Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands

Type: Full-time

Experience: +5 years

Hardware & Electrical Engineer – Building the Next Generation of Human Performance WearablesAbout Touchwaves

At Touchwaves, we are building the next generation of human–machine interfaces.

We are a TNO spin-off working closely with defence partners to develop technology for environments where failure is not an option.

Most wearables today are incremental: slightly better batteries, marginally improved sensors, more apps layered on top.

We are not interested in incremental.

Touchwaves is developing next-generation wearable systems that operate where performance, reliability, and human limits collide. Our embodied haptics technology connects human physiology with intelligent systems, enabling pilots and operators to maintain situational awareness and perform at their best under extreme cognitive and physical stress.

Our platforms integrate sensing, embedded intelligence, and haptic actuation directly into garments and equipment used by military and security professionals.

By combining science, engineering, and design, we enhance human performance in defence, aviation, and dual-use applications.

Your Role

We are looking for a Hardware & Electrical Engineer to take ownership of the technical development of our wearable sensing and haptic platforms.

This is not a role for someone who only designs systems on paper. You will build them, test them, break them, learn from failure, and iterate again. If your mindset is do → fail → learn → iterate → do again, you will feel at home here.

You will work hands-on at the core of our hardware and embedded systems development, building, testing, breaking, and iterating on wearable sensing and haptic platforms. You will work closely with our lead scientist and founding team to turn concepts into working prototypes and field-ready systems.

This is a hands-on role with direct impact on product, real-world deployments, and early customers in operational environments.

What You Will Build: System Architecture & Integration

• Contribute to system integration of hardware, firmware, sensors, and haptic actuation
• Translate technical requirements into working prototypes and testable designs
• Support system-level trade-off decisions in close collaboration with the founding team

Embedded Systems & Firmware

• Design and implement embedded software (C/C++) for microcontrollers and real-time systems
• Integrate communication, sensing, and actuation layers under real-time constraints (RTOS, timing, synchronization)
• Debug and validate low-level hardware/software interactions using professional tools

Sensors & Wearable Systems

• Integrate and optimize biosensors, environmental sensors, and motion sensing systems
• Modify, combine, and fine-tune commercial and in-house sensors for performance in real-world conditions
• Define and execute calibration, validation, and data quality procedures
• Use field data and user feedback to continuously improve system behavior

Testing, Prototyping & Deployment

• Define and lead system-level testing and validation strategies (lab, human testing, and field trials)
• Use high-level languages (Python, MATLAB) for rapid prototyping and testing
• Lead early prototyping, architecture exploration, and mission-critical demos
• Use statistical methods to validate and drive improvement
• Support operational deployments in defense and high-reliability environments
• Identify failure modes early and turn them into design and architecture improvements

Product Ownership & Lifecycle

• Support the full development cycle from prototype to field deployment, contributing to manufacturing readiness and post-deployment learnings.
• Support manufacturing readiness, calibration workflows, and support infrastructure
• Provide post-deployment technical support and feed learnings back into product development

Collaboration

• Work closely with the founding team, wearables engineers, and external partners to deliver robust, field-ready systems.

Required Experience & Skills

You have hands-on experience with complex systems, and can demonstrate strength in several of the following:

Must-Have

• 5+ years in embedded systems or systems engineering
• Strong C/C++ development for microcontrollers and real-time environments
• Proven hardware–software integration and debugging experience
• Hands-on hardware bring-up, sensor integration, and calibration/validation
• Strong systems-level thinking and ability to manage complex, multi-subsystem designs
• Experience taking hardware from prototype to field deployment
• Background with wearables, IoT, or body-worn systems (strong plus)
• Comfortable working hands-on in a lab and field environment
• Experience building and iterating physical prototypes

Strongly Preferred

• Experience in startups or fast-moving engineering teams
• Background in defense, aerospace, robotics, automotive, or medical devices
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB for rapid prototyping
• Experience with RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr)
• Familiarity with manufacturing, DFM/DFA, and small-batch production
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification
• Comfortable working in regulated or security-sensitive environments

Who You Are

• You thrive on ownership and iteration ("do → fail → learn → do better")
• You enjoy owning the whole system, not just one layer
• You have extremely high standards for technical excellence
• You enjoy uncertainty and early-stage challenges
• You want to work on technology that matters in high-stakes environments
• You value strong engineering ownership and believe that engineers who deeply engage with problems can drive exceptional product outcomes with minimal coordination overhead.

What We Offer

• A key technical role in a fast-growing deep-tech company redefining wearables
• Direct impact on defence and human performance technology
• Ownership and autonomy in shaping product architecture
• Continuous growth through:
• Collaboration with world-renowned experts in wearables, human performance, and applied engineering
• Opportunities to present work at international conferences
• Competitive salary based on experience
• A culture where ambition, curiosity, and responsibility are rewarded
• Hybrid working possible

Why Join Now

The architecture is still forming. The standards are not yet written.

Join now, and you won’t just optimize systems — you’ll define how next-generation wearables are built, integrated, and trusted in the most demanding environments.

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How to Apply

Interested? Send us your CV and a short note on why this role excites you to hello@touchwaves.io — or simply apply through the form below

Curious but not sure if you’re the perfect fit? Reach out anyway — we’d love to explore your profile and interests