Sensor Characterization Engineer

About the job

At Pairwise, we are a team of engineers, operators, and builders focused on enabling the next generation of technical talent to do their best work. We partner with leading technology companies to deliver high-performance engineering solutions across embedded systems, networking, semiconductors, and software. Our teams have contributed to some of the most advanced products in consumer, infrastructure, and communications technologies.

This full-time role offers the chance to work on-site with a global leader in the technology industry, contributing to impactful, technically challenging projects in a high-caliber and fast-moving environment.

Overview

We are seeking a hands-on Sensor Characterization Engineer for a sensors team building AR/VR and wearable consumer hardware. You will own benchtop characterization of the team's core sensors, focused on motion (IMU) and pressure sensors, with environmental, magnetic, and optical biosensing work as programs require. Most testing is at device level, with sensors integrated into glasses and watches under realistic conditions; component-level work on reference boards sets the baseline.

You will define test methods, run the measurements, and turn the data into calibration parameters, error models, and clear reports that hardware and firmware teams act on. This role is on site in Redmond, WA, at least 3–4 days a week.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute characterization plans for IMUs and pressure sensors at component and device level, and extend them to temperature, strain, magnetic, and optical sensors as needed.
• Characterize bias, drift, noise, sensitivity, scale factor, cross-axis coupling, linearity, and temperature dependence across the operating range, using rate tables, thermal sweeps, and noise density and PSD analysis.
• Characterize coexistence with active device subsystems such as speakers, haptics, and wireless radios, and measure noise under controlled acoustic conditions.
• Develop and validate calibration and compensation routines, and assess their performance across parts, builds, and conditions.
• Bring up devices over ADB and configure sensors through their register maps.
• Automate measurement, post-processing, and analysis in MATLAB and Python, with a focus on accuracy and repeatability.
• Write characterization reports and test SOPs that feed hardware and firmware design decisions, and work with hardware, firmware, and systems engineers to refine test methods.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of hands-on benchtop sensor characterization, sensor test, or metrology, including MEMS sensors such as IMUs, pressure sensors, or other proof-mass devices.
• Understanding of sensor error sources and metrics, including bias, drift, noise density, sensitivity, and linearity, and statistical analysis of measurement data across parts.
• Working proficiency in MATLAB or Python for measurement automation, data analysis, and reporting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with rate tables, thermal chambers, or other precision references for IMU characterization, including noise methods such as Allan variance.
• Experience bringing up digital sensors over ADB and configuring them through register maps.
• Coexistence or interference characterization involving speakers, haptics, or radios.
• Understanding of MEMS device dynamics, such as spring-mass-damper behavior.
• Optical biosensing characterization, such as PPG or proximity sensing, including ambient light rejection and skin or contact coupling.
• Experience with consumer electronics, wearables, or AR/VR devices.
• Experience with Git and automated test workflows.
• Clear written documentation and a collaborative, easy-to-work-with style across hardware, firmware, and systems teams.

Benefits

Pairwise offers competitive compensation and access to a range of benefits for employees, including premium PPO and HMO medical insurance coverage, dental, vision, FSA, life insurance, short/long-term disability insurance, a company-matched 401k plan, and a generous PTO policy.  

We are proud to work with engineers and professionals who want to make an impact through their craft. If you're looking to be part of a team that values technical excellence, autonomy, and practical problem solving - we'd love to hear from you!

Pairwise is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse team and fostering an inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.