Principal Hardware Engineer

Arable • San Francisco Bay area, CA

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About The Position

Arable is seeking an experienced, hands-on hardware engineer to drive development of its hardware ecosystem, including the Arable Mark 3 and future sensing platforms. The role involves individual technical contribution and ownership across the hardware product lifecycle, from design and prototyping through production and field performance. The engineer will address technical challenges, provide technical leadership, mentor colleagues, and collaborate with internal teams and external partners while helping shape the technical direction of sensing products used by growers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• At least 6 years of hardware engineering experience spanning the full PCB design lifecycle.
• Proficiency with schematic capture, PCB layout, board bring-up, and lab equipment.
• Knowledge of regulatory testing, including FCC and CE, and new product introduction (NPI) processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• A self-directed approach and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced technical degree.
• At least 8 years of experience bringing multiple hardware products to mass production.
• Experience managing or collaborating with offshore teams.
• Knowledge of C programming for embedded systems.
• Experience with wireless product design (WiFi, BLE, cellular) and/or RTOS.
• Background in agricultural or environmental sensor technology.
• Experience leading engineering initiatives, developing processes, or mentoring engineers.
• Expertise in low-power system design, particularly for solar-powered and battery-powered devices.
• Passion for sustainability and global food systems.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment and take ownership across multiple responsibilities.
• Technical leadership through engineering expertise, sound judgment, and ownership of results.
• Effective cross-functional communication and relationship-building.
• Resourcefulness in developing cost-effective solutions and troubleshooting real-world field challenges.
• Adaptability to emerging technologies and new challenges.
• Willingness to share knowledge and help elevate colleagues and partners.

Responsibilities

• Drive hardware development across the full product lifecycle, from concept to production.
• Coordinate domestic and offshore manufacturing operations.
• Review and validate ODM designs to meet Arable’s quality standards.
• Develop technical documentation for designs, testing, and support.
• Lead hands-on prototyping of new hardware products and features.
• Work with QA teams on product validation and testing.
• Collaborate with product management, software, operations, and customer success.
• Manage key vendor relationships and guide component selection.
• Troubleshoot hardware issues and coordinate bug tracking and resolution.
• Support manufacturing test fixtures and processes.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship, influence technology direction, and strengthen the team’s engineering capabilities.

Benefits

• Excellent medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits.
• 401(k) program.
• Opportunities to work closely with customers and make a positive impact on their livelihoods and the world.
• Focus on community involvement and career development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal