---
title: 'Embedded Hardware Engineer ( PCB) at Efficient Computer'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/embedded-hardware-engineer-pcb-efficient-computer-san-jose-ca-or-pittsburgh-1t4c4tnwn9q0'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Embedded Hardware Engineer ( PCB) at Efficient Computer

- **Company:** Efficient Computer
- **Location:** San Jose CA OR Pittsburgh, PA
- **Posted:** 2026-06-15
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/efficientcomputer/jobs/4286610009

## Job description

Efficient is developing the world’s most energy-efficient general-purpose computer processor. Efficient’s patented technology uses 100x less energy than state of the art commercially available ultra-low-power processors and is programmable using standard high-level programming languages and AI/ML frameworks. This level of efficiency makes perpetual, pervasive intelligence possible: run AI/ML continuously on a AA battery for 5-10 years. Our platform’s unprecedented level of efficiency enables IoT devices to intelligently capture and curate first-party data to drive the next major computing revolution

Efficient’s Embedded Hardware Engineer will design and implement complete systems that feature the world’s most energy-efficient programmable processor.  Your primary role will be to develop PCB designs and accompanying system software to test and showcase our revolutionary processors.  Specifically, you will be tasked with creating bring-up test hardware and customer evaluation development kits (EDKs), and assist with customer hardware reviews.  You will develop the requisite software to operate our bring-up test hardware and EDKs, as well as develop our customer-facing SDK.  Additionally, you will be involved in pre-silicon activities such as validating our processors using RTL simulators and FPGA emulators, and developing secure boot ROMs.  This position is a unique opportunity to develop cutting-edge hardware and software as part of a highly interdisciplinary team, helping to demonstrate the value of Efficient’s breakthrough technology.  If you are an engineer who wants to be part of an intensely skilled team and wants to have an immediate impact building the next generation of energy-efficient embedded applications, this is for you!

## Key Responsibilities

- Develop bring-up test hardware and customer EDKs
- Engage with PCBA vendors, and manage relationships
- Perform board bring-up
- Perform pre-silicon validation activities for our processors
- Develop boot ROM and firmware for our processors
- Perform first-silicon bring-up and checkout activities
- Engage with Digital Design and Compiler teams to debug silicon issues
- Build out a low level SDK for our processors and maintain a set of standard libraries
- Support customers with their board development efforts, reviewing designs and providing recommended solutions
- Deploy applications to our processors, in software simulation, RTL emulation, and silicon implementation

Required Qualifications & Experience Requirements

- 8+ years experience with PCB board design
- 8+ years of experience developing software for embedded systems
- Experience debugging new silicon and hardware prototypes in the lab
- 5+ years of experience with C and/or C++
- Deep knowledge of at least one embedded platform, such as MSP430, STM32, Ambiq Apollo, PIC32, or similar
- Experience using industry standard development and debugging tools for embedded systems
- Strong attention to detail, and an ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
- Good problem solving skills, communication skills, and work ethic
- Comfortable working at a start-up engineering pace

Desired Qualifications & Experience Requirements

- Experience with Altium Develop
- Solid grasp of computer architectures

We offer a competitive salary for this role, generally ranging from $160,000 to $210,000, along with meaningful equity and comprehensive benefits. The final compensation package will be based on your experience and location, with some flexibility to ensure we align with the right candidate.

Why Join Efficient?

Efficient offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including 401K match, company-paid benefits, equity program, paid parental leave, and flexibility. We are committed to personal and professional development and strive to grow together as people and as a company.

## About Efficient Computer

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Efficient Computer is building the world’s most energy-efficient general-purpose processor by combining a novel Fabric architecture with an intuitive compiler, targeting edge AI, industrial automation, space/defense, and beyond.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A)
- **Headquarters**: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: Brandon Lucia (CEO) and Nathan Beckmann (Chief Architect)

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Semiconductor / Computer Hardware / AI Chips
- Target customers: B2B – OEMs and systems integrators in edge AI, industrial automation, satellite/space, automotive, defense, and consumer electronics
- Mission or purpose statement: To set a new standard for energy efficiency in general-purpose computation, enabling applications that are infeasible today due to energy constraints. [efficient.computer/about](https://www.efficient.computer/about)

## Products & Services
- **[Electron E1 Processor]**: A general-purpose processor featuring the proprietary Fabric architecture and 4MB of on-chip MRAM. It replaces von Neumann execution with a spatial dataflow model, delivering up to 1 TOPS/W and scaling from 5.4 GOPS to 21.6 GOPS. Designed for always-on AI inference at the edge. [efficient.computer/technology](https://www.efficient.computer/technology)
- **[effcc Compiler]**: A drop-in replacement for GCC/Clang that automatically extracts parallelism from C, C++, and TFLite code and maps it to the Fabric architecture. Provides ultra-fast compilation times and a GDB-compatible debugging experience. [efficient.computer/technology](https://www.efficient.computer/technology)
- **[Fabric Architecture]**: The core technology – a tiled grid of reconfigurable compute nodes that eliminates instruction fetch and decode overhead, achieving 10–100× energy efficiency gains over traditional CPUs and GPUs. [efficient.computer](https://www.efficient.computer/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding – $70.0M across 3 rounds (Seed and Series A)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Triatomic Capital (led Series A), Eclipse (led Seed round). Key advisors include Alex Hawkinson (founder of SmartThings and BrightAI). [linkedin.com/company/efficientcomputer](https://www.linkedin.com/company/efficientcomputer)
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - 46 employees (+79.4% YoY, +27 people)
  - 13,966 LinkedIn followers (+180.4% yearly growth)
  - First silicon product (Electron E1) delivered to customers in mid-2025, ramping to volume distribution in 2026
  - Customer traction in physical AI, space/defense, automotive, and consumer products

## Competitive Advantages
- **Fabric Architecture**: A fundamentally new compute paradigm that is 10–100× more energy-efficient than traditional CPUs/GPUs for general-purpose workloads, including AI inference.
- **Full Programmability**: Unlike specialized accelerators that only optimize isolated kernels, the Fabric architecture accelerates entire applications without requiring code rewrites.
- **Proven Silicon**: Two silicon implementations (Electron E0 prototype and Electron E1 product) are already in customer hands.
- **World-Class Team**: Founders and key engineers are leading computer architects from Carnegie Mellon University, with deep expertise in efficient computing.

## Strategic Focus
- Scale the Electron E1 processor into high-volume production and distribution (targeting 2026).
- Expand into multiple verticals: physical AI, industrial automation, space/satellite, defense, automotive, and consumer electronics.
- Continue developing the effcc compiler ecosystem to support more frameworks and languages.
- Grow the engineering team, particularly in physical design, verification, architecture, and software optimization.

## Why Work Here
- **Cutting-Edge Technology**: Work on a novel processor architecture that redefines energy efficiency for the AI era.
- **Strong Growth Trajectory**: The company is scaling rapidly (nearly 80% headcount growth YoY) with a clear product-market fit and customer traction.
- **Engineering-Centric Culture**: 43% of the workforce is in technical roles, with a focus on computer architecture, compiler design, and silicon engineering.
- **Compensation & Benefits**: Competitive base salaries, meaningful startup equity, 401k matching, and a choose-your-own-adventure equipment allowance. [efficient.computer/about](https://www.efficient.computer/about)
- **Work Locations**: Offices in Pittsburgh, PA; San Jose, CA; and Austin, TX. Roles are on-site/hybrid at these hubs.
- **Values-Driven**: The company emphasizes integrity, impact, and accountability. [efficient.computer/about](https://www.efficient.computer/about)
- **Open Roles (as of mid-2026)**: 7 active positions including Design Verification Manager, Hardware Infrastructure & CI/CD Engineer, Senior Product Managers (Hardware/Software), Computer Architect, and Lead Physical Design Engineer.

## Sources
1. [efficient.computer](https://www.efficient.computer/)
2. [efficient.computer/about](https://www.efficient.computer/about)
3. [efficient.computer/technology](https://www.efficient.computer/technology)
4. [linkedin.com/company/efficientcomputer](https://www.linkedin.com/company/efficientcomputer)
5. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/efficientcomputer](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/efficientcomputer)

## Other roles at Efficient Computer

- [IT & Security Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/it-security-manager-efficient-computer-austin-tx-pittsburgh-pa-san-jose-35rph57ygvt1) — Austin TX Pittsburgh PA San Jose, CA
- [Senior Digital Verification Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-digital-verification-engineer-efficient-computer-san-jose-ca-or-gbtgaqxktxcn) — San Jose CA OR Pittsburgh PA OR Austin, TX
- [Senior Embedded Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-embedded-engineer-efficient-computer-san-jose-ca-or-pittsburgh-wap31cd60m1c) — San Jose CA OR Pittsburgh, PA
- [Applications Engineer - Silicon IP](https://feeny.ai/job/applications-engineer-silicon-ip-efficient-computer-san-jose-ca-or-pittsburgh-c1tv4xa629w9) — San Jose CA OR Pittsburgh PA OR Austin, TX
- [Computer Architect](https://feeny.ai/job/computer-architect-efficient-computer-pittsburgh-pa-san-jose-ca-austin-0bq0yc0jre5d) — Pittsburgh PA San Jose CA Austin, TX
- [Hardware Technical Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-technical-program-manager-efficient-computer-san-jose-ca-or-pittsburgh-0q569t2yxvq8) — San Jose CA OR Pittsburgh PA OR Austin, TX
- [Senior Compiler Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-compiler-engineer-efficient-computer-san-jose-jvy9jasfvy20) — San Jose, CA / Pittsburgh, PA / San Francisco, CA
- [Physical Design - SOC Top Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/physical-design-soc-top-lead-efficient-computer-san-jose-ca-or-pittsburgh-pa-or-pffdcqd79zpv) — San Jose CA OR Pittsburgh PA OR Austin, TX
- [Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/test-engineer-efficient-computer-san-jose-t9qqz05wbzee) — San Jose, CA
- [Engineering Manager - Architecture](https://feeny.ai/job/engineering-manager-architecture-efficient-computer-san-jose-ca-or-pittsburgh-d2jxetvcnkak) — San Jose CA OR Pittsburgh, PA