Hardware Test Engineer
Convergent Research
Software Engineering, Other Engineering, Quality Assurance
Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posted on Jun 24, 2025
Forest Neurotech is seeking a Hardware Test Engineer for the development, execution, and management of testing processes, diagnostics, and failure analysis for our groundbreaking ultrasound-on-chip implant designed for minimally invasive brain-computer interfacing.
Forest Neurotech is developing an ultrasound based BCI to accelerate the study and treatment of the human brain. Ultrasound is capable of measuring and stimulating brain-wide activity in a minimally invasive manner. This opens new avenues for research into personalized therapies across a range of psychiatric and cognitive disorders.
Forest launched out of Caltech with support from former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Griffin Catalyst, the philanthropic organization of Citadel CEO Kenneth C. Griffin, the Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation, and Amaranth Foundation founder James Fickel. Concurrent with its launch in October 2023, Forest partnered with Butterfly Network (NYSE:BFLY), a digital health company developing semiconductor-based ultrasound technology. Visit www.forestneurotech.org to learn more.
Forest is structured as a Focused Research Organization (FRO). FROs are a new type of startup-nonprofit hybrid organization for pursuing advanced scientific projects not achievable in academia or a VC-backed startup. As an FRO, Forest can execute with the intensity and focus of a founder-led startup, but with the mission and operational flexibility to maximally advance neurotechnology and benefit society.
Forest launched in late 2023 with five years of runway. Salaries are competitive with industry.
Responsibilities
- Develop, document, and maintain manufacturing test protocols and fixtures.
- Diagnose and debug electronic hardware issues arising during assembly and production.
- Conduct detailed failure analysis to identify root causes, recommend corrective actions, and implement solutions in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams.
- Analyze test data, identify patterns, and propose actionable solutions to enhance product reliability and manufacturing quality.
- Collaborate with design engineers to implement design-for-test (DFT) and design-for-manufacturing (DFM) strategies.
- Coordinate with external vendors and internal stakeholders to refine and enhance test and analysis infrastructure.
Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field.
- 0-2 years of experience in manufacturing test engineering and failure analysis, including hands-on development of test fixtures, automated testing setups, and failure investigation.
- Strong background in electronics troubleshooting and root-cause analysis methodologies.
- Proficiency with Python, C, or similar scripting languages for test automation.
- Familiarity with PCB design and assembly processes.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills to effectively work with cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrated ability to handle multiple priorities and projects simultaneously in a dynamic environment.
- ISO 13485 medical device experience
- Background in ultrasound, acoustic stimulation, or neural recording.
- Early-stage startup experience.
Nice to Have: