Hardware Integration Engineer - Recon Works

Hardware Integration Engineer - Recon Works

Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid on-site)
Travel: 25%
Clearance: U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain a security clearance required

The Role

As Hardware Integration Engineer - Recon Works, you turn concepts into working hardware. You design prototype parts in CAD, integrate mechanical, electrical, and compute subsystems onto unmanned vehicles, and test what you build in the lab and the field until it works or we learn why it can't.

This is a hands-on mechanical engineering and hardware integration role for someone who would rather be at the bench or on the range than in a slide deck. You work on our Recon Works team with a technical program manager, multidisciplinary engineer, and a mission analyst.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and run bench, lab, and field tests of prototype systems: write test plans, instrument hardware, collect and analyze data, and turn results into design changes (50%)
• Integrate subsystems from multiple sources (sensors, payloads, compute, power, communications, and propulsion) onto air, sea, and land platforms, including wiring harnesses, connectors, and power distribution (30%)
• Design prototype parts and assemblies in CAD (SolidWorks, Onshape, or similar) for rapid fabrication by 3D printing, machining, or sheet metal, from brackets and enclosures to complete payload mounts (20%)
• Document designs, interfaces, and test results so de-risked prototypes can hand off cleanly to NODA product and engineering teams

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, mechatronics, or a related engineering field
• 3+ years of hands-on hardware development, integration, or test experience
• Proficiency in a parametric CAD tool (SolidWorks, Onshape, NX, or Creo) and in designing for rapid fabrication (additive, CNC, sheet metal)
• Hands-on electromechanical integration experience, including wiring harnesses, connectors, and power distribution, and debugging with multimeters, oscilloscopes, and similar tools
• Experience writing test plans, running hardware tests, and turning test data into design changes
• Comfort with shop tools and fabrication, and with working outdoors in field test conditions
• US citizenship is required due to ITAR regulations, along with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building or testing unmanned systems (UAS, UGV, USV, or UUV)
• Familiarity with common autonomy hardware, such as PX4 or ArduPilot autopilots, embedded compute (for example, NVIDIA Jetson), EO/IR, lidar, or radar sensors, and tactical radios
• Python or similar scripting for data acquisition and test analysis
• Environmental or qualification testing experience (for example, MIL-STD-810 or MIL-STD-461)
• FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate
• Existing Secret or higher clearance

Attributes

• Bias towards building: you would rather make a part tonight than analyze it for a week
• Systems thinking: you see how a change affects the entire system and never think in terms of local optimums
• Comfort with ambiguity: requirements shift and prototypes fail; you have a short memory when it comes to failure and a long memory when it comes to vision
• High agency: you find the problems, fix them, and communicate back to team
• Test discipline: you record what we tested, what happened, and why, so that the next test - and team - is always improving

Benefits & Perks

Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals + Company match
• Equity grants for new hires
• Unlimited PTO
• 11 Paid holidays
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November & December.
• Generous Parental Leave
• Military Leave for annual training or service requirements
• FSA
• DCFSA
• HSA
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Access to One Medical
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.

Growth Path

Technical Program Manger 14 Senior Technical Program Manager 14 Deputy CTO

Export Control Compliance

To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.