Sensor Development Engineer

WindBorne Systems is supercharging weather models with a unique proprietary data source: a global constellation of next-generation smart weather balloons targeting the most critical atmospheric data. We design, manufacture, and operate our own balloons, using the data they collect to generate otherwise unattainable weather intelligence.

Our mission is to eliminate weather uncertainty, and in the process help humanity adapt to climate change, be that predicting hurricanes or speeding the adoption of renewables. We are building a future in which the planet is instrumented by thousands of our microballoons, eliminating gaps in our understanding of the planet and giving people and businesses the information they need to make critical decisions. The founding team of Stanford engineers was named Forbes 2019 30 under 30 and is backed by top investors including Khosla Ventures.

Our constellation of lightweight and globally dispersed units is only as valuable as the data it collects. Fortunately, the laws of physics give us engineers a remarkably wide domain in which to run around capturing that value. The task of collecting weather data — temperature, humidity, wind, and pressure — requires a delicate balance of meteorological-grade quality, cost optimization, manufacturing scalability, and extreme operating conditions. When further combined with the unique performance characteristics of our balloon platform, this tradeoff makes for an entirely unique engineering challenge. Beyond those core variables, there is a wide domain of other sensing efforts to explore, develop, and operationalize.

As Sensor Development Engineer, you will be responsible for the design, testing, and implementation of a range of highly custom sensor systems to continuously expand the environmental data gathering capabilities of our platform.

We're dedicated to helping humanity adapt to climate change as fast as possible, and you can be a part of our mission to make this global societal impact. If you like the idea of working on cutting-edge technology, and working with a fast-moving team, WindBorne is the place for you.

Responsibilities

• Own the design and development of new types of sensors for the balloon platform from initial concept to manufacturing rollout.

• Characterize real-world performance of prototype sensors relative to theoretical limits to guide development.

• Develop calibration and validation processes for new sensor hardware to ensure accurate readings in flight.

• Collaborate with the engineering and manufacturing teams to update and improve existing meteorological sensor hardware and calibration process.

• Characterize, investigate, and address sensor errors, which can be introduced anywhere in the process from fundamental design limitations, to calibration, to flight.

• Develop and implement new test equipment for better performance characterization of sensor hardware to guide design iteration.

Skills and Qualifications

Required

• Master's or higher degree in a STEM field

• Experience working on R&D

• Broad base of technical expertise spanning physics, EE, mechE, and CS

• Experience interfacing with sensor hardware and characterizing new data sources

• Proficiency in electrical prototyping (component selection, PCB design, soldering, etc.)

• Familiarity with mechanical prototyping (CAD, 3D printing, basic machining, etc.)

• Standard Python scientific toolbox (Numpy, Scipy, Matplotlib, etc.), Python scripting.

• Strong intuition for the underlying physics of common sensors

• High level of proficiency with Google Suite (docs, slides, sheets, gmail, calendar)

• Experience working within a Digital HQ chat platform, e.g. Slack

• A strong bias towards first-principles-driven design – many common requirements and constraints simply do not apply in our system, and many uncommon ones do

Nice to have

• PhD in experimental physics or electrical engineering

• Familiarity with analog electronics, signal processing, and RF systems

• Familiarity with the Linux command line, bash, etc.

• Familiarity with C and C++

Benefits

• 401(k)

• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance

• Unlimited PTO

• Incentive Stock Option Plan
  

Salary

• $100,000- $200,000* We are considering a range of backgrounds and experience levels for this position and adjust our offers accordingly to be competitive with market rates.

Location

Address: 910 San Antonio Rd, Palo Alto, CA. The position is in-person.