Principal Hardware Systems Technical Lead (AI/Photonics)

Location: Mountain View, California, United States; flexible hybrid workplace model

Salary: $217,000–$308,000 USD per year, plus equity and other rewards.

Company

hirify.global develops photonics-based infrastructure for AI and high-performance computing data centers, including 3D-stacked photonics engines, AI accelerators, and high-scale interconnect products.

What you will do

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across the Hardware Systems organization.
• Own multiple complex hardware system projects from concept through production.
• Define and develop PCBAs meeting electrical, power, and interface requirements.
• Lead system integration, verification, and validation through bench bring-up, EVT/DVT, and production release.
• Collaborate with system architecture, electrical, mechanical, packaging, photonics, firmware, and software teams to resolve dependencies and trade-offs.
• Maintain schematics, design reviews, test plans, validation reports, and other engineering documentation while contributing to technology roadmaps and development practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline and 15+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Track record of taking multiple complex hardware systems from concept through production.
• Deep knowledge of VRMs, high-speed SerDes, PCIe, Ethernet, SPI/QSPI, I3C, I2C, and JTAG.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary development, integration, and troubleshooting across electrical, mechanical, and firmware domains.
• Strong ownership mindset and ability to work in ambiguous, dynamic environments.
• Capacity to comply with federally mandated U.S. export control requirements.

Nice to have

• Experience with AI/HPC data center infrastructure, optical transceivers, or silicon photonics products.
• Systems Engineering experience, including requirements traceability, FMEA, and EVT/DVT/PVT planning and execution.
• Familiarity with advanced packaging technologies and high-density PCB design.

Culture & Benefits

• Flexible hybrid workplace model.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement savings matching, life insurance, and disability coverage.
• Vacation, sick leave, public holidays, and paid family leave.
• Training and development, commuter benefits, and equity grants for full-time employees.