Electrical Engineer, Tactile/Hand Sensor

Foundation•San Francisco, CA

2d•$180,000 - $300,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly technical Electrical Engineer to join our team in San Francisco. This role is crucial for developing new custom force and tactile sensors for robotics, with aggressive size and reliability requirements. You will be responsible for designing and evaluating embedded systems and mixed-signal circuits, collaborating with silicon partners, and performing board bring-up and validation. The ideal candidate is passionate about technology, cares about product aesthetics and design, and is self-motivated to get things done. You will also guide junior engineers, drive design improvements, and support the transition from prototypes to production.

Requirements

Experience with sensor integration (IMUs, force/tactile, encoders), motor control (BLDC, brushed, stepper), and power electronics.
Proven track record designing embedded systems (MCUs, DSPs, or FPGAs) in compact, high-reliability systems.
Strong debugging skills with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG tools.
Proficiency in ECAD tools such as Altium Designer, KiCad, or Cadence.
Solid understanding of signal integrity, thermal management, and power distribution for compact electronics.
Bachelor’s or Master’s in Electrical Engineering or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with firmware interactions and embedded C/C++ is a plus.
Experience working on robotics, prosthetics, or haptics-related hardware.
Knowledge of silicon evaluation and working with early-stage chip vendors.
Experience with wireless communication (BLE, Wi-Fi, etc.) and secure hardware design.
Exposure to safety standards (IEC, ISO) and EMI/EMC compliance testing.

Responsibilities

Develop new custom force and tactile sensors for robotics with aggressive size and reliability requirements.
Design and evaluate embedded systems and mixed-signal circuits (MCUs, FPGAs, sensors, power, communications).
Collaborate with silicon partners to evaluate and integrate cutting-edge chips (e.g. encoders, IMUs, tactile sensors).
Perform board bring-up, validation, and debugging using lab instruments and test infrastructure.
Guide junior engineers and review schematic/layout work to ensure performance, reliability, and compliance.
Drive continuous improvements in design for manufacturability (DFM), testability (DFT), and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
Interface with firmware/software engineers to define board-level APIs and support hardware abstraction.
Support the transition from prototypes to production, working with contract manufacturers and test engineers.
Stay up to date with emerging technologies in embedded electronics, robotic sensing, and motor control.