Hardware Engineer

Company: Qail Labs, SF, USA

Location: Ukraine

Employment type: Full-time 

Reports to: Co-founder / CTO

About Qail Labs

Qail Labs develops an operator-assist autonomy module for small logistics unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). 

Role summary

We are hiring a Hardware Integration Engineer to own the electrical and physical integration of the module with third-party ground vehicles. You will characterise unfamiliar vehicle control systems, design and build the interface electronics, write the embedded firmware that drives them, and take the result from bench to field. This is our first dedicated hardware role.

Key responsibilities

• Characterise third-party vehicle control systems — motor controllers, receivers, remotes, wiring harnesses and power systems — using multimeter, oscilloscope and logic analyser.
• Design, build and test interface electronics between the module and host vehicles, including signal isolation, level shifting and power distribution.
• Develop embedded firmware in C/C++ for ESP32- and STM32-class microcontrollers, including command protocols, watchdogs, deadman timers and fail-safe state machines.
• Reverse engineer undocumented digital and RF interfaces where no documentation exists, including 2.4 GHz control links.
• Integrate sensors — encoders, hall sensors, IMU, GNSS/RTK, lidar, depth cameras — with the module's compute platform.

• Support field testing with partner manufacturers and incorporate feedback into the design.

   

Required qualifications

• 4+ years of professional experience in hardware engineering, embedded systems or robotics integration.
• Demonstrated experience bringing up and debugging hardware without complete documentation.
• Proficiency in embedded C/C++ on microcontroller platforms (ESP32, STM32, Arduino or equivalent).
• Hands-on proficiency with test equipment: digital multimeter, oscilloscope, logic analyser and bench power supply.
• Working knowledge of digital interfaces: UART, SPI, I²C, PWM and CAN.
• Experience interfacing systems at different voltage levels using optocouplers, level shifters or relays.
• Hand soldering skills, including fine-pitch surface-mount work and rework.
• Proficiency with Linux, Python and Git.

• Ukrainian and professional English.

   

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with 2.4 GHz RF systems, GFSK modulation, or nRF24 / XN297-class transceivers.
• Experience with software-defined radio and protocol reverse engineering (GNU Radio, Universal Radio Hacker).
• ROS 2 experience, particularly Nav2, robot_localization or sensor drivers.
• Experience with NVIDIA Jetson platforms and JetPack.
• Experience with GNSS/RTK positioning.
• Power electronics and battery systems, 24–48 V DC.
• Mechanical design: CAD, aluminium extrusion, IP-rated enclosures.
• Prior experience with defence, military or heavy industrial equipment.

• Experience in an early-stage startup.

   

What we offer

• Full ownership of the hardware stack
• Equipment and tooling budget
• Reservation (бронювання) support