MixedSignal Hardware Development Engineer (Defense & DualUse)

At Kform, we partner with cuttingedge defense and dualuse companies to convert breakthrough tech into manufacturable, highreliability products. Our integrated modeldesign through production readinesscompresses timelines without compromising rigor.

• Lead multidisciplinary product development across mechanical, electrical, embedded, test, and manufacturing domains.
• Deliver designs that progress cleanly from ideation to prototype to production.
• Elevate product reliability, manufacturability, and safety through evidencedriven engineering.

• Architect and implement hardware spanning electronic systems, mechanical assemblies, embedded control, fixtures, test equipment, and production components.
• Design circuits and layouts in ECAD (Altium preferred) and align interfaces with mechanical and firmware counterparts.
• Prototype rapidly using bench instrumentation and shop tools; iterate with handson builds.
• Plan and execute testing for performance, durability, reliability, manufacturability, and safety; analyze data, identify root causes, and implement design improvements.
• Document intent, revisions, tradeoffs, test results, and lessons learned for smooth production transfer.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and program teams to optimize for assembly, inspection, cost, schedule, and robustness.
• Mentor junior engineers in rigorous methods, practical debugging, documentation, and ownership.
• Independently manage smaller engineering projects from ambiguous inputs to delivered outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Kform’s engineering and manufacturing processes.

• Systems thinker with deep expertise in one core discipline (electrical or mechanical) and working fluency across adjacent areas.
• Comfort with ambiguity, sound tradeoffs, and turning partial information into progress.
• Handson, datadriven approach from design to bench to production floor.

• Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or closely related field.
• 3–5 years in hardware product design, development, prototyping, testing, or multidisciplinary engineering.
• Demonstrated strength in a primary engineering discipline; practical knowledge across embedded software, electronics, mechanical design, manufacturing, quality, test, and systems integration.
• Advanced skill in Altium or an equivalent design environment.
• Handson prototyping with fabrication tools, electronics, and test equipment.
• Strong documentation and communication of engineering rationale and results.
• Ability to operate independently while thriving on a collaborative, crossfunctional team.

• Highownership roles in founding or earlystage startups.
• Experience in defense, aerospace, robotics, industrial automation, advanced manufacturing, or other regulated industries.
• Knowledge of AS9100, QMS, configuration control, production documentation, and release processes.
• DFM/DFA/inspection, reliability engineering, and cost optimization experience.
• Track record of moving hardware from prototype to production readiness.
• Project leadership from concept through prototype or release.
• Passion for manufacturing, U.S. industry, defense tech, and hard problems.
• Ability to communicate design decisions to engineers, operators, customers, suppliers, and executives.

• Depth in one area with endtoend product development range.
• ECAD collaboration (Altium) and electrical design literacy.
• Embedded development/integration/debug.
• Prototype build and test; instrumentation and measurement.
• Design for manufacturability and production readiness.
• Configuration control and disciplined documentation.
• Analytical, detailoriented, and pragmatic decisionmaking.
• High urgency paired with engineering rigor.
• Ownership and followthrough to outcomes that matter.

• Frequent handson work with prototypes, electronics, machinery, test and inspection equipment, and production hardware.
• Time on your feet assembling, testing, troubleshooting, and operating near active manufacturing and prototyping environments.
• Use of PPE as required by task and area.
• Occasional travel to customers, suppliers, test sites, or program activities.

We operate with continuous improvement, aggressive value creation, and extreme ownership. Our mission is to build the capability and execution engine that gets advanced defense products into production fasterby sweating the details and respecting the mission.

• Electrical Schematics
• CAD Software
• Electrical / Electronic Systems
• Engineering Degree
• Electrical Engineering
• IoT Engineering

Machines & technologies: Altium, ECAD