Lead Hardware and Systems Engineer

PaiDefence is a British-Ukrainian DefenseTech company building air defence systems already deployed on the frontlines. We push real technology to the battlefield — not demos, not paper specs.

We are looking for a Lead Hardware & Systems Engineer to own the full hardware domain — from system architecture through to serial production and stable field operation. You will drive our prototype to a production-ready device, coordinate mechanical and electronics engineers, and set up small-series manufacturing with potential to scale.

Responsibilities

• Architecture & Design — system hardware architecture, component and enclosure selection, thermal management, sealing, rugged design decisions, and technical specifications
• Hands-on Development — hardware bring-up, testing, verification, reliability analysis, and fault investigation
• Industrial Readiness — prototype-to-DFM/DFA transition, production documentation, contractor management, and quality control

• System Integration — integration of hardware with electronics, sensors, and antenna systems; cable architecture; field power; uptime and health monitoring

   

Requirements

• Proven experience in hardware system development
• Track record of taking a product from prototype to serial production
• Strong system architecture skills and hands-on hardware development
• Familiarity with industrial-grade or mil-tech standards

• Understanding of mechanical design and CAD tools

   

Nice to Have

• Experience with rugged solutions for field or industrial environments
• Background in DefenseTech, aerospace, or adjacent domains
• Familiarity with RF components or antenna systems

• English — B1+ (technical documentation, occasional communication)

   

What We Offer

• Real impact — your decisions directly affect the reliability of air defence systems in the field
• Full ownership of the hardware domain from day one
• Deep-tech engineering challenges that don’t exist in the civilian sector
• Office in central Kyiv, 3 minutes from the metro
• Full-time, standard business hours; some tasks may require involvement outside the usual schedule (field testing, critical updates)