Defense / Edge Tech Lead (Embedded IoT)

TL;DR

Defense / Edge Tech Lead (Embedded IoT): Leading the technical strategy for deploying voice AI models to edge, embedded, and air-gapped environments with an accent on model optimization and runtime engineering for constrained hardware. Focus on implementing quantization, pruning, and distillation to achieve high performance on chipsets from partners like Qualcomm and Motorola.

Location: Remote (Must be based in the USA)

Salary: $195K – $260K

Company

hirify.global is a leading Voice AI platform providing real-time APIs for speech-to-text (STT) and text-to-speech (TTS) for developers and large organizations.

What you will do

• Define the technical architecture for on-device, on-premises, and air-gapped inference across diverse hardware targets.
• Drive model optimization through quantization, pruning, and distillation to meet strict latency, memory, and power constraints.
• Collaborate with hardware vendors like Qualcomm and Motorola on SDK integration and performance benchmarking.
• Translate defense and government mission requirements into engineering deliverables via AWS NatSec partnerships.
• Build edge runtime infrastructure, including model packaging, OTA update mechanisms, and telemetry for disconnected environments.
• Harden deployments for security-sensitive environments using secure boot chains, encrypted storage, and audit logging.

Requirements

• Must be based in the USA.
• 5+ years of experience in systems engineering, embedded computing, or edge AI deployment.
• Strong proficiency in C, C++, and/or Rust for performance-critical code in resource-constrained environments.
• Hands-on experience with model optimization (quantization, pruning, distillation).
• Familiarity with edge inference runtimes such as ONNX Runtime, TensorRT, or TFLite.
• Deep understanding of CPU/GPU/NPU architectures and memory hierarchies.

Nice to have

• Prior experience with classified defense programs and secure environments (SCIFs).
• Expertise in custom quantization schemes and neural architecture search for edge targets.
• Knowledge of govtech standards such as ITAR, FedRAMP, or DoD software development.
• Experience with real-time audio processing and DSP pipelines on embedded platforms.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits with mental health support.
• Unlimited PTO and generous paid parental leave.
• 401(k) plan with company match and tax savings programs.
• Learning and education stipends, including participation in conferences.
• Flexible schedule and productivity stipends for home office upgrades.
• AI-first operating rhythm with a strong emphasis on experimentation and rapid adaptation.