Hardware Engineer

The successful candidate will help design the remote sensing and Internet of Things (IoT) devices that underpin sensors.AFRICA’s existing network of low-cost ‘citizen sensors’ that monitor air quality in five countries, as well as improving the cutting-edge experimental water sensors that detect cholera and other contaminants, and novel hydrophone sensors that detect illegal dynamite fishing and coral bleaching in East Africa’s oceans. You will also help customise/deploy drones to map settlements and better understand how to combat climate change.

CfA is a non-profit technology R&D lab. While robust hardware engineering skills are required, no prior air/water/climate monitoring or urban development experience is required.

The successful candidate will report to CfA’s sensors.AFRICA manager, and will also work with CfA’s wider technology, data, design and content teams in 21 African countries to build robust systems and infrastructures for our partners in watchdog civil society organisations, the investigative media and selected progressive government agencies.

Required:

• BSc/BEng Electrical Engineers, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated experience in electronics packaging mechanical design.
• Demonstrated experience in electronic Design For Manufacturing (DFM) best practices.
• Demonstrated experience in IoT,  Low Power Electronic Design.
• Experience reading and interpreting data sheets and electrical schematics.
• Excellent command of electrical engineering fundamentals.
• Demonstrated experience in revision control using Git and Git workflows.
• Demonstrated experience in the Espressif MCU ecosystem and ARM-based microcontrollers.
• Board documentation and liaison with the firmware development team
• Experience in design of reusable libraries and SDKs is a plus.
• Self starter with the ability to work effectively in teams across internal and external organisations and virtual teams.
• Ability to design, prototype, validate, test and assemble printed circuit boards (PCBs) using electronic ECAD tools, preferably Autodesk Eagle and Fusion360.
• Experience working on PCB post-manufacturing processes including circuit board reflow and soldering, and final testing.

Closing: 20 February 2023