Senior Hardware Security Embedded Engineer

About Architect Motors

Architect Motors is on a mission to revolutionize personal transportation in the developing world with a purpose-built electric motorcycle that combines cutting-edge engineering and tailored financing solutions. We benefit from the agility of a startup without the uncertainty of traditional venture capital, backed by stable, long-term funding. Our founders, alumni of MIT, UNSW, McKinsey, and Y Combinator, bring decades of EV development and production expertise to the table. With ten years of hands-on experience across emerging markets, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver world-class electric mobility that’s both accessible and sustainable.

Role Summary

We’re building a new, affordable, lockable electric motorcycle for the developing world — and your role will be to design and implement the secure, embedded software systems that make it possible. As our Senior Embedded Engineer (Security & Cryptography), you’ll architect and build a tamper-resistant embedded platform to protect the vehicle from theft, ensure reliable operation, and interface securely with our cloud-based fleet management system. This is a hands-on role where you’ll own the firmware design, embedded security features, and hardware integration. You’ll work closely with the founding team to define requirements, choose components, and take the product from prototype to production.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement secure embedded firmware for vehicle control and access systems
• Apply authentication, encryption, and other security techniques to protect vehicle data and prevent unauthorized use
• Select, integrate, and test embedded hardware components, including microcontrollers and security chips
• Collaborate with software engineers to ensure seamless integration with back-end and customer-facing applications
• Develop and execute validation, verification, and security testing procedures
• Create and maintain detailed firmware documentation and hardware interface specifications
• Support production testing, debugging, and in-field firmware updates

Minimum Qualifications

• 5 years of professional experience in embedded systems development
• Proven track record of delivering reliable, production-grade firmware in resource-constrained environments
• Expertise in applied authentication and encryption for embedded devices; cryptographic protocol design is a plus
• Strong proficiency in C/C for embedded systems, with familiarity in Python or other scripting languages
• Experience with microcontrollers, low-level hardware interfaces, and embedded security hardware
• Ability to work on-site in Alameda, CA
• Legal authorization to work in the United States (Visa sponsorship not available)

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience designing tamper-resistant or secure hardware systems for IoT, automotive, or mobility applications
• Familiarity with CAN bus, BLE, or other vehicle communication protocols
• Previous startup experience, ideally as the first or only embedded engineer
• Experience with hardware debugging tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers)
• Interest in motorcycles, EVs, or emerging markets

Pay & Benefits

• Competitive salary: $160,000–$2000,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match
• 20 days of paid annual time off plus 11 paid holidays
• A collaborative, growth-oriented startup atmosphere with opportunities for advancement