At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and test cutting-edge electronics for autonomous drone systems.
- Company: Join Seeing Systems, a pioneering team in drone technology.
- Benefits: Real ownership of projects, fast growth, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Enjoy snacks in the workshop while working on innovative tech.
- Why this job: Make an impact in robotics and see your work fly in real-world tests.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in electrical engineering and PCB design experience required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
About Us
"Seeing Systems is building autonomous drone systems that can perceive, navigate, and act intelligently in complex real‑world environments." We’re advancing autonomy through monocular vision, sensor fusion, and robust system design - drones that keep working where traditional systems fail, supported by an agentic stack that reduces operator cognitive load.
Our first product is an
FPV‑class drone built from the ground up with a modular hardware architecture .
If we get the first platform right, we can move fast on everything else: larger airframes, longer range, new payloads, and new mission profiles without rebuilding the stack each time.
We were founded by brothers
Matthew and Alexander Le Maitre .
Matthew is a former Jane Street engineer and Cambridge CS graduate with a background in autonomous systems research.
Alexander is a self‑taught hardware engineer who has been building unmanned systems and military‑grade electronics.
We’re an early‑stage, fast‑moving team working at the intersection of robotics, perception, and real‑world deployment.
We iterate weekly.
We test in real environments.
The Role
You will design, build, and test the electronics inside our platforms as a core member of our growing hardware team.
That means hands‑on electrical engineering work across our aircraft and ground stations: PCB design and layout, board bring‑up, power systems, harnessing, sensor integration, and test support.
You’ll take ownership of defined subsystems and see them through from schematic to a working board on a flying aircraft.
You’ll report to our Founding Hardware Engineer and work closely with Alex, our co‑founder and hardware lead.
This is a role for an engineer early in their career who wants to grow fast: you’ll be given real responsibility, real deadlines, and real feedback from the field, with senior engineers beside you at the bench.
Within 30 days
you’ve assembled, brought up, and debugged boards on one of our platforms and joined a field test.
Within 90 days
you’ve taken a subsystem board from schematic through layout to a validated revision flying on one of our drones.
- What You’ll Do
- Design PCBs for defined subsystems under the direction of the Founding Hardware Engineer: sensor boards, power distribution, BMS, payload interfaces, and supporting electronics.
- Own board bring‑up and debug for your subsystems: soldering, rework, test fixtures, and fault‑finding down to component level.
- Support schematic capture and layout across the wider hardware stack, including design reviews, signal and power integrity checks, and documentation.
- Design and build harnessing: connector selection, wiring, and integration of electronics into airframes and ground station hardware.
- Support RF and wireless testing: telemetry, video downlink, and command & control range testing in the field.
- Run test campaigns with our testing lead: prepare aircraft, capture data, log failures, and feed findings back into the next revision.
- Work with manufacturers on quotes, DFM feedback, and incoming inspection as we scale production.
- Use AI tools to accelerate design, firmware, and debug.
- What We’re Looking For
- Minimum 2 years of hands‑on electrical or electronics engineering experience (professional, or a genuinely equivalent portfolio of shipped personal projects).
- PCB design experience in Altium or Ki Cad – you’ve taken at least one board from schematic to fabricated, working hardware.
- Solid grounding in analog, digital, and power electronics fundamentals.
- Confident at the bench: soldering (including fine‑pitch rework), oscilloscopes, multimeters, and methodical fault‑finding.
- Comfortable with the gap between “works on the bench” and “works at range in the field.”
- Bias toward shipping.
- Comfortable getting outside and testing in the real world with us.
- Nice to Have
- Defence, aerospace, or UAV industry experience.
- Personal experience building and flying drones, robots, or other unmanned systems.
- Embedded work with STM32‑class MCUs and protocols such as SPI, I²C, UART, USB, CAN, and Ethernet.
- Exposure to RF/wireless design or antenna integration.
- C/C++ firmware for board bring‑up and diagnostics.
- EMI/EMC awareness and pre‑compliance testing.
- Early‑stage startup experience.
- Why Join
- Real ownership of subsystems from day one, with senior engineers invested in your growth.
- Fast iteration: hardware in operators' hands in months, not years.
- Small, high‑agency team with a direct line from idea to field test.
- Real deployment pressure, real feedback, real learning.
- A clear path to grow into broader hardware ownership as the team scales.
- Snack of choice stocked in the workshop.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Electrical Hardware Engineer employer: Seeing Systems (YC W26)
At Seeing Systems, we pride ourselves on being an innovative employer that empowers our team members to take ownership of their work from day one. As a Software Engineering Intern, you'll have the unique opportunity to collaborate directly with our founders in a fast-paced startup environment, contributing to cutting-edge autonomous drone technology that has real-world applications. Our culture fosters creativity and rapid iteration, ensuring that you not only grow your technical skills but also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of drone intelligence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Electrical Hardware Engineer
✨Get Hands-On with Robotics Meetups
Dive into the robotics and automation community by attending local meetups or workshops. It's a perfect way to connect with industry professionals and even show off your practical skills. Plus, you'll be in the right place to hear about entry-level opportunities before they're advertised!
✨Showcase Your Projects on GitHub
If you’ve been working on any robotics projects, get them up on GitHub. This not only showcases your skills to potential employers like Seeing Systems (YC W26) but also demonstrates your dedication to the field. Make sure to write clear documentation—it shows you care!
✨Utilise University Career Services
If you’re still studying or recently graduated, tap into your university's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies in robotics, which means they might know about positions at Seeing Systems (YC W26) that aren’t listed anywhere else. Don't sleep on this resource!
✨Apply Directly through Seeing Systems (YC W26)’s Website
When you spot a role that you’re keen on, like the entry-level position at Seeing Systems (YC W26), don’t just send a general application. Tailor your submission to highlight relevant projects and skills. Companies love when candidates show initiative, so make your application shine!
We think you need these skills to ace Electrical Hardware Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your tech know-how!:When applying for an entry-level role in robotics and automation, it’s crucial to highlight any relevant technical skills you’ve acquired. Include your experience with programming languages like Python or C++, as well as any robotics platforms you’ve worked with, like Arduino or ROS, to show us what you can bring to the table.
Get crafty with your projects:Since this is an entry-level position, we want to see your passion for robotics! Include a portfolio or links to any projects you’ve worked on. Whether it's a cool robot you built for a class project or a personal automation project, showcasing your hands-on experience will make your application stand out.
Tailor your CV for robotics:Your CV should highlight not just your education, but any relevant coursework or certifications in automation and robotics. Make sure to list specific subjects or modules that you've completed, which could set you apart from other applicants – we love seeing technically relevant achievements!
Craft a compelling cover letter:In your cover letter to Seeing Systems (YC W26), express your enthusiasm for getting into the robotics field. Talk about your motivation for wanting to join the industry and how you’ve been preparing yourself for this role, whether through study, projects, or relevant experiences. Let us know why you're the best fit for the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Seeing Systems (YC W26)
✨Get Hands-On with Your Skills
In the robotics and automation field, it’s crucial to showcase your hands-on experience. Whether it's through university projects, internships, or personal projects, be ready to discuss specific examples of your work with coding, hardware, or control systems. Consider bringing a portfolio of your projects to show off your skills directly!
✨Brush Up on Technical Questions
Expect to face technical questions related to robotics during your interview. You might be asked about sensor integration, programming languages like Python or C++, or software tools like ROS (Robot Operating System). Make sure you're comfortable discussing your experiences and the technical aspects of your projects; it’ll show that you’re genuinely passionate about the field.
✨Highlight Your Willingness to Learn
As an entry-level candidate, emphasising your eagerness to learn and grow is just as important as your technical skills. Share stories about how you've quickly adapted to new challenges in previous projects, and articulate your excitement for gaining experience at Seeing Systems (YC W26). They’ll love knowing you’re keen to absorb new knowledge!
✨Understand the Latest Trends in Robotics
Stay current with the latest trends and advancements in robotics and automation. Familiarise yourself with recent breakthroughs or challenges in the industry, particularly those relevant to Seeing Systems (YC W26)'s work. Being able to discuss these topics can set you apart and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their mission!