Hardware Engineer

A YC-backed (W26) defence startup building autonomous drone systems for military and government customers. Six people. Strong early traction with defence and security partners internationally, shipping hardware that ends up in the field.

They're hiring a Founding Hardware Engineer to own the entire hardware stack. You'll start hands-on: prototyping, board bring-up, flight testing. You'll grow into building and leading the hardware org as the team scales.

• PCB design end to end: flight controllers, motor drivers, power systems, companion computers, sensor boards (STM
  32, SoMs)
• Full lifecycle from schematic capture and routing through bring-up, flight testing and production, including DFM and Gerbers with manufacturers
• Standing up a UK manufacturing facility and the engineering culture around it
• Hiring and mentoring junior hardware engineers as the team grows

• 4-10 years in hardware/electronics engineering, ideally with drone or UAV systems
• Genuine end-to-end PCB experience, schematic through to manufactured board
• Broad hardware range: power, analog, digital, embedded (STM
  32-class)
• Comfortable owning decisions and getting hands dirty, this is a building culture, not a managing one

• Personal or professional drone/UAV build experience
• Prior experience hiring or managing 1-2 engineers
• Defence procurement or bid-writing exposure