Title: Electronic Board Designer

Location: Kansas City, KS (onsite with wfh flexibility)

GuideTech, a subsidiary of Palladyne AI, builds high-performance avionics and autonomy software for aerospace, space, and defense systems. We support a wide array of vehicles, from small multi-rotors, heavy lift UAVs, unmanned fighter jets, launch vehicles, spacecraft, re-entry vehicles, missiles and counter-UAS interceptors.

Our BRAIN flight computer pairs an NVIDIA Jetson Orin autonomy module with a Zynq-7000 real-time module for flight-critical Guidance/Navigation/Control, sensors, and I/O. Interfaces include RS-422/485, USB 3.0, HDMI, GigE, PWM/DSHOT, RS422, SPI, I2C, CAN, MIPI, PCIe, and more, with a hardware safety watchdog and triple-redundant IMUs.

We outsource PCB fabrication and SMT assembly, and perform in-house inspection, bring-up, test, and final assembly of our board stack—so you’ll see designs through to working hardware. We also leverage hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) flight simulation with our FLEX software and simulation to accelerate integration & test.

Palladyne AI (NASDAQ: PYDN) is an AI software company on a mission to automate physically demanding work that has historically been “too complex to automate.” With more than thirty years of robotics R&D — including during our time under Raytheon — we’ve developed advanced AI and ML software that enables robots to observe, learn, reason, and act with human-like intelligence.

ABOUT THE ROLE

You’ll work shoulder-to-shoulder with our current electronic board designer on BRAIN updates, upgrades, automated test station, and manufacturing. You’ll also have the opportunity to be the primary on new board designs in our pipeline:

· Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs)

· Gimbal controllers

· UAV Power Distribution Boards (PDBs)

· New AI/computer-vision boards using additional processor modules/chips beyond Jetson

Over time, you’ll lead these new designs from concept through release & manufacturing.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Collaborate on BRAIN

· Contribute to schematics, constraints, and layout guidance for the BRAIN stack; partner with the current designer on reviews, DFM/DFT, and controlled releases.

· Support board bring-up & troubleshooting across high-speed and sensor I/O (e.g., MIPI-CSI, USB 3.0, GigE, HDMI, RS-422/485, PWM/DSHOT, IMUs, GNSS/mag/baro, watchdog/reset).

· Develop/maintain FPGA RTL (Zynq-7000 SoC): IP integration, constraints, timing closure, and deterministic I/O for controls/sensors.

· Build functional test fixtures & automation (ATE) and integrate with Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation to shrink cycle time from assembly to flight testing.

Lead new designs (near-term pipeline) such as:

· ESCs (BLDC): gate-driver selection, current/voltage sense, switching power stage layout, EMC/EMI controls; collaborate on motor-control firmware.

· Gimbal controllers: motor drivers, IMU integration, precision timing/synchronization, encoder interfaces, jitter/latency budgeting.

· UAV PDBs: power architecture, protection, high-current layout, thermals, test.

· AI / CV boards: additional processor modules/chips (camera input, memory, power-up sequencing, drivers).

· For each: deliver concept ? schematics ? constraints/stack-up ? DFM/DFT ? CM handoff ? bring-up & verification ? production test.

Production & Quality (scale-up)

· Contribute to the quality & test plan (incoming inspection criteria, ATP/QTP, boundary-scan/JTAG where applicable, environmental/EMI screening, yield tracking).

· Prepare manufacturing build packages, work with contract manufacturers on DFM feedback, and drive ECNs/PCNs.

· Contribute to failure analysis and corrective actions

ABOUT YOU

· Have an Electrical Engineering or related degree

· Board level design/integration:

· RS422/SPI/I2C/CAN/USB3/MIPI/PCIe/etc

· DDR Memory

· MIPI Camera Interfaces

· Power Supplies

· Board assembly/prototyping:

· Stencil/non-stencil assembly

· 0402/QFN/LGA/BGA (0.8mm+ pitch) hand assembly for prototyping

· Board Certification:

· Industry standard testing

· Shock/Vibe/EMI/etc

· Board rework:

· Hot plate

· Hot air

· Soldering certification

· Board analysis:

· Software drivers

· VHDL/Verilog IP Blocks

· Signal Analysis (Oscilliscope/Logic Analyzer)

· Have strong DFM/DFT instincts and collaboration with contract manufacturers (PCB fab + SMT).

· Able to lab bring-up & debug (power trees, signal integrity, JTAG/boundary-scan, EMC/ESD hygiene).

· Construct clear documentation (schematics, fab/assembly notes, ATP/QTP, ECNs) and team-first communication.

Nice-to-haves

· Power electronics experience (buck/boost, BLDC/FOC, gate-driver layout, thermal design).

· Camera systems & Jetson bring-up (device tree, drivers, camera tuning).

· Sensor/actuator interfacing for GNC (IMUs, mag, baro, GPS/UWB; PWM/DSHOT/serial buses).

· HIL/SIL workflows; test automation (Python/C++); familiarity with FLEX flight software.

· IPC/avionics standards (IPC-2221, IPC-A-610/J-STD-001, DO-254/DO-160) and AS9100 environments.

GROWTH & IMPACT

· GuideTech’s product portfolio is rapidly growing. You’ll be able to have a big impact, take ownership of new components and systems that you’ve designed, and see them integrated on to the next generation of autonomous unmanned systems.

OUR EMPLOYEE’S DNA

· We look at the future and say “why not”; we see possibilities where others see problems or routines. We show the way ahead and are committed to achieving ambitious goals.

· We practice straight talk and listen generously to each other with empathy. We value different opinions and points of views. We ensure that we connect outside as well as inside to learn from others and inspire each other.

· We hold ourselves accountable for delivering results. We make decisions & take responsibility so that we can act & support each other.

· As leaders we motivate & engage our teams to undertake beyond what they originally thought possible, by developing our teams & creating the conditions for people to grow and empower themselves through enabling & coaching.

COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY

We believe providing employees with competitive pay and a range of meaningful benefits is the start of creating a culture where people want to give the best they’ve got — not because they’re simply making money, but because they’ve fallen in love with our vision, mission, values, and team. 

During the interview process, your Recruiter will review our total rewards (base, potential equity, bonus, perks, benefit, culture). The final offer is determined by your proficiencies within our leveling.   

CULTURE

Our culture is built on trust, integrity, and a shared commitment to serving a mission greater than ourselves. As a government contracting company, we support customers whose work protects national security, strengthens public safety, and advances critical technologies. That responsibility shapes how we work every day—with accountability, professionalism, and pride in doing things the right way.

We believe exceptional results come from exceptional people. Our teams are made up of experts who are deeply committed to their craft and to one another. We foster an environment where collaboration is expected, diverse perspectives are respected, and every employee is empowered to contribute ideas, solve problems, and make an impact.

Integrity is non-negotiable. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical and compliance standards, understanding that our customers and partners rely on us to operate with transparency, discretion, and reliability. Trust—earned through consistent performance and principled decision-making—is the foundation of every relationship we build.

We are equally committed to our people’s growth. We invest in continuous learning, leadership development, and career progression, ensuring that our employees have the tools, training, and opportunities they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving technical and regulatory environment.

Above all, we are united by a sense of purpose. The work we do matters, and every role contributes to a broader mission that serves the public good. When you join our team, you become part of a culture that values excellence, teamwork, and service—where your work makes a meaningful difference every day.

THE FINE PRINT

No 3rd party candidates will be accepted 

It is GuideTech’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, local law.