---
title: 'Head of Hardware at Picogrid'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-hardware-picogrid-el-segundo-zzy99r9scjfc'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-06'
---

# Head of Hardware at Picogrid

- **Company:** Picogrid
- **Location:** El Segundo, CA
- **Compensation:** $220k–$270k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-03-13
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/picogrid/0894c0db-bccb-417e-9eec-2b472465373e

## Job description

## Who we are

Picogrid is a leading venture-backed defense technology company founded to bridge the decades-long gap between modern technology and the critical demands of national security. Today, we're building the essential infrastructure to unify sensors, autonomy, and operators with our technology deployed in active operations around the world. Our mission is to deliver an operational advantage to secure the United States and its allies.

## ABOUT THE ROLE

As the Head of Hardware at Picogrid, you will be the foundational technical leader responsible for defining, building, and scaling our entire hardware engineering function. You will lead the "cradle to grave" development of Picogrid’s physical products, with a hard focus on generalist hardware engineering, end-to-end design ownership across all disciplines, industrial design, and delivering best-in-class consumer product experiences. This is a highly demanding, hands-on role for a true generalist and leader ready to stand up a world-class department from the ground up. Work with a team of hardworking, ambitious, world-leading talent to build the future of unmanned system behavior orchestration.

## RESPONSIBILITIES

- Lead the comprehensive hardware development lifecycle from initial concept and architecture through mass production.
- Architect and execute all technical aspects of electrical and embedded systems, including circuit design, PCB design and layout, component selection, and system integration.
- Architect and execute all technical aspects of mechanical and industrial design, including CAD, FEA, structural analysis, thermal analysis, DFMA, and GD&T.
- Participate in defining engineering process standards, part numbering and revision systems, vendor relationships, R&D of supply chain, and design philosophy.
- Define and implement the necessary design tools and methodologies for embedded design, ensuring a modern and efficient generalist hardware skillset across the team.
- Act as the primary interface between Engineering, and Manufacturing, ensuring a product-minded approach that balances technical requirements with user experience and aesthetic quality.
- Set the technical bar and drive a culture of being fast, flexible, and prolific, rapidly iterating on prototypes and moving from concept to high-volume production at record speed.
- Embody and teach how to use intuition, judgement, and domain knowledge to speed up technical decisions and the design process.
- You will be the founding member of the Hardware Engineering Department, tasked with hiring, mentoring, and leading a high-performing team of hardware engineers.
- Successfully stand up a fully operational Hardware Engineering Department, deliver the next generation of our consumer-focused physical products, and establish the technical infrastructure for long-term product success.

## REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

- 5+ years of progressive experience in hardware product development, with significant experience in a hands-on technical lead or director-level role.
- Preferred past founding or early stage fast-growth startup experience.
- Ability to work with ambiguity in the managed chaos of a rapidly growing startup.
- Expert-level proficiency in the full generalist hardware skillset, encompassing PCB design, power electronics, mixed-signal circuit design, firmware integration, CAD, mechanical/thermal engineering, industrial design, and manufacturing.
- Proven experience in taking at least two distinct products through the entire development lifecycle, from initial concept to high-volume manufacturing.
- Deep knowledge of DFMA (Design for Manufacturability and Assembly) and supply chain management for consumer electronics.
- Demonstrated expertise with Altium and Onshape software suites. Familiarity with Arena PLM.
- Passion for designing beautiful products.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with a clear ability to articulate technical strategy to executive leadership.
- Core values or relentless execution, boundless ambition, continued learning, and kindness. Low ego and open-mindedness.

## PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Experience as a former founder or founding engineer at a successful, fast-moving hardware startup, demonstrating the capacity for standing up a department or discipline from zero.
- Strong portfolio of successful products with a hard focus on industrial design and consumer product experience.
- Experience managing or leading product development efforts that are highly iterative, complex, and require an open-minded and flexible approach to problem-solving.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field. (Degree not required).
- A track record of being prolific and delivering rapid, high-quality results in a resource-constrained and fast-paced environment.

## COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

- Base salary range: $220,000- $310,000 per year. Base salary is just one part of your total compensation package at Picogrid.
- Significant stock options with a high potential upside as an early-stage company
- 401(k) with employer matching
- Full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance)
- Relocation assistance provided (if applicable)
- Unlimited PTO (two-week minimum) and 11 paid holidays per year
- Paid parental leave for both parents
- Lunch provided when working in-office and a fully stocked kitchenette

Export Control Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

## #LI-DNP

## Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Picogrid is committed to providing a professional work environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. We are an equal opportunity employer and make all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.

## About Picogrid

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Picogrid builds an open integration platform that connects sensors, unmanned systems, and command nodes across land, sea, air, and space for defense and public safety missions.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A)
- **Headquarters**: El Segundo, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2020
- **Founders**: Zane Mountcastle (CEO) and Martin Slosarik (Co-Founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Defense and Space Manufacturing, National Security, Public Safety
- **Target customers**: US and allied military forces, defense vendors, government agencies (B2G)
- **Mission**: Protect service members and civilians by making mission-critical systems work as one – because speed and cohesion are essential.

## Products & Services
- **Picogrid Platform**: A family of hardware and software products that integrate physical and digital assets. Enables fast deployment, seamless coordination, and edge-to-cloud operations across domains (air defense, base security, SIGINT, wildfire intelligence, human-machine teaming).
- **Orion**: A dual-use partner ecosystem that unifies legacy and next-gen satellites, sensors, drones, and C2 systems into a standardized, real-time operational picture.
- **Legion**: An API layer that allows third-party hardware and software to plug into Picogrid’s ecosystem, enabling rapid integration of new capabilities.
- **Expeditionary C2 Nodes**: Ruggedized hardware for field-deployed command-and-control, connecting edge devices and legacy systems.
- **Custom Solutions**: Tailored integrations for specific missions (e.g., wildfire response, air defense networks).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – **$57.31M** (including $45M Series A announced May 29, 2026, led by Bessemer Venture Partners)
- **Notable Investors**: Bessemer Venture Partners (lead Series A), Initialized Capital (seed lead), Starburst Ventures, Credo Ventures, Giant Step Capital, Alumni Ventures, Washington Harbour, GSBackers, and industry angels.
- **Growth Signals**: 103.3% YoY headcount growth (45 employees); 24 active job postings (+140% YoY); deployed globally with US and allied forces; integration ecosystem spans 100+ defense systems (Skydio, Northrop Grumman, Echodyne, CX2, Neros); recent integration of Ukraine-proven Shahed interceptors; partnerships with Hoverfly for persistent aerial detection.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Open integration layer**: Hardware-agnostic, vendor-neutral platform that eliminates the “seams” between proprietary systems – a central bottleneck in modern defense.
- **Dual-use ecosystem**: Already trusted by elite operators and used in active operations, giving Picogrid real-world credibility that is hard for new entrants to replicate.
- **Speed of deployment**: Products are designed for rapid field integration, reducing the time from procurement to operational capability.
- **Broad domain coverage**: Land, sea, air, space, and cyber (SIGINT) – a unified approach across all operational domains.

## Strategic Focus
- Expand the product family and integration capabilities into new operational domains (e.g., space, undersea).
- Scale manufacturing in California and Oklahoma to meet growing demand from US forces and allies.
- Deepen the partner ecosystem to attract more defense vendors onto the platform, reinforcing network effects.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven work**: “Build systems that protect lives” – employees directly contribute to national security and public safety.
- **Rapid growth**: 103% headcount growth YoY, indicating strong trajectory and opportunity for impact.
- **Technical challenges**: Work spans edge software, field hardware, AI/ML, autonomy, and systems integration – appealing to engineers who want to solve hard problems.
- **Culture**: Emphasis on speed, cohesion, and operational relevance. The company values hands-on builders and mission partners.
- **Remote/Hybrid/Office**: Not explicitly stated, but headquarters in El Segundo, CA with additional locations in Oklahoma and Ukraine. Likely a mix of on-site and field deployment roles.
- **Notable perks**: Not detailed, but the engineering culture is described as building edge software and field hardware that shapes the future of defense.

## Sources
1. [picogrid.com](https://picogrid.com/)
2. [picogrid.com/careers](https://picogrid.com/careers)
3. [picogrid.com/mission](https://picogrid.com/mission)
4. [linkedin.com/company/picogrid](https://www.linkedin.com/company/picogrid)
5. [cbinsights.com/company/picogrid](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/picogrid)

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