/SWD debuggers.
Demonstrably adaptable and excited about finding creative solutions to problems nobody has solved before.
Passionate about positively impacting the well-being of humanity and not just capitalizing on it.
You thrive in a high-bandwidth, collaborative environment.
Nice to Have
Experience writing Linux kernel modules or device drivers.
FPGA or HDL experience (e.g., Verilog, VHDL).
Prior work with research-grade sensing equipment, such as eye trackers or EEG systems, and with synchronization tools such as Lab Streaming Layer (LSL).
Familiarity with other physiological sensing, such as fNIRS, EDA, or PPG.
Medical electrical isolation and safety for equipment used with human participants (e.g., IEC 60601).
A background in designing wearable, battery-powered, or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices.
Basic mechanical CAD and 3D printing.
Interest in neurotech, mental health, or human-AI interaction.
Benefits
Comprehensive, high-quality health, dental, and vision insurance with premiums fully covered.
A renovated, light-filled office with a quirky layout in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District, surrounded by world-class food and coffee.
Relocation assistance for those joining us in SF and workspace setup stipend.
Monthly team dinners and outings, plus twice-yearly off-sites and retreats.
Fully stocked kitchen (snacks!)
Sponsorship for travel to relevant conferences and regular professional development activities to help you level up.
A minimum of 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave with a “soft-landing” transition back.
Paid time off (PTO)
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