Lead embedded AI systems engineer

About Us

Rubicon is a next-generation startup developing start-of-the art AI technology for synthetic aperture radar systems. We operate in a fast-moving, high-ownership and highly iterative engineering culture that focuses on getting things done.

About the Role

We are looking for a hands-on lead embedded AI systems engineer who can understand complex AI-native embedded systems, rapidly improve them through smart prototyping, and drive them toward an industrial-quality product.

The role focuses on:

• Quickly prototyping and integrating design improvements
• Working hands-on across hardware, embedded software, and digital processing
• Driving the system toward industrial-quality design and testing

This is a deeply hands-on role, suited for someone who enjoys moving between CAD, PCBs, code, lab benches, ML models and prototypes.

Key Responsibilities

System Ownership & Architecture

Act as the technical integrator across disciplines, not a single-domain specialist.

• Take end-to-end technical ownership of a complex embedded system
• Understand and document existing designs, interfaces, and constraints
• Collaborate with researchers and R&D engineers to identify improvement opportunities across hardware, software, and integration
• Drive system-level trade-offs related to performance, power, robustness, and cost

Hardware & Prototyping

Hands-on experience iterating designs quickly rather than waiting for "perfect" designs and ability to translate field or test feedback into concrete hardware changes.

• Design, review, and modify electronic hardware (schematics, PCB layout, bring-up)
• Oversee mechanical integration in compact and constrained form factors
• Address power, thermal, signal integrity, and EMC considerations
• Rapidly prototype mechanical and structural improvements, including enclosures, mounts, protections, fixtures using 3D printing and fast-turn manufacturing

Embedded Software & Digital Processing

• Develop and maintain embedded software on Linux or RTOS-based systems
• Integrate hardware interfaces, drivers, and low-level firmware
• Support digital signal processing pipelines and real-time data handling
• Implement diagnostics, logging, telemetry, and health monitoring
• Collaborate closely with algorithm and application-level teams

FPGA & Acceleration

System-level understanding of acceleration rather than narrow HDL-only focus

• Contribute to FPGA-based processing and system integration
• Support validation, timing, and data movement between programmable logic and processors
• Work with specialists to refine and harden FPGA designs for production

Prototyping, Testing & Industrialization

Strong bias toward "build → test → improve" cycles

Experience turning prototypes into reliable, repeatable products

• Rapidly develop and test incremental improvements over an existing system
• Define and execute functional, performance, and robustness tests
• Support environmental, thermal, and vibration testing
• Prepare designs for manufacturing, qualification, and scaling
• Interface with suppliers, manufacturing partners, and test facilities

Candidate Requirements

Technical Background

• Master's degree or equivalent in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems
• At least 3 years of experience across hardware design, embedded software, system integration
• Any experience related to RF systems and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems is a plus

Core Skills

• High-level understanding of RF systems and constraints
• Ability to reason about the full signal chain without being an RF specialist
• Solid electronic hardware design and bring-up experience
• Embedded software development in C/C++
• Familiarity with programmable logic and digital processing systems
• Comfortable using lab equipment for debugging and validation

Ways of Working

• Engineering mindset oriented toward practical solutions, not academic perfection
• Top-down action-oriented prioritization, not academic bottom-up approach
• Highly comfortable with daily iterations and problem-solving involving the rest of the team
• Willingness to take full ownership of technical outcomes

Why Join us

• You will work on cutting-edge systems, not isolated components, and have direct influence on design choices and improvements while seeing your work move quickly from prototype to deployment
• You will join a high-caliber environment that values technical depth, pragmatism, and ownership