Hardware Prototyping & Lab Lead

As our Hardware Prototyping & Lab Lead, you will be the cornerstone of the physical engineering environment where the future of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV) comes to life. While Sonatus is a software-first company, our breakthrough technology requires a world-class hardware foundation to bridge the gap between code and the road.

You won't just be managing a lab; you'll be a critical enabler for our engineering teams, ensuring they have the infrastructure, prototypes, and technical support needed to deploy AI-enabled software into vehicles worldwide. This role blends administrative leadership with deep hands-on technical execution — including scripting and automation work — managing the transition of high-precision diagnostic tools and gateways from prototype to specialized, low-volume production. Given the highly collaborative and physical nature of our engineering labs, this role is 100% onsite at our Sunnyvale headquarters.

Highlights & Learning Opportunities:

• Scale the Future of SDV: Play a hands-on role in supporting prototypes that are redefining automotive architecture and rapid feature evolution.
• Multi-Disciplinary Impact: Bridge the gap between hardware, software, and QA by writing scripts and tools that connect lab equipment, test automation, and engineering workflows.
• Lead Lab Innovation: Take full ownership of procurement and lab infrastructure, evolving our Sunnyvale headquarters into a state-of-the-art hardware development hub.
• Deepen Technical Mastery: Enhance your expertise in failure analysis, custom harness design, and building automation scripts and instrument-control code within a Linux-based environment.

Roles & Responsibilities

Lab Administration & Operations:

• End-to-End Lab Management: Oversee the organization, inventory, and lifecycle management of all lab equipment, electronic components, and consumable supplies.
• Infrastructure Excellence: Lead the procurement, installation, and optimization of lab infrastructure to meet evolving engineering needs.
• Compliance & Maintenance: Coordinate the rigorous calibration, maintenance, and repair schedules for specialized test equipment.
• Operational Support: Manage the Engineering Hardware Lab Jira ticketing system to prioritize and resolve technical requests efficiently.

Prototype Development & Specialized Production:

• Low-Volume Production Support: Execute programming for critical devices (CPLDs, Flash, EEPROMs) and perform mechanical integration for specialized system builds.
• Test Automation & Scripting: Write, adapt, and maintain Python/Bash scripts to drive lab instruments (DMMs, power supplies, CAN/Ethernet analyzers), automate repetitive test sequences, parse and log test data, and integrate with QA automation frameworks in a Linux-based environment.
• Tooling Development: Build small internal tools and scripts (e.g., for inventory tracking, test-result reporting, or equipment control) to improve lab efficiency and repeatability.
• Functional Validation: Perform comprehensive functional testing and mechanical integration for early-stage prototypes and low-volume production units.
• Root Cause Analysis: Conduct deep-dive debugging and failure analysis on non-functional units to drive design and manufacturing improvements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Engineering Partnership: Act as a key technical collaborator for hardware, software, and QA engineers on complex development tasks, including reviewing and extending test scripts and automation code.
• Environment Stewardship: Ensure a safe, orderly, and highly productive hardware lab environment that reflects Sonatus' high standards.

Requirements

• Proven Expertise: Extensive experience in hardware lab management and technical support, ideally within a fast-paced R&D or development environment.
• Software Scripting Proficiency: Hands-on coding experience in Python and/or Bash for test automation, instrument control, and data processing; comfortable writing, debugging, and maintaining scripts rather than just running them.
• Linux & Automation Fluency: Strong command of Linux environments (shell navigation, permissions, package management) and the ability to read, modify, and write scripts for QA automation and CI-style test pipelines.
• Version Control: Familiarity with Git or similar version control tools for managing and sharing scripts and automation code.
• Hands-on Debugging: Expert-level proficiency in electronic test and debug using DMMs, oscilloscopes, and regulated power supplies, including scripting automated measurement and data-capture routines.
• Networking Fundamentals: Solid understanding of basic networking concepts, including LANs, subnets, TCP/IP, and automotive interconnect standards (1000baseT1 & CAN).
• Physical Capability: Ability to lift and move equipment up to 25 pounds.

Benefits Offered:

• Competitive compensation and equity program
• Health care plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Flexible and Dependent Care Expense program
• Retirement plan (401k)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Unlimited paid time off per year, 15 paid holidays
• Hybrid office work arrangement/flexibility

Perk Offerings include:

• Complimentary lunches, snacks, and beverages during on-site working days
• Wellness benefit allowances (towards gym membership and fitness programs)
• Internet reimbursement
• Computer Accessory Allowance

Employee Engagement Offerings:

• Departmental team building and outings
• Employee Referral Program
• Culture/Employee Satisfaction Surveys - Feedback matters!