Applied Methods
~The MetaPhysical SystemsHardware & Electrical Engineer

Hardware & Electrical Engineer

Engineers in this role design and optimize hardware systems powering AI compute platforms, from portable multimodal devices to data center infrastructure. Their work spans power architecture and battery management for edge AI products, signal and power integrity for complex PCBs handling high-speed compute signals, and hands-on validation of AI accelerators, cooling systems, and electrical distribution at scale. These roles sit at the intersection of product development and infrastructure, working closely with firmware, systems, and manufacturing teams to ensure AI hardware performs reliably under demanding workloads while meeting thermal, electrical, and safety constraints.

$ titles --canonical
Electrical EngineerSenior Hardware Support EngineerSignal Integrity EngineerPower Electronics EngineerHardware EngineerPCB Design Engineer
Open Jobs200
Companies Hiring24
$ expectations --role hardware-&-electrical-engineer

Measured across 190 of 200 open postings.

2%
expect AI in the role's own work
0% state it as a requirement
6%
work directly with customers
10%
manage people
Mid
most common level
38% of open postings
BY LEVEL

This role is advertised at 4 levels, so a single figure for the role would describe none of them. Experience and pay are the midpoints for each level on its own.

LevelShareMedian yearsMedian pay
Entry10%(19)2—
Mid38%(73)3$186k
Senior24%(45)7$240k
Staff / Principal24%(46)8$226k

A dash means too few postings stated it to report a midpoint. Most companies do not publish a salary band, so pay is indicative rather than a market rate. 4 levels with fewer than 10 open postings are not shown.

WHAT THEY ASK FOR, VERBATIM

“we expect this team to push on what AI-assisted hardware design and review can look like”

Anthropic · Hardware Systems Architect

“you define the hardware architecture that feeds our AI with the highest-quality, precisely timed sensor data”

Helsing · Camera Engineer

“You'll work hands-on with PCB design, Python scripting, and advanced environmental testing”

Shield AI · Engineer I, Electrical Integration & Test (R5136)

“build out our product features for real world circuit/system design and verification workflows, EM Foundational Model”

Arena Physica · Electrical Engineer, Simulation
$ barriers
14%
advertised as remote
of postings that state a work mode
51%
state a degree requirement
5%
need a security clearance
85%
still advertised a month later
about typical for the board

Requirements are a share of every open posting, so a role missing from this list is one where almost nobody asks. Work mode is different: many postings never say, so that figure counts only the ones that do. A posting stops being advertised when it is filled, cancelled or reorganised, so read the last figure as how long these stay on the market, not as time to hire.

$02

Skills

What companies are looking for in this role.

$ skills --core

Design for manufacturability

52%

Hardware test and validation

47%

Electronics and PCB design

46%

Hardware and embedded systems

40%

Hardware bring-up and debug

25%

Reliability and failure analysis

23%

Mechanical design and CAD

22%

Thermal and structural analysis

13%

Technical issue diagnosis

13%

Simulation and physical modeling

11%

Critical facility operations

11%

Power and grid infrastructure delivery

11%

Functional safety engineering

10%

Supplier and vendor management

8%
$ skills --emerging

Test automation and instrumentation

10%

High-density AI infrastructure delivery

9%
$ skills --soft

Cross-functional collaboration

39%

Technical documentation

13%
$03

Technology

The tools and technologies that define this role.

$ tech --language
MATLABlow
Pythonlow
$ tech --tool
Oscilloscopelow
SolidWorkslow
UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)low
$ tech --concept
CADmoderate
Finite Element Analysis (FEA)low
PCIelow
$04

Open Jobs

200 open Hardware & Electrical Engineer jobs across 24 companies.

CHAOS Industries5d
Staff Radar Systems Development Engineer
El Segundo, CA·Physical Systems
Helsing1w
Flight Control Systems Engineer
Munich·Physical Systems
Helsing1w
Electrical Harness Engineer
Munich·Physical Systems
OpenAI2w
Wireless Regulatory Engineer - SAR
Mountain View·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
RF Engineer I (R6108)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Staff Electrical Engineer, Hardware Test (R6121)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Staff Engineer, PCB Design (R6075)
Dallas, Texas·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Engineer I, PCB (R6065)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Staff Electrical Engineer (R5988)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
xAI2w
Electrical Engineer (Power Generation) - Memphis
Southaven, MS; Memphis, TN·Physical Systems
Graphcore2w
Staff PCB Layout Engineer
Austin, Texas, United States·Physical Systems
OpenAI2w
Rack Power Engineer
San Francisco·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Senior Staff RF Engineer (R5991)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Senior Staff Engineer Power System, Launch Recovery Vehicle (R6025)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Electric Power System Lead (R5987)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Power System Lead, Launch Recovery Vehicle (R6025)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Staff Mechanical Engineer, Battery Pack Design (R6047)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Staff Engineer, Electromechanical Power Electronics (R6046)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Senior Electrical, Motor and Motor Drive Engineer (R6021)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems
Shield AI2w
Staff Engineer, Survivability (R5885)
Seattle, Washington·Physical Systems