Bitcaster (Embedded Systems / Electrical)

170k-220k/yr equity benefits | U.S. Persons Only | On-Site San Francisco, CA

Mara is building a horde of small, autonomous robots to defend the free world. Our first product, Spike, is a portable counter-drone swarm that stops deadly drone attacks.

We are looking for non-stop builders with a need to be challenged beyond their capabilities daily. If you can’t wait to contribute to the defense of human liberty, apply.

As a Bitcaster at Mara, you will be responsible for designing and optimizing the full stack from PCB to firmware to real-time performance. You own hardware design, low-level software, and systems tuning: schematic one day, reverse-engineering an ESC the next, then optimizing fly-by-wire latency. You will work closely with software engineers, mechanical engineers, and external partners.

You must be stellar at:

• Open and direct communication, whether it’s writing up issues, codebase documentation, or face-to-face feedback during a 1:1
• Independently learning new technical skills to unblock yourself mid-build
• Debugging at all levels: from oscilloscope traces to kernel drivers to firmware execution
• Getting unfamiliar hardware working quickly and reliably

And completely comfortable with:

• Schematic capture and PCB layout (KiCAD, Altium)
• Power electronics, motor control circuits, sensor integration
• Device drivers and firmware in C/C for sensors, motors, and actuators
• Low-level debugging (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG debuggers)
• Real-time constraints, latency budgeting, and embedded systems
• PCIe, USB, SPI, I2C, CAN, and other standard interfaces
• Reverse-engineering and modifying off-the-shelf components (ESCs, power boards, etc.)

Bonus Points for:

• High-speed PCB design (impedance control, layer stackup)
• FPGA integration and bitstream management
• Linux kernel driver development
• Motor controller or ESC firmware experience
• NVIDIA Jetson or embedded platform expertise
• Aerospace or defense electronics background
• General awareness of cybersecurity concepts

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Strong proficiency in C, C
• (optional) A degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field

Your day to day responsibilities will include:

• Own the full stack from PCB design through firmware to real-time performance tuning
• Design hardware, write drivers and firmware, and debug at all levels
• Bring up new hardware platforms and get them integrated with our software stack
• Optimize end-to-end latency and cost under real-world constraints
• Manage external hardware partners and consultants
• Document hardware interfaces and architectural decisions clearly

Mara is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will always hire folks from any and every background and lived experience, because we know that’s how the strongest teams in the world are built. Empowerment, equity, and liberation bring strength, resilience, and growth; which is why we believe in the vigorous defense, and continuous improvement, of the free nations of the world.

Folks of all genders and creeds who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, trans, non-binary, disabled, parents, immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression are encouraged to apply.