Electrical Design Engineer - Pila Energy

San Francisco, CA or Denver, CO Preferred | Remote Open to Discussion | Full-Time

About Pila

We’re a seed-stage startup transforming the way energy is stored and used in homes. 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 small but mighty 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 hands-on Electrical Design Engineer to join our growing team. Our core team is based in San Francisco and Denver, though remote is an option. This role offers the opportunity to design, develop and scale innovative electrical systems for Pila’s distributed nanogrid solutions. You will work on cutting-edge embedded IoT and energy management technology, bringing your expertise to build safe, scalable, high-performing systems that meet the needs of diverse households.

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

Key Responsibilities

  • Own Pila electrical systems end-to-end: from initial concept and architecture through schematics, PCB layout, and system integration, all the way to end-of-line testing and scaling for mass production.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (mechanical, software, firmware 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, testing and mass 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 3 - 7 years in electrical design, preferably in energy systems, consumer electronics, electric vehicles 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

  • Proven hands-on lab skills and a passion for bringing up and testing prototypes

  • Strong understanding of communication protocols (e.g. CAN, RS485, BT, 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.

  • Salary Range: $120,000 to $180,000

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.”