Principal Investigator

Principal Thinking LLC is a North Carolina product‑development company creating practical welding and industrial‑safety products informed by real‑world field experience. Position:
Contact Principal Investigator / Technical Lead Project:
Patent‑pending Hot Weld Warning Light Employment:
Anticipated six‑month, full‑time salaried position

Location:

Remote within the United States, subject to final grant performance‑site and project requirements Compensation target:
Approximately $65,000 for the six‑month project period (equivalent to a $130,000 annualized salary) Principal Thinking is preparing an application for an anticipated CDC/NIOSH SBIR Phase I research‑and‑development grant. We are identifying a qualified senior engineer who may be interested in serving as the project’s proposed Contact Principal Investigator and Technical Lead. The Hot Weld Warning Light is a portable industrial‑safety device intended to warn workers before they approach recently welded metal or other dangerously hot surfaces.

The evolving concept combines non‑contact infrared temperature sensing, an adjustable red aiming laser, motion detection, a flashing red warning light, an audible voice‑warning system, battery power management, and magnetic mounting.

• Develop the electronic system architecture, schematics, PCB design, and bill of materials
• Integrate motion detection and non‑contact temperature‑sensing technology
• Develop embedded firmware and device operating logic
• Integrate the flashing red warning light and audible voice‑warning system
• Develop the battery and power‑management system
• Direct prototype integration, troubleshooting, and controlled testing
• Establish measurable technical milestones and verification procedures
• Maintain engineering records and contribute to required technical reports
• Support preparation of the technical portions of the SBIR application and project plan
• Coordinate with the inventor, founder, and industrial‑welding subject‑matter expert

• Senior‑level experience in electrical engineering, embedded systems, firmware, PCB development, sensors, or electronic product development
• Demonstrated experience taking electronic hardware from system architecture through functional prototype and verification
• Experience integrating microcontrollers, sensors, power systems, visual indicators, and audio components
• Strong technical documentation, troubleshooting, project leadership, and communication skills
• Ability to define measurable engineering milestones, risks, and verification methods
• Experience with industrial‑safety products, grant‑funded R&D, SBIR/STTR projects, or regulated product development is helpful but not required
• U.S.
  
  -based and legally authorized to work in the United States
• Able to satisfy the SBIR primary‑employment requirement if the grant is awarded

• Selection as Principal Thinking’s proposed PI
• Completion and submission of the grant application
• Approval and receipt of the SBIR Phase I award
• Final federal budget authorization
• Verification of qualifications and availability
• Execution of appropriate employment, confidentiality, and intellectual‑property agreements

Because this is an SBIR project, the selected Contact PI would be required to make Principal Thinking their primary employer when the award begins and throughout the funded project period.