S
Lead Embedded Systems Engineer
Accepting applicationsSpade · United States
Full-Time Mid_senior AIC++RFmixed-signalpower management
Posted
2d ago
Category
Manufacturing
Experience
Mid_senior
Country
United States
About Nexa (part of Spade)
We're building smart monitoring devices for cows - small, low-power embedded devices that monitor animal health and behavior on real farms. Our mission is to use technology to empower farmers and the food system that they drive.
About the role
We're hiring a Lead Embedded Systems Engineer for Nexa (part of Spade) to own embedded electronics and firmware development of our microchip and ear tag platforms, from design through prototyping, verification, pilot production, and manufacturing handoff. This is a hands-on role with responsibility for integrating firmware, electronics, and the broader physical device.
What you'll do
Own embedded electronics and firmware systems from concept through prototyping, verification, pilot production, and manufacturing handoff
Lead schematic capture, component selection, PCB layout, and DFM in Altium or equivalent, including mixed-signal designs combining low-power communication (ex: sub-GHz radio), low-frequency inductive RF, sensors, and power management
Rapidly design, build, assemble, rework, and bring up functional hardware prototypes
Develop and maintain production C/C++ firmware using Zephyr or a similar RTOS, including board bring-up, peripheral and sensor drivers, power management, wireless communication, device state management, and hardware debugging
Integrate environmental, physiological, and motion sensors, and develop device-level verification plans covering signal quality, calibration, noise, drift, wireless communication, power consumption, mechanical integration, and environmental reliability.
Develop power budgets and optimize current consumption to meet battery-life and real-world operating requirements
Collaborate closely with mechanical engineering, software, manufacturing, veterinary, and farm-facing teams on enclosure constraints, PCB integration, assembly, sealing, manufacturability, field testing, and overall device performance.
Work directly with manufacturing partners to release fabrication packages, respond to DFM questions, support pilot builds, troubleshoot production issues, and develop production test fixtures and automated flash/test procedures
Occasionally travel to farms to meet users and observe field testing and deployment
You should have
3+ years of professional experience building and shipping embedded systems
Strong PCB design fluency in Altium, KiCad, or equivalent, from schematic capture through layout and manufacturing release
Deep familiarity with embedded ecosystems such as STM32, Nordic, or similar, and the ability to quickly learn new MCU families
RF design experience, including antenna placement, impedance matching, ground-plane design, interference management, and operation in tight form factors
Experience with LoRa/LoRaWAN (or similar low-power sub-GHz wireless systems) and wireless/RF methods including antenna design and decision-making
Hands-on lab skills, including soldering, rework, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, current probes, and benchtop power supplies
Strong embedded firmware experience in C/C++, including board bring-up, peripheral drivers, RTOS-based development, power management, wireless communication, and production firmware
Experience integrating sensors and addressing calibration, signal quality, noise, drift, and environmental effects
Experience taking designs through prototyping, verification, DFM, pilot production, and manufacturing handoff
Ability to work across electrical, firmware, and mechanical interfaces to support complete device integration
Basic mechanical design skills, including comfort working in CAD and collaborating on enclosure fit and manufacturability
Drive to leverage AI tools to speed up productivity and engineering workflows
Comfort with ambiguity, fast iteration, and startup pace
Nice to have
Experience designing wearable, implantable, physiological-monitoring, veterinary, or other biologically interfacing devices
Experience designing for harsh, rugged, or outdoor environments, including agricultural, automotive, industrial, or defense applications
Production test engineering experience
A personal home lab or hobby projects that show genuine interest in electronics outside of work
Experience with different primary battery chemistries
The expected base salary range for this position is $100,000–$125,000 per year, plus equity. The final compensation package will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and fit for the role.
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We're building smart monitoring devices for cows - small, low-power embedded devices that monitor animal health and behavior on real farms. Our mission is to use technology to empower farmers and the food system that they drive.
About the role
We're hiring a Lead Embedded Systems Engineer for Nexa (part of Spade) to own embedded electronics and firmware development of our microchip and ear tag platforms, from design through prototyping, verification, pilot production, and manufacturing handoff. This is a hands-on role with responsibility for integrating firmware, electronics, and the broader physical device.
What you'll do
Own embedded electronics and firmware systems from concept through prototyping, verification, pilot production, and manufacturing handoff
Lead schematic capture, component selection, PCB layout, and DFM in Altium or equivalent, including mixed-signal designs combining low-power communication (ex: sub-GHz radio), low-frequency inductive RF, sensors, and power management
Rapidly design, build, assemble, rework, and bring up functional hardware prototypes
Develop and maintain production C/C++ firmware using Zephyr or a similar RTOS, including board bring-up, peripheral and sensor drivers, power management, wireless communication, device state management, and hardware debugging
Integrate environmental, physiological, and motion sensors, and develop device-level verification plans covering signal quality, calibration, noise, drift, wireless communication, power consumption, mechanical integration, and environmental reliability.
Develop power budgets and optimize current consumption to meet battery-life and real-world operating requirements
Collaborate closely with mechanical engineering, software, manufacturing, veterinary, and farm-facing teams on enclosure constraints, PCB integration, assembly, sealing, manufacturability, field testing, and overall device performance.
Work directly with manufacturing partners to release fabrication packages, respond to DFM questions, support pilot builds, troubleshoot production issues, and develop production test fixtures and automated flash/test procedures
Occasionally travel to farms to meet users and observe field testing and deployment
You should have
3+ years of professional experience building and shipping embedded systems
Strong PCB design fluency in Altium, KiCad, or equivalent, from schematic capture through layout and manufacturing release
Deep familiarity with embedded ecosystems such as STM32, Nordic, or similar, and the ability to quickly learn new MCU families
RF design experience, including antenna placement, impedance matching, ground-plane design, interference management, and operation in tight form factors
Experience with LoRa/LoRaWAN (or similar low-power sub-GHz wireless systems) and wireless/RF methods including antenna design and decision-making
Hands-on lab skills, including soldering, rework, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, current probes, and benchtop power supplies
Strong embedded firmware experience in C/C++, including board bring-up, peripheral drivers, RTOS-based development, power management, wireless communication, and production firmware
Experience integrating sensors and addressing calibration, signal quality, noise, drift, and environmental effects
Experience taking designs through prototyping, verification, DFM, pilot production, and manufacturing handoff
Ability to work across electrical, firmware, and mechanical interfaces to support complete device integration
Basic mechanical design skills, including comfort working in CAD and collaborating on enclosure fit and manufacturability
Drive to leverage AI tools to speed up productivity and engineering workflows
Comfort with ambiguity, fast iteration, and startup pace
Nice to have
Experience designing wearable, implantable, physiological-monitoring, veterinary, or other biologically interfacing devices
Experience designing for harsh, rugged, or outdoor environments, including agricultural, automotive, industrial, or defense applications
Production test engineering experience
A personal home lab or hobby projects that show genuine interest in electronics outside of work
Experience with different primary battery chemistries
The expected base salary range for this position is $100,000–$125,000 per year, plus equity. The final compensation package will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and fit for the role.
Show more Show less