Hardware Engineer, Magnetic Navigation Systems

Hardware Engineer, Magnetic Navigation Systems

2445 Faber Pl, Ste 101, Palo Alto, CA 94303

R&D /

Full-Time /

On-site

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About Subsense

Subsense is a deep-tech company developing the world's first non-surgical, bidirectional brain-computer interface powered by plasmonic and magnetoelectric nanoparticles. Our mission is to unlock direct communication between the human brain and AI - starting with medical applications such as stroke recovery and moving toward cognitive enhancement for healthy users. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Subsense brings together leading scientists and engineers to redefine the future of human-machine interaction.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an end-to-end Hardware Engineer with proven, hands-on experience designing and building electromagnetic actuation systems, taking products from concept to prototype through the form of medical devices. You will take the development ownership of the magnetic navigation system, coil systems, and the associated power and control electronics that bring them to life.

This is a high-ownership, strong hands-on engineering role at the intersection of magnetic field generator, electronics, embedded systems, and mechatronics, in a multidisciplinary environment where you will translate concepts into clinically viable hardware.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and build electromagnetic actuation systems for medical applications, including magnetic navigation platforms and electromagnetic coil assemblies
• Design hardware, control loops, and embedded firmware for real-time operation of high-current coil drivers.
• Own the prototype development including schematic capture, PCB layout, thermal design, enclosure design, and regulatory compliance (IEC 60601, ISO 13485, EMC)
• Build, bring up, integrate and iterate on prototypes and engineering platforms that leads to a medical device product including hardware, firmware, and control software into cohesive, reliable systems
• Develop and execute engineering tests to validate system and subsystem performance, safety, and electromagnetic behavior
• Support experimental setups, including work in biological and pre-clinical settings
• Analyze results and drive design improvements, optimization, and design-for-manufacture
• Document designs, verification activities, and test results to support regulatory submissions

What You''ll Bring

Must-have experience

• Master''s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics, Mechatronics, Magnetic Field Systems, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated experience taking an electromagnetic actuation or magnetic navigation system from concept to prototype, ideally for medical use
• Strong foundation and hands-on experience in electromagnetic device design and integration such as current control, thermal management, and EMC
• Working knowledge of control systems, signal processing, and closed-loop current/field regulation
• Familiarity with modeling and simulation tools (MATLAB/Simulink, Python, COMSOL, ANSYS, or similar)
• Able to work autonomously and take ownership of a project end-to-end
• A generalist mindset, comfortable switching between hardware design, firmware, and mechanical integration
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to partner across scientific, engineering, and clinical teams
• Location: Palo Alto and Mountain View lab sites (on-site)

Strong plus

• Experience on rapid prototyping and developing medical devices under IEC 60601 / ISO 13485
• Prior work/research experience on magnetic manipulation or magnetically actuated medical device system
• Exposure to engineering in biological or clinical settings
• Startup mindset: adaptable, resourceful, hands-on, and highly execution-focused

$120,000 - $140,000 a year

Subsense is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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