Product Development Engineer

About SparkFun

SparkFun Electronics is an open source e-retailer focused on making embedded electronics accessible to people of all ages and skill levels. SparkFun was instrumental in creating the Open Source movement and remains a leader dedicated to making it more commonplace. We strive to educate, encourage, and supply our customers in all things electronic.

In 2003, CU student Nathan Seidle shorted a programmer in his dorm room and, in lieu of a way to order easy replacements, decided to start his own company. Since then, SparkFun has been committed to sustainably helping our world achieve electronics literacy from our headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. No matter your vision, SparkFun’s products and resources are designed to make the world of electronics more accessible. In addition to over 2,000 open source components and widgets, SparkFun offers curriculum, training and online tutorials designed to help demystify the wonderful world of embedded electronics. We’re here to help you start something.

We are an equal opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. SparkFun offers an abundance of opportunities to learn new skills from other Funions, in addition to many other benefits and perks.

About the Department & the Team

SparkFun’s Engineering Department is responsible for the elaboration, design and development of SparkFun’s original products. This includes microprocessor boards, sensor system breakout boards and everything in-between. In our web-store, if the PCB is red, it was produced by the SparkFun Engineering team.

The Engineering department focuses on team collaboration and success, developing users centered products in a highly cooperative, communicative and transparent manner.

Open Source and its associated community are key values for SparkFun, and a key part of all our software efforts. All embedded software and hardware is open source and community driven. SparkFun developed technology is given back to the community through updates or complete open source projects.

If you like the sound of our Engineering team and want to develop the hardware we create for our customers, this team is your home.

About SparkFun’s Next Engineer

SparkFun is looking to add a Product Development Engineer to join our Engineering team to design, create and maintain SparkFun’s original products. The Product Development Engineer is an important role within SparkFun, developing and delivering key functionality to the products and solutions we create for our customers.

Working closely with other members of our Engineering team, the Product Development Engineer is responsible for developing solution-focused DIY electronics products using a fast-paced, collaborative and dynamic approach. Getting your hands dirty and working with the latest and greatest technologies are a key part of the position.

The Product Development Engineer is a member of SparkFun’s Engineering team, reporting to the Engineering Department Manager.

The right candidate collaboratively works with a variety of internal and external customers, as well as other members of the Engineering team to develop SparkFun products. Following a user-centered design approach, the Product Development Engineer ensures the design, development and delivery of SparkFun products that not only meets functional needs, but user desires and skill levels.

Requirements

Essential Job Functions:

• Research, design and implement product ideas, overseeing all aspects of product design and development.
• Elaboration of product ideas and facilitating the transition from concept to final products.
• Validate new ideas and concepts through research, collaboration and rapid prototyping.
• Design and verify products and product layouts. This includes circuit design, schematics, specifications, PCB layouts and product manufacturability.
• Locate, source and validate product components and materials
• Write product documentation, including tutorials and assembly guides, as well as example projects.
• Develop software/firmware as needed to support new product implementation.
• Provide both internal and external support as needed for developed products as well as areas of expertise.
• Develop online tutorials, blog posts and project videos for SparkFun.com
• Work as a key member of a cross-functional product development team, collaborating with members of the marketing, production and sales teams.
• Work closely with the open source software community, collaborating with larger products, as well as supporting SparkFun created solutions.
• Meet with internal customers and facilitate the creation of requirements and user stories

Preferred skills:

• Experience with hardware and embedded electronics engineering and development.Experience with PCB layout and design
• Experience with embedded software environments, including Arduino and C/C++. Micro Python/Python experience a plus
• Experience with engineering tools and technologies – e.g. multimeters, oscilloscopes and related digital tools
• Familiarity with DIY projects that involve electronics, microcontrollers and programming.
• Proven ability to develop products quickly and independently
• 3+ years’ experience
• Excellent time management and communication skills

Additional Skills:

• Experience with network development, and internet-of-things network patterns and protocols
• Experience with Open Source hardware/software and community driven development

The ideal candidate would have a good portfolio of interesting projects involving a variety of technologies. Innovative approaches to problem solving will get you extra points, as will being self-motivated and self-taught.

Benefits

SparkFun Benefits & Perks

SparkFun Electronics offers its employees a comprehensive benefits package, in addition to several perks. In regards to benefits, we offer medical, dental, and vision. And, we offer a 401k match, disability, life insurance, and a flexible leave policy.

SparkFun offers many perks, including but not limited to a dog-friendly workplace, professional development opportunities, an on-site fitness center, lunch and learns, and internal classes to learn from fellow Funions! Flexible schedules are also available.

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