Staff Electrical Engineer - Compute

Synthesia

$210K — $235K *
Consumer Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of proven experience in high-performance compute solutions for robotics or autonomous systems.
  • Deep understanding of functional safety principles, particularly IEC 61508 standards.
  • Expertise in high-performance embedded systems, especially NVIDIA and Intel-based platforms.
  • Strong knowledge of real-time operating systems (RTOS) and multi-core processing.
  • Experience in managing sensor bandwidth and high-speed data transfer.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the design and architecture of next-generation compute solutions for humanoid robots.
  • Define compute requirements for advanced robotics algorithms, focusing on performance and safety.
  • Develop scalable solutions for high-bandwidth sensor data integration.
  • Implement functional safety standards with redundant systems and diagnostics.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure effective integration of compute systems.
  • Conduct performance benchmarking and thermal management analysis for compute stacks.
  • Oversee the lifecycle of complex compute hardware systems, from design to support.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead cutting-edge technology development in robotics.
  • Engagement with cross-functional innovative teams to drive the project.
  • Chance to mentor and develop other engineering talents within the organization.
  • Access to ongoing professional development and learning in emerging technologies.
Full Job Description
JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Staff Compute Engineer to lead the design and implementation of the next-generation compute solution for our humanoid robot platform. In this pivotal role, you will be the technical lead responsible for architecting a compute solution that meets our most demanding requirements for real-time performance, sensor bandwidth, and, most critically, functional safety.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
  • Lead the architectural design of the robot's next-generation compute solution, from high-level system architecture to component-level selection.
  • Define and validate compute requirements based on the needs of complex robotics algorithms, including motion control, perception, and AI tasks.
  • Develop a robust and scalable solution capable of handling high-bandwidth data from a wide array of sensors
  • Design for functional safety from the ground up, implementing redundant systems, fail-safe mechanisms, and diagnostic features to meet or exceed industry safety standards.
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including software, electrical, and systems engineers, to ensure seamless integration of the compute solution with the overall robot platform.
  • Conduct performance benchmarking and power analysis to optimize the compute stack for maximum efficiency and thermal management.
  • Design, simulate, implement, and test multi-layer high-speed PCBs for integration of advanced System-on-Modules (SoMs) like NVIDIA Orin.
  • Lead efforts in high-speed signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) analysis, modeling, and validation.
  • Knowledge of compute and processor power requirements, power trees, PMICs, and power sequencing.
  • Drive the selection and qualification of critical components, including SoMs, memory, storage (NVMe/eMMC), high-speed interconnects, and peripheral interfaces.
  • Develop comprehensive validation and test plans (DVT/PVT), design necessary test fixtures, and execute rigorous testing to confirm compliance with performance specifications and regulatory standards (e.g., FCC, CE).
  • Stay abreast of the latest advancements in embedded systems, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and robotics compute hardware to inform future design decisions.
  • Own the entire lifecycle of complex compute hardware systems, from initial concept and architecture definition through design, prototyping, validation, production release, and ongoing support.
  • Act as a technical leader and mentor within the electrical engineering team, guiding junior and senior engineers on best practices for complex hardware design and troubleshooting.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS
  • Proven experience in architecting and shipping complex, high-performance compute solutions for robotics, autonomous systems, or similar applications.
  • Deep understanding of functional safety principles and standards (e.g. IEC 61508) and experience with safety-critical design.
  • Expertise in a variety of compute platforms, including but not limited to, NVIDIA Jetson, Intel, and other high-performance embedded systems.
  • Strong knowledge of real-time operating systems (RTOS), multi-core processing, and communication protocols (e.g., Ethernet, CAN).
  • Experience with sensor bandwidth management and high-speed data transfer.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and a collaborative approach to engineering.
  • Experience with humanoid robotics is a significant plus.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field; Master's or Ph.D. preferred.
  • 10+ years of experience in embedded systems or robotics compute design.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
  • Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
  • Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
  • Hearing and speech to communicate


The annual salary range is $210,000-$235,000

*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

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