Hardware Engineer – Embedded Systems & PCB Design (UAV / Aerospace)
Canary Digital.ai · Kochi, Kerala, India
Apply & track with Apply EdgeHardware Engineer – Embedded Systems & PCB Design (UAV / Aerospace)Company: Canary Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. | Part of Canary Digital Group
Ltd., part of the Canary Digital Group, is an emerging Indian aerospace technology company focused on the design, development and manufacturing of advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), autonomous aerial platforms and next-generation aerospace technologies.Our vision is to develop indigenous aerospace systems by integrating advanced electronics, embedded computing, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, autonomous navigation and precision engineering.We are actively developing multicopter and fixed-wing VTOL platforms, proprietary flight-control electronics, ground control systems, communication solutions and autonomous UAV infrastructure.As we expand our in-house engineering and R&D capabilities, we are seeking a passionate and technically accomplished Hardware Engineer – Embedded Systems & PCB Design to join our aerospace development team in Kalamassery, Kerala.About the RoleWe are looking for a hands-on Hardware Engineer who can take complete ownership of electronic hardware development — from requirements and circuit design to PCB layout, prototyping, board bring-up, debugging, validation and production readiness.The selected candidate will play a key role in developing indigenous electronic systems for UAV platforms, including flight-control boards, power distribution systems, sensor interfaces, communication electronics and intelligent payload systems.This is not merely a PCB layout position. You will be expected to understand the complete hardware–software interface, troubleshoot real-world engineering challenges and work closely with embedded firmware, avionics, mechanical and autonomous systems teams.Your designs will become part of actual UAV platforms undergoing integration, ground testing and flight validation.Key Responsibilities1. Electronic Hardware & PCB DesignDesign and develop multi-layer PCBs for UAV and aerospace applications.Own the complete PCB development lifecycle, including schematic capture, component selection, PCB layout, design verification and manufacturing release.Develop flight-control boards, power distribution boards, Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) interfaces, telemetry boards, sensor interfaces and payload electronics.Perform Design for Manufacturing (DFM) reviews and coordinate with PCB fabrication and assembly vendors.Prepare Bills of Materials (BOM), fabrication files, assembly documentation and engineering change records.2. Embedded Systems & Hardware IntegrationIntegrate microcontrollers and embedded computing platforms, including STM32, ESP32, NVIDIA Jetson, Raspberry Pi Compute Modules and similar systems.Work closely with firmware engineers on hardware bring-up, embedded C/C++ development and peripheral driver debugging.Design and validate interfaces such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, USB and Ethernet.Integrate navigation and environmental sensors, communication modules and mission payloads.Troubleshoot hardware–firmware interaction issues through systematic testing and debugging.3. Power Electronics & Battery SystemsDesign power distribution and regulation circuits for UAV applications.Develop and validate buck converters, boost converters, LDO regulators and protection circuits.Support high-current battery-powered systems, including 12S–14S lithium-ion battery configurations.Implement current and voltage sensing, power monitoring, protection and redundancy mechanisms.Contribute to battery management, charging electronics and hot-swap power architectures.4. Hardware Testing, Debugging & ValidationPerform PCB bring-up, functional verification and fault diagnosis.Use oscilloscopes, logic analysers, programmable power supplies, multimeters and electronic loads.Carry out soldering, rework and troubleshooting of complex electronic assemblies, including fine-pitch and QFN components.Analyse signal integrity, power integrity, grounding and noise-related issues.Support EMI/EMC, vibration, thermal and environmental testing relevant to UAV applications.Participate in ground integration and flight-test validation activities.5. Aerospace Electronics & Autonomous SystemsContribute to the development of proprietary autopilot and flight-control electronics.Support integration of IMU, GNSS/RTK, magnetometer, barometer, airspeed, voltage and current sensors.Develop electronic interfaces for telemetry, communications, propulsion and autonomous payloads.Support autonomous UAV docking infrastructure, including charging systems, battery-swapping electronics, safety interlocks and station-control boards.Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure reliable system-level integration.6. Engineering Documentation & Product DevelopmentMaintain schematics, PCB design files, wiring diagrams, interface control documents and test reports.Document hardware revisions, validation results, technical specifications and design decisions.Support the complete engineering lifecycle from concept development and prototyping to testing, qualification and manufacturing.Identify design improvements to enhance reliability, performance, manufacturability and cost efficiency.Required Skills & Qualifications2–8 years of relevant hands-on experience in electronic hardware design, embedded systems or PCB development.Proven experience designing PCBs using Altium Designer, KiCad, OrCAD or equivalent EDA tools.Strong knowledge of analog and digital electronics, circuit design and electronic components.Practical understanding of power supply design, signal integrity, grounding and protection circuits.Working proficiency in Embedded C/C++ for hardware bring-up, debugging and peripheral interfacing.Experience with microcontrollers, communication protocols and embedded peripheral integration.Hands-on familiarity with oscilloscopes, logic analysers, power supplies and other electronic laboratory equipment.Ability to troubleshoot and rework assembled PCBs.Experience integrating sensors such as IMUs, GNSS, barometers and current/voltage monitoring devices.Ability to independently take a PCB design from schematic to a functioning, tested hardware prototype.Education: An engineering degree or diploma is welcome; however, relevant practical experience, demonstrated engineering capability and a strong technical portfolio will carry greater weight than academic background. Self-taught engineers with proven expertise are also encouraged to apply.Preferred Skills – Added AdvantageExperience with UAV flight-control systems, autopilot electronics or drone hardware.Familiarity with PX4, ArduPilot, Pixhawk hardware architecture, MAVLink or DroneCAN/UAVCAN.Experience with radio-frequency systems, telemetry, antenna integration, LTE/5G modules or satellite communication interfaces.Knowledge of functional safety, redundant system architecture or aerospace assurance practices such as DO-178C/DO-254.Experience with high-voltage UAV propulsion electronics, including battery configurations above 12S.Exposure to FPGA development or high-speed digital circuit design.Previous hardware engineering experience in UAV, aerospace, automotive, space or defence applications.Personal engineering projects involving drones, robotics, embedded electronics or autonomous systems.What You Will Work OnYou will contribute to the development of challenging and innovative aerospace technologies, including:Indigenous UAV Flight-Control Electronics: Proprietary autopilot hardware, navigation sensor interfaces and flight-control boards.Power Management & Propulsion Electronics: UAV power distribution, monitoring, protection and battery integration.Advanced Embedded Computing: Electronics supporting autonomous navigation, onboard AI processing and intelligent camera payloads.Autonomous UAV Docking Systems: Charging electronics, battery-swapping mechanisms, control interfaces and safety systems.Next-Generation UAV Platforms: Electronic hardware for multicopter and fixed-wing VTOL aircraft.Why Join Canary Aerospace?Build Real Aerospace TechnologyWork on electronic systems that will be manufactured, integrated and tested on actual UAV platforms.End-to-End Engineering OwnershipTake responsibility for complete hardware development, from schematics and PCB design through prototype validation.Indigenous Technology DevelopmentContribute directly to the development of proprietary Indian aerospace and embedded technologies.Multidisciplinary InnovationCollaborate with teams working in aerospace engineering, AI, Computer Vision, avionics, autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing.Hands-On R&D EnvironmentWork in a focused, engineering-driven environment with direct access to hardware prototyping and testing.Professional GrowthBe part of a growing aerospace technology company with opportunities to contribute to increasingly advanced platforms and engineering programmes.How to ApplyWe invite passionate electronics and embedded systems engineers who enjoy designing, building, debugging and validating real-world hardware.Please submit your updated CV along with a technical portfolio showcasing relevant projects.Your portfolio may include:PCB schematics, layouts or photographs of developed boards.Embedded hardware or firmware projects.Prototype development, testing or debugging demonstrations.Engineering reports, photographs, videos or other evidence of working hardware.Please briefly explain your individual technical contribution to the projects submitted.Apply through LinkedIn Jobs.Shortlisted candidates may be invited to complete a practical technical assessment relevant to the role.