Senior Hardware Engineer at Seekr (Public Sector team) designing and fielding ruggedized FPGA/ASIC/GPU edge hardware for AI/ML inference on defense ISR and C2 sensor streams. Day to day: hardware-software integration, edge MLOps, and verification/certification to US defense standards (MIL-SPEC, DO-178C).
Compensation
$160K–$230K / yr
Location
Reston, VA, US
Work setup
Hybrid
Seniority
Senior
Employment
Full time
Experience
5+ years
Category
Hardware
Posted
Skills
agentic-ai
ai
cloud
cybersecurity
firmware
fpga
gpu
llm
machine-learning
mlops
model-deployment
nist
prototyping
sensor-fusion
signal-processing
Must have
Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance at the Top Secret level
5+ years developing hardware for defense, national-security, or related mission-critical systems with end-to-end delivery
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field
Expertise in signal-processing hardware, sensor-fusion architectures, and AI/ML inference acceleration (FPGA, ASIC, GPU, or dedicated AI processors)
Hands-on experience with hardware-software integration, firmware development, and MLOps at the edge
Ability to work in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment and translate operational requirements into scalable hardware solutions
Nice to have
Active U.S. Top Secret security clearance
Domain experience: cybersecurity, cyber-physical systems, space system architecture, ELINT/RF, DSP, and/or realtime stream processing
Prior military service or operational exposure in ISR, C2, intelligence, or communications
Experience at a defense prime, systems integrator, or high-growth AI/technology company
Knowledge of trusted/explainable AI, LLM ecosystems, or mission-AI workloads
Familiarity with defense acquisition processes, MIL-SPEC testing, and cybersecurity compliance (NIST 800-53, RMF)
Full description
Senior Hardware Engineer
Location: Reston, Virginia, United States
Department: Public Sector
Seekr is an AI‑focused firm delivering advanced, mission‑critical agentic edge solutions for defense and national‑security customers. Our AI platform powers intelligence‑surveillance‑reconnaissance (ISR) and command‑and‑control (C2) solutions that run on cloud, on‑premises, and edge environments, supporting both classified and unclassified operations.
Position Overview
The Senior Hardware Engineer will join the Director of Mission Solutions’ multidisciplinary team of architects, ML engineers, and integration specialists. The role will focus on designing, prototyping, and fielding ruggedized hardware platforms that enable AI/ML‑driven signal processing, image exploitation, sensor fusion, and C2 decision‑support workloads. The engineer will work closely with software/ML leads to ensure tight integration of hardware and algorithms, drive “build‑once, deploy‑many” productization, and translate customer operational challenges into reusable, resellable solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Design and develop high‑performance, low‑latency hardware (FPGA/ASIC, GPU, edge compute units, custom boards) optimized for AI/ML inference on ISR and C2 sensor streams.
Collaborate with ML engineers to create end‑to‑end MLOps pipelines, including model deployment, monitoring, and lifecycle management at the edge.
Harden proven AI capabilities into rugged, field‑ready hardware products that can be resold across multiple mission areas, following the “build once, deploy many” philosophy.
Work with engineering leadership to feed field‑driven requirements into the Seekr product roadmap and influence platform investment decisions.
Lead hardware verification, testing, and certification activities to meet U.S. defense standards (e.g., MIL‑SPEC, DO‑178C, cybersecurity requirements).
Produce technical documentation, integration guides, and support materials for productization and customer deployment.
Participate in cross‑functional reviews with systems architects, software leads, and acquisition stakeholders to ensure mission‑critical performance and reliability.
Required Qualifications
Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance at the Top Secret level
5 + years of experience developing hardware for defense, national‑security, or related mission‑critical systems, with a strong track record of end‑to‑end delivery.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
Senior Hardware Engineer at Seekr Technologies (Reston, VA, US) — aijobsearch
Demonstrated expertise in signal‑processing hardware, sensor‑fusion architectures, and AI/ML inference acceleration (FPGA, ASIC, GPU, or dedicated AI processors).
Hands‑on experience with hardware‑software integration, firmware development, and MLOps at the edge.
Ability to work in a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary environment and translate operational requirements into scalable hardware solutions.
Preferred Qualifications
U.S. Top Secret security clearance
Domain gap experience: Cybersecurity, Cyber-Physical Systems, Space System Architecture, ELINT/RF, Digital Signal Processing, and/or Realtime Stream Processing
Prior military service or direct operational exposure in ISR, C2, intelligence, or communications fields.
Experience at a defense prime, systems integrator, or high‑growth AI/technology company delivering mission systems.
Knowledge of trusted/explainable AI, LLM ecosystems, or mission‑AI workloads.
Familiarity with defense acquisition processes, MIL‑SPEC testing, and cybersecurity compliance (e.g., NIST 800‑53, RMF).
What We Offer
Opportunity to work on cutting‑edge AI solutions that directly impact national security.
Collaborative, mission‑driven environment with senior technical leaders.
Hybrid work model with access to state‑of‑the‑art labs and test ranges.
About the Company:
Seekr is a leader in explainable and trustworthy artificial intelligence designed to power mission-critical decisions in enterprises, government, and regulated industries. SeekrFlow™, our end-to-end AI platform, provides secure, auditable AI solutions tailored to sectors where transparency, accuracy, and compliance are paramount. Available across cloud, on-premises, and edge environments, SeekrFlow reduces bias, strengthens data integrity, and simplifies model oversight so organizations can rely on trusted AI decisions in high-stakes settings that impact society’s most sensitive and vital systems. Trusted by leading enterprises and government agencies, we partner with defense, finance, telecom, and critical infrastructure leaders to enable AI solutions that drive real-world results with unmatched transparency and control. We are a team of strategic thinkers and problem-solvers tackling the toughest challenges facing critical infrastructure and global enterprises through best-in-class AI models and customer deployment. Our team operates with unwavering commitment to our core values and mission:
We are driven by outcomes—our customers' success is what we strive for every day.
We believe trust is earned, which is why we build explainability and transparency into the entire AI lifecycle.
We take our responsibility to deliver secure AI seriously.
We believe innovation drives progress—we are building the technologies that power the systems our society depends on.
Company Benefits:
Meaningful Mission & Impact - Work with a deeply talented, collaborative team solving some of the toughest AI challenges that matter.
Equity Ownership – RSUs that let you share directly in Seekr’s long‑term success and growth.
Time Off That Respects Real Life – Unlimited PTO plus 14 paid company holidays to truly recharge.
Work Your Way – A flexible hybrid work environment with offices in Reston, VA and Austin, TX, plus remote options and flexible working hours.
Competitive Total Rewards – A role‑appropriate compensation structure that supports long‑term growth, including base salary, bonuses, or commission plans depending on role.
401(k) with Company Match – Build your future with a retirement plan that includes employer matching.
Comprehensive Health & Wellness – Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage starting day one—for you and your family.
Parental Leave – Paid parental leave to support employees as they welcome a new child through birth, adoption, or foster placement.
This range reflects Seekr’s good faith estimate of what it expects to pay for this role at the time of posting. Placement within the range depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to geographic location, applicable labor categories under Seekr’s federal government contracts, relevant prior work experience, specific skills, education, and certifications. This role may also be eligible for annual bonus, equity, other other incentive compensation.
The proposed salary range for this position is:
$160,000—$230,000 USD
About the Company:
Seekr is a leader in explainable and trustworthy artificial intelligence designed to power mission-critical decisions in enterprises, government, and regulated industries. SeekrFlow™, our end-to-end AI platform, provides secure, auditable AI solutions tailored to sectors where transparency, accuracy, and compliance are paramount. Available across cloud, on-premises, and edge environments, SeekrFlow reduces bias, strengthens data integrity, and simplifies model oversight so organizations can rely on trusted AI decisions in high-stakes settings that impact society’s most sensitive and vital systems. Trusted by leading enterprises and government agencies, we partner with defense, finance, telecom, and critical infrastructure leaders to enable AI solutions that drive real-world results with unmatched transparency and control. We are a team of strategic thinkers and problem-solvers tackling the toughest challenges facing critical infrastructure and global enterprises through best-in-class AI models and customer deployment. Our team operates with unwavering commitment to our core values and mission:
We are driven by outcomes—our customers' success is what we strive for every day.
We believe trust is earned, which is why we build explainability and transparency into the entire AI lifecycle.
We take our responsibility to deliver secure AI seriously.
We believe innovation drives progress—we are building the technologies that power the systems our society depends on.
Company Benefits:
Meaningful Mission & Impact - Work with a deeply talented, collaborative team solving some of the toughest AI challenges that matter.
- Equity Ownership – RSUs that let you share directly in Seekr’s long‑term success and growth.
Time Off That Respects Real Life – Unlimited PTO plus 14 paid company holidays to truly recharge.
- Work Your Way – A flexible hybrid work environment with offices in Reston, VA and Austin, TX.
- Competitive Total Rewards – A role‑appropriate compensation structure that supports long‑term growth, including base salary, bonuses, or commission plans depending on role.
401(k) with Company Match – Build your future with a retirement plan that includes employer matching.
Comprehensive Health & Wellness – Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage starting day one—for you and your family.
- Parental Leave – Paid parental leave to support employees as they welcome a new child through birth, adoption, or foster placement.
Important Notice:
To conform to U.S. Government international trade regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.
Seekr is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.