Hardware Systems Engineer (Devices)

About Us

Cenith Innovations is a mission-driven defense technology company specializing in the development and employment of agentic AI solutions to solve niche DoW war-fighting problems. We bring the expertise, technology and business-speed model of cutting-edge commercial innovation to the military domain. From autonomous drone swarms and intelligent sensor networks to embedded hardware platforms that execute deep learning inference at the edge, we are shaping how systems are designed, built and fielded often in months, not years.

At Cenith Innovations you will work at the nexus of autonomy, AI, hardware devices and mission-relevant systems. We value engineers who lead, product managers who drive clarity across disciplines, and teams that turn novel ideas into deployed capability.

The Team

The Devices team exists to put reliable autonomy into the hands of operators for last-mile missions that solve real warfighter problems. We build and evolve the hardware platforms that make agentic AI usable outside the lab on drones, robots, and uncrewed systems operating in complex, real-world environments.

Our mission is to deliver field-ready, mission-adaptable devices that can carry the right compute, sensors, and communications for the job, then keep improving them through rapid learning cycles driven by testing, operator feedback, and changing mission needs.

What You’ll Do

• Own hardware subsystems end-to-end across autonomous platforms
• Drive requirements, design, build, integration, test, iteration, and documentation.
• Build and integrate electro-mechanical assemblies that go onto drones and robots, such as mounts, sensors, gimbals, serviceable packaging, and more.
• Support electrical engineering and integration common on UxV systems.
• Prototype quickly using practical tools and methods, then evolve prototypes into repeatable builds.
• Run structured verification and field testing for autonomous platforms, including ruggedization work like vibration tolerance, thermal behavior, sealing/ingress considerations, and real-world handling.
• Integrate and validate payloads and sensors used on drones and robots 
• Partner with autonomy and software teams to ensure hardware is testable, debuggable, and reliable in real missions and field environments.
• Troubleshoot cross-domain issues quickly (mechanical, electrical, comms, integration), drive root cause, implement corrective actions, and retest.
• Support component selection and build planning with an eye toward reliability, manufacturability, and field maintainability.

Required Qualifications 

• 3 years experience with a proven ability to ship hardware that’s been tested, iterated on and works 
• Comfortable spanning disciplines (mechanical electrical). 
• You are able to learn new areas quickly and are a generalist across technologies
• Hands-on integration skills with an emphasis on basic CAD familiarity, harnessing/connector work, bench tools (DMM, power supplies), and mechanical assembly.
• An ownership mindset where you proactively identify gaps, propose a plan, and execute with minimal supervision.
• Clear communicator who can document work and coordinate across hardware, software, and field-test stakeholders.
• Able to work primarily from Bend, OR with an onsite-first posture.
• Must be a United States Person eligible for a U.S. security clearance.
• Willingness to travel for field testing, integration events, customer engagement, and on-site engineering collaboration.
• Valid driver’s license and a reliable personal vehicle required for access to regional test sites and field locations that do not have public transportation.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Communications and networking integration for autonomous systems including radios, antennas, IP based and mesh
• EO/IR/thermal payload integration .
• Aeronautical experience with a flight-worthiness mindset 
• Environmental design/testing experience, including thermal cycling, vibration, MIL standard, and more
• Familiarity with autonomous platform integration patterns across UAS, UGV, and USV systems.

How We Work

• Small team, high trust, high autonomy.
• Fast iteration cycles with real field testing of drones, robots, and un-crewed platforms.
• You will have meaningful ownership and direct impact on what gets built and delivered.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary: $110,000–$160,000 DOE

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement: 401(k) plan

Relocation: Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate candidates based on merit, skill, and ability to deliver results.