Staff Electrical R&D Lead

Whoop•Boston, MA

2d•$175,000 - $215,000

About The Position

WHOOP is hiring a Staff Electrical R&D Lead to drive advanced development of next-generation wearable sensing technologies as part of the Hardware Engineering team. The role leads exploration, design, characterization, and validation of novel sensing systems, with a deep understanding of the complete signal chain—from physiological signals and sensor interfaces through analog and digital electronics to downstream system requirements. The engineer combines electrical engineering fundamentals, hands-on experimentation, and advanced data analysis to translate system behavior into architecture and design improvements that optimize sensing performance. This is a hands-on technical leadership role requiring systems thinking, analytical rigor, and sound technical judgment. The lead guides and mentors engineers and works closely with Electrical, Mechanical, Firmware, Signal Processing, and WHOOP Labs teams to evaluate emerging technologies, define system requirements, identify performance limitations, and drive technical decisions. The role helps establish technical direction for advanced electrical development while balancing innovation with product feasibility, performance, and development timelines.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
8+ years of relevant electrical engineering, hardware R&D, or sensing systems development experience, with demonstrated technical leadership and ownership of complex engineering projects.
Deep electrical engineering fundamentals across analog and digital circuit design, sensor interfaces, signal integrity, noise analysis, and system-level electrical architecture.
Strong systems-level understanding of sensing technologies.
Exceptional hands-on experimentation, hardware characterization, and debugging skills, with the ability to apply first-principles engineering and structured analysis to complex technical challenges.
Proficiency in Python or equivalent tools.
Demonstrated ability to lead ambiguous, cross-functional technical initiatives, guide engineering decisions, mentor other engineers, and drive technical challenges to resolution.
Strong commitment to embracing and leveraging AI tools in day-to-day tasks and ensuring AI-assisted work meets the same high-quality standards as personal contributions.

Responsibilities

Lead advanced electrical development initiatives from early-stage technology exploration and sensor evaluation through feasibility, prototyping, system characterization, and design validation.
Develop a deep understanding of the complete sensing signal chain, including sensor behavior, analog front-end performance, electrical interfaces, physiological characteristics, and downstream system requirements, to inform electrical architecture and optimize end-to-end sensing performance.
Define and execute experiments to characterize sensor and system behavior, isolate variables, identify performance limitations, and evaluate interactions across electrical, mechanical, physiological, and environmental conditions.
Analyze data and translate experimental findings into actionable electrical design improvements, technical recommendations, and quantitative performance requirements.
Drive evaluation, integration, and validation of new sensing technologies, establishing test methodologies, performance criteria, and system-level requirements for reliable operation in real-world use cases.
Partner with Electrical, Mechanical, Firmware, Signal Processing, and WHOOP Labs teams to understand system dependencies, evaluate technical tradeoffs, and ensure electrical designs support broader sensing-system performance objectives.
Lead complex technical investigations and root-cause analysis using first-principles engineering, bench measurements, system telemetry, and structured experimentation to identify risks and develop effective design solutions.
Guide and mentor engineers across advanced development projects, set technical priorities, provide design review and technical direction, and drive cross-functional alignment while maintaining hands-on engineering contributions.
Translate ambiguous technical challenges into actionable development plans, communicate technical risks, recommendations, and progress, and balance engineering rigor with product and schedule objectives.
Remain hands-on with circuit design and simulation, prototype bring-up, hardware debugging, and design iteration, contributing directly to critical technical investigations and design decisions.