Lead Electrical Engineer

Location: Onsite — Austin, TX

Employment Type: Direct Hire, Full Time

Job Title: Lead Electrical Engineer

About 9 Mothers

The modern battlefield has changed. Cheap, autonomous suicide drones have turned the tactical advantage upside down, and the world is looking for a solution. At 9 Mothers, we aren’t just "innovating"—we are building the shield.

Backed by top-tier investors, we develop AI powered machines designed to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real-time. Our flagship product is a low-power, counter-drone system built for the edge—on vehicles, at bases, or in a soldier's pack.

Why 9 Mothers?

While others build for "awareness" or "long-term research," we build for the immediate survival of those in harm’s way. We are a team of hackers, engineers, and mission-driven builders who value field-ready capability over polished slide decks. If you want to see your code or hardware in the field next month—not next year—this is your playground.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Lead Electrical Engineer to own the electrical architecture of our ground-based interceptor platforms. You will be responsible for the "nervous system" of our machines, from high-speed PCB design to complex sensor integration. This role is for a builder who can prototype a board in the morning and debug it in the field by the afternoon. You will play a critical role in integrating our custom acoustic sensing arrays and ensuring our power systems can handle high-speed tracking and rapid-response turret actuation. You will maintain ownership of electrical designs from concept to production.

Essential Duties

• Board Design & Prototyping: Lead the end-to-end design of complex, multi-layer PCBs, including schematic capture and layout.
• Acoustic Integration: Work closely with the Acoustic team to integrate microphone arrays, ensuring signal integrity for low-noise, multichannel audio acquisition.
• Power Management: Design and optimize power distribution and control systems to support high-torque motors and edge-compute hardware like NVIDIA Jetsons.
• Environmental Ruggedness: Create robust electrical designs which maintain functionality in environments with extreme temperature, humidity, and mechanical vibration.
• Circuit Design: Develop robust circuits for motor controllers, sensor interfaces, and communication protocols (e.g., CAN bus and EtherCAT) that survive harsh environmental conditions.
• Hardware Debugging: Utilize oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and rework stations to identify and fix hardware-level failures during rapid iteration cycles.
  
  

Requirements

• Experience: Proven track record of shipping real-world physical systems.
• Technical Depth: Mastery of Altium, KiCad, or similar for high-density PCB design and power electronics. Understanding design to meet general EMC and electrical safety requirements.
• Integration: Hands-on experience integrating digital audio interfaces (I2S, TDM, PDM) and high-speed communication protocols.
• Bias for Action: A strong bias toward action and shipping; comfortable getting your hands dirty in the lab or the field.
• Compliance: U.S. Citizenship and the ability to pass a background check
  
  

Nice to Have

• Prior experience with DoD codes and standards as pertinent to electrical systems
• Experience with power systems for high-speed gimbal or turret systems.
• Security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
• Passion for building robots or engineering projects as a hobby.
  
  

Benefits

• Meaningful Early Equity: You aren't just an employee; you are a foundational owner. Your contributions directly drive the value of your stake in the company.
• Direct Roadmap Influence: Forget the bureaucracy of big defense. You will have a seat at the table, directly shaping our product and technology trajectory from day one.
• Mission-Critical Work: We don't build for "what if." We build systems the Department of War actively needs to counter immediate, real-world threats.
• The Builder's Playground: Work in a brand-new lab fully optimized for rapid prototyping, equipped with NVIDIA Jetsons, high-end scopes, and 3-D printers.
• 100% Employer-Paid Premiums: We cover 100% of your medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums and cover 50% of healthcare premiums for your dependents.
• Unlimited PTO: We value results, not clock-watching. Take the time you need to stay sharp and recharge.
• Zero Red Tape: You report to the founders. You have the autonomy to make technical decisions that would take months of committee approval at a larger firm.
• Austin-Based Culture: Join an onsite team in Austin, TX, where we prioritize high-bandwidth collaboration and rapid field-testing.
• Relocation Assistance: We want the best talent in the room. If you aren't in Austin yet, we’ll help you get here, to make your transition to the Silicon Hills seamless.
  
  

About The Interview

• Virtual interview with Director of Mechatronics (30 min via MS Teams)
• Virtual interview with Sr. Mechatronics Engineer (30 min via MS Teams)
• Paid take-home ($500, ~4-8 hours)
• Review work
• Virtual interview with co-founder (30 min via MS Teams)
• In-person visit to Austin and/or Offer