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)