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Aurelius Systems is a VC-backed defense tech startup building autonomous, edge-deployed directed energy systems (laser weapons) for counter-UAS applications. The company operates from San Francisco with a manufacturing hub in Detroit and a 400-acre private test range.
You will serve as Principal Hardware Engineer, a senior technical leadership role focused on raising the hardware organization's technical bar through architectural judgment, hands-on execution, and mentorship by example. This is not a people-management position but rather a technical anchor seat on a ~10-person engineering team.
Key responsibilities include:
- Setting architectural direction across the full hardware stack (mechanical, electrical, power, embedded systems, optics integration)
- Making critical technical decisions on the hardest problems from concept through production readiness
- Identifying and surfacing technical risks early; catching issues junior engineers may miss
- Hands-on execution on problems requiring your specific expertise to solve quickly
- Managing design and manufacturing trade-offs across cost, mass, reliability, schedule, and field performance
- Cross-functional judgment when hardware, controls, optics, and software intersect
- Setting technical standards for design reviews, documentation, and release criteria
- Mentoring through example; engineers learn by observing your work
Required qualifications:
- 10+ years designing and shipping complex hardware systems
- Proven track record taking systems through full development cycles from prototype to manufacturing to deployment
- Senior IC or technical leadership background at hardware companies with shipped products
- Deep technical judgment across at least two domains: mechanical, electrical, power electronics, or embedded systems
- Pattern recognition from building real systems that survived real-world conditions
- Comfort as a technical anchor on a small team rather than managing a large organization
Nice-to-have qualifications include directed energy/laser/high-power systems experience, defense/aerospace program experience with MIL-STD qualification, founder/founding engineer background, manufacturing production line experience, or active security clearance.
The role operates with extreme bias for action, weekly field testing, and rapid iteration. Core hours are Monday–Friday, 9 AM–6 PM, with intensity ramping during sprints toward demos or field tests. Benefits include competitive salary and equity, United Healthcare coverage, 18 days PTO plus 5 sick days, travel to field events, daily lunches, and a $500 e-bike/scooter stipend.
Note: This role requires U.S. Person status as defined by export control regulations.
