{"id":1386302,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ann-arbor-spark-application-engineer-hardwarefirmware-oem-integrations-karman","title":"Application Engineer, Hardware/Firmware (OEM Integrations) - Karman","company":{"id":1819013,"name":"Ann Arbor SPARK","domain":"annarborusa.org","url":"https://alion.io/company/annarborusa","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"JazzHR","truth_index":null},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"remote","remote_scope":"stated_countries","remote_scope_basis":"inferred_payroll_markers","remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"inferred","locations":[],"countries":[],"hiring_countries":["US"],"hiring_countries_total":1,"salary":{"min":175000,"max":245000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":245000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":6,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"C","optional":true},{"name":"gRPC","optional":true},{"name":"Linux","optional":true},{"name":"Rest API","optional":true},{"name":"ZeroMQ","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-28T10:15:53Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-28","last_verified_at":"2026-10-19T07:08:11Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":20,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":20},"description":"Karman is a fast-growing NVIDIA-backed AI company enabling AI data centers to dynamically orchestrate power and unlock more compute capacity from existing energy infrastructure. For over a decade, we have applied AI to the electric grid - bringing real-time visibility and power-flow control to complex energy infrastructure. Our Karman platform, built on a custom NVIDIA module, brings that same capability to AI data centers, giving operators a way to better use the power already available to them.\nWe are looking for an Application Engineer, Hardware/Firmware to join our Technical Programs team and serve as the technical bridge between Karman and our customers' hardware environments. This is a founding role in a new Application Engineering function, shaping how we take customers from contract to production. The role works directly with customers and partners with our Hardware, Firmware, and Product teams to design, build, and validate Karman integrations - including the hardware integration surfaces required for new Karman form factors. We are looking for a hands-on builder who can translate customer requirements into concrete designs and POCs, drive them to production, and communicate effectively with both engineering teams and customer stakeholders. We are looking for candidates who are mission-driven, technically versatile, and thrive in fast-paced, high-ownership environments.\nResponsibilities\nPartner with Product and GTM teams pre-contract to assess customer hardware environments and build proof-of-concept integration layers that demonstrate Karman's value\nDesign and implement the hardware integration layer between Karman and customer infrastructure; review both Utilidata and customer hardware designs to identify integration points and gaps\nWrite and modify embedded firmware to adapt Karman to each customer's platform\nOwn end-to-end technical execution for customer hardware integrations, from kick-off through design, validation, release, and deployment\nLead customer-facing technical calls, on-site visits, and requirements reviews with customer engineering, IT, and operations teams\nCreate and maintain customer integration artifacts, including HW Design Review Checklists, Validation and Test Checklists, Installation and Power-Up Guides, HW Release Timelines, KPI trackers, and After-Action Reports\nDevelop HW Design Collaterals covering layout, schematic, power, IO, signal integrity, thermal, and RFI requirements\nProduce SOM and metrology bring-up documentation, including HW Bring-Up and Power-Up Guides and design reviews for schematics, layouts, and test results\nTrack hardware KPIs and risks; escalate and coordinate resolution across engineering teams\nTake an AI-first approach to automating processes and generating integration and deployment artifacts\nParticipate in roadmap meetings, sprint planning, and design reviews with the HW team to maintain current product knowledge\nServe as the feedback loop between field deployments and core engineering, translating integration learnings into product improvements\nBuild out repeatable processes, templates, and best practices to scale the Application Engineering function\nMinimum Qualifications\n6+ years of hands-on hardware and embedded firmware engineering experience, with a demonstrated ability to independently design, implement, and validate hardware solutions from concept through production\nBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, computer science or similar field OR equivalent training and on the job experience \nProven experience designing hardware integration points, including PCB-level design, interface definition, and system bring-up, owned end-to-end\nFPGA development experience spanning both hardware design/RTL and firmware\nProficiency writing, modifying, and debugging embedded firmware independently\nWorking knowledge of embedded and data center interfaces and protocols (e.g., I2C, UART, PCIe, Ethernet)\nAbility to read and critically review schematics, PCB layouts, and test results\nDemonstrated ability to produce structured engineering artifacts, including design review checklists, test plans, validation procedures, and deployment documentation\nStrong communication skills with the ability to present technical content to both engineering and non-engineering audiences\nHigh learning agility in fast-moving, early-stage product environments\nExperience in data center infrastructure, power electronics, or energy management hardware\nWillingness to travel for customer kick-offs, on-site reviews, and deployment validation\nEnhanced Qualifications (Nice to Have)\nMaster’s degree in Electrical Engineer or related field\nFamiliarity with System-on-Module (SOM) platforms or metrology hardware\nKnowledge of power quality, thermal management, or power sequencing\nExperience with embedded Linux, BSP bring-up, or Yocto-based OS customization\nFamiliarity with on-device messaging and serialization patterns (e.g., ZeroMQ, Protobuf, gRPC, REST APIs)\nPrior experience in a customer-facing technical role such as Field Application Engineer or systems integration engineer\nSalary range: $175,000 to $245,000 base compensation depending on experience and level, plus stock options. This role spans multiple job levels; final level and compensation will be determined based on the candidate's experience.\nLocation: Preference will be given to candidates based in or around the Bay Area, CA. This role can also be based at our company headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Regular travel to OEM partner sites and the company’s HQ in Ann Arbor, MI is required.\nOur Commitments\nKarman values the diversity of our team. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or childbirth, sexual orientation, genetics, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws.\nWe are committed to:\nCreating a diverse and inclusive workplace that is welcoming, supportive, affirming, and respectful\nEmpowering employees to solve problems and work together to make a difference\nProviding mentorship and growth opportunities as part of a collaborative team\nA flexible work environment with flexible paid time off\nCompetitive compensation and benefits, including health, dental, vision, and employer-match 401(k)","description_format":"text","description_chars":6492,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":6,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":true},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule","Growth opportunities","Stock options"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Professional Services","Human Resources","Recruiting & Staffing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-28T10:15:53Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":81,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":0.9,"age_days":20,"expected_fill_days":35,"reasons":["conf:3","velocity","win:mid"],"computed_at":"2026-10-19T05:45:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":245000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ann-arbor-spark-application-engineer-hardwarefirmware-oem-integrations-karman","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ann-arbor-spark-application-engineer-hardwarefirmware-oem-integrations-karman.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-19T08:36:38Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":5794,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-20T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1819013},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1819013"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fann-arbor-spark-application-engineer-hardwarefirmware-oem-integrations-karman"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fann-arbor-spark-application-engineer-hardwarefirmware-oem-integrations-karman"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fann-arbor-spark-application-engineer-hardwarefirmware-oem-integrations-karman"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/ann-arbor-spark-application-engineer-hardwarefirmware-oem-integrations-karman\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fann-arbor-spark-application-engineer-hardwarefirmware-oem-integrations-karman"}]}