Embedded Hardware Engineer

About Origin

Origin (previously 10xConstruction) is building general-purpose autonomous robots for US construction to tackle rising costs, safety risks, and labour shortages. Our modular, multi-trade platform combines purpose-built hardware with real-time site intelligence to navigate complex environments and execute tasks with precision. Trained in high-fidelity simulation and already deployed on live sites, our robots deliver 5x faster execution, 250%+ margin expansion, and significant cost savings. Join India's most talent-dense robotics team consisting of individuals from IITs, Stanford, UCLA, etc.

About the Role

You will own the electrical hardware that runs through the entire robot: custom PCBs and wire harnesses from power distribution through compute and networking down to microcontroller- based tool controllers. Your designs will span high-power boards (inverters, motor drives, power conversion), compute and camera interface boards with multi-sensor networking, and embedded microcontroller boards for end-effector tool systems. You will also own the wire harness architecture that ties it all together inside a mobile robot operating on dusty, vibration- heavy construction sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Hardware Design & Development
  • Design and develop custom PCBs across a range of applications, including:
  Power distribution and power conversion systems
  Motor drive and inverter interface boards
  Sensor and camera interface boards
  Compute and networking backplanes
  Microcontroller-based control and end-effector boards.
  Own schematic capture, component selection, PCB layout, and design reviews.
  • Perform power budget calculations and select appropriate converters, MOSFETs, current-sensing circuits, protection devices, and passive components.
  • Design mixed-signal, multilayer boards while considering power integrity, thermal performance, grounding, and manufacturability.
  Wire Harness & System Integration
  • Architect and document robot wire harness systems, including:
  Connector selection
  Wire gauge sizing
  Routing and shielding strategies
  Strain relief and serviceability considerations
  • Create harness drawings and collaborate with suppliers or technicians for fabrication and assembly.
  • Integrate electrical systems within mechanical packaging constraints while ensuring reliability in harsh operating environments.
  Prototyping, Bring-Up & Validation
  • Bring up newly fabricated boards and execute structured validation plans.
  • Perform debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, and other laboratory equipment.
  • Develop test fixtures and electrical/mechanical test jigs for subsystem validation and stress testing.
  • Conduct hardware verification activities including:
  Signal integrity analysis
  Power integrity analysis
  Thermal validation
  Functional and environmental testing
  EMC pre-compliance testing
  Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) & Automation
• Design, build, and maintain Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test systems.
• Develop Python and/or C++ automation tools for hardware validation and continuous integration testing.
• Create firmware and test scripts for validating interfaces such as I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, ADCs, and sensor modules.
  
• Hardware Safety & Reliability
  • Design and implement hardware-level safety systems including:
  Interlocks
  Watchdog circuits
  Fault-monitoring systems
  Safety relay interfaces
  Isolation circuits
  • Ensure safe fault handling and reliable operation of robot electrical systems under real-world conditions.
  Manufacturing & Component Management
• Manage BOMs and maintain component databases.
• Source components and identify alternate parts to mitigate supply-chain risks.
• Coordinate with PCB fabrication and assembly vendors.
• Support incoming inspection, design revisions, manufacturing validation, and production releases.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation, including schematics, layouts, harness drawings, test reports, and manufacturing packages.
  
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with embedded software engineers, mechanical engineers, and systems engineers to ensure successful integration of hardware subsystems.
• Participate in design reviews and support debugging during robot integration and field deployments.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field.
• 2-5 years of professional experience in embedded hardware design and development.
• Proven experience taking hardware designs from schematic capture through PCB bring-up and validation.
• Proficiency with PCB design tools such as KiCad, Altium Designer, or OrCAD.
• Strong understanding of analog and digital circuit design fundamentals.
• Solid knowledge of power electronics concepts including:
• DC-DC conversion
• Protection circuits
• Current sensing
• Grounding strategies
• Thermal considerations
• Experience designing and documenting wire harnesses and electrical interconnect systems.
• Familiarity with common communication interfaces including Ethernet, USB, CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, and high-speed serial links.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies, and logic analyzers.
• Experience writing Python and/or C/C++ scripts for hardware testing and automation.
• Ability to interpret component datasheets and make sound engineering trade-offs.

Preferred Experiences

• Experience developing hardware for robots, vehicles, industrial automation systems, or other ruggedized electromechanical products.
• Familiarity with EMC, electrical safety, and regulatory compliance requirements (CE, FCC, IEC, etc.).
• Experience with camera and vision hardware interfaces such as CSI-2, GMSL, GigE Vision, or MIPI.
• Experience building and maintaining Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) infrastructure.
• Practical knowledge of high-current wiring, crimping, connector systems (Deutsch, Molex, etc.), and wire routing tools.
• Experience supporting manufacturing builds and resolving production or field reliability issues.
• Background designing systems for environments involving vibration, dust ingress, thermal cycling, or other harsh operating conditions.