Electrical Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA or Remote |  Full-Time

About Pila

We’re transforming the way energy is stored and used in homes with the next generation of smart home batteries. At Pila, our mission is to amplify self-sufficiency, safety, and comfort in our homes starting with the most essential element: reliable power. We build elegant and intuitive products designed to empower 100% of households with energy management and resiliency. 

Our team has deep experience building the world’s most innovative energy and IoT products — SPAN, Tesla, Apple, Lightship,  and Amazon Alexa just to name a few.

The Role

We are looking for an exceptional Electrical Design Engineer to join our growing team. Our core team is based in San Francisco, though remote is an option. This role offers the opportunity to design and develop innovative electrical systems for Pila’s distributed nanogrid solutions. You will work on cutting-edge embedded IoT and energy management technology, leveraging your expertise to create reliable, safe, scalable, and high-performance systems that meet the needs of diverse households.

You’ll collaborate with a talented and passionate team to design, prototype, test, and help scale manufacturing of components and systems that align with Pila’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

  • Own design and development of electrical systems, including architecture, schematics, PCB layout and system architecture for Pila’s products.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (mechanical, software, and product engineering) to ensure seamless integration of components.

  • Conduct simulations, analyses, and testing to validate electrical designs for performance, reliability, and compliance with safety standards (e.g., UL, IEEE).

  • Develop specifications for components such as embedded compute, on-device UI/UX, power distribution, energy metering, and communication systems (e.g., CAN, wireless).

  • Work with external vendors and contract manufacturers to support prototyping and production.

  • Stay updated on emerging technologies and standards in energy storage, power electronics, and distributed systems to inform design decisions.

  • Document designs, test procedures, and results to support product certification and compliance efforts.

Qualifications

  • BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field

  • Track record of 5+ years in electrical design, preferably in energy systems, consumer electronics, or IoT devices

  • Proficiency in CAD tools for schematic capture and PCB layout - We use Altium

  • Strong understanding of embedded system design (e.g. MCU integration, application specific IC integration, SPI, I2C, etc...) 

  • Strong understanding of AC energy/power metering fundamentals 

  • Strong understanding of communication protocols (e.g. CAN, RS485, Bluetooth, Thread)

  • Experience with UL certification processes and designing for safety and compliance

  • Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work both independently and collaboratively when needed

Bonus Qualifications:

  • Experience designing systems for high-volume manufacturing

  • Hands-on experience with power electronics design

  • Knowledge of renewable energy systems, grid integration, or distributed energy resources

Great talent comes from everywhere. If you’re passionate about electrical engineering, sustainability, and making an impact, we encourage you to apply—even if you don’t meet every single requirement.

What We Offer

  • An opportunity to work at the forefront of home energy innovation, helping create a more equitable and sustainable future.

  • Competitive equity and salary in a fast-growing, mission-driven startup.

  • Generous time off and flexible work arrangements.

  • Comprehensive health benefits.

How to Apply

Ready to join us in reshaping the future of energy? 

Send your resume and a brief introduction to careers@pilaenergy.com with the subject line “Electrical Design Engineer – Your Name.”