Hardware Engineer

## About the role TraceWay is seeking a Hardware Engineer to join our remote team and design the electronic systems for our watches powered by Zephyr RTOS. This role is central to our mission of giving the maker community a robust, high performance wearable that works as a base for custom hardware mods. You will own the hardware lifecycle, from first schematic to production ready PCB layouts that reliably support our open software stack. ## Responsibilities - Build stable, efficient electronic architectures for compact, battery powered devices. - Manage complex PCB designs, including component selection for high density layouts and maintaining signal integrity in tight spaces. - Optimize power draw, integrate external sensor modules, and ensure reliable wireless connectivity. - Collaborate with firmware developers to write and test low level drivers, making sure the hardware and Zephyr RTOS work together cleanly. - Troubleshoot hardware bugs in a distributed environment. - Prioritize hackability and modularity so owners can open, understand, and modify their watch without specialized tools or guesswork. - Play a key part in building the functional demo for the next watch revision. - Help secure the future of the TraceWay open hardware ecosystem. - Directly shape the performance and reliability of the devices developers and enthusiasts depend on. ## Requirements - Ability to manage complex PCB designs, including component selection for high density layouts. - Skill in maintaining signal integrity in tight spaces. - Experience optimizing power draw. - Capability to integrate external sensor modules. - Ability to ensure reliable wireless connectivity. - Experience collaborating with firmware developers to write and test low level drivers. - Confidence to manage own engineering workflows. - Ability to troubleshoot hardware bugs in a distributed environment. - Commitment to honest, clear communication when a design hits physical limits or a component choice needs rethinking. - Focus on designs that prioritize hackability and modularity. ## What we offer - Fully remote work environment. - A culture that runs on trust and autonomy. - The opportunity to move past the limits of closed, proprietary wearables. - A chance to set a new standard for open hardware. - The foundation for the community to build specialized tools and applications. ## About the company TraceWay is setting a new standard for open hardware. Our users are hobbyists, and our designs should prioritize hackability and modularity so owners can open, understand, and modify their watch without specialized tools or guesswork. Your boards will provide the foundation our community needs to build specialized tools and applications.