Hardware Engineer (IT Hardware & AI Systems Integration)

Olympic Industries PLC is building a cutting-edge AI & Digital Transformation department responsible for designing and deploying intelligent hardware-software systems across the organization’s operations. We are seeking a skilled Mid-Level Hardware Engineer to lead and support the design, prototyping, integration, and field deployment of embedded and IoT hardware systems — including smart locking systems, GPS-enabled tracking units, sensor arrays, and checkpoint automation devices for fleet and logistics operations.

As part of an AI-first department, this role sits at the intersection of hardware engineering and intelligent systems. The ideal candidate brings strong embedded hardware fundamentals and is either already familiar with AI/ML concepts or is actively building that knowledge — particularly around edge inference, on-device vision, and sensor-driven ML pipelines.

This is a hands-on role for an engineer who is equally comfortable at a workbench assembling circuits, collaborating with data scientists on edge AI deployment, and commissioning units in the field.

Hardware Design & Development

• i) Design, prototype, and iterate on embedded hardware systems using microcontrollers such as ESP32, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and similar platforms.
• ii) Select and source appropriate components (sensors, actuators, power regulators, communication modules) based on technical and cost requirements.
• iii) Design PCB schematics and layouts using tools like KiCad, EasyEDA, or Eagle for custom hardware solutions.
• iv) Build and validate Bill of Materials (BoM) with cost optimization for batch production (50+units).
• Embedded Systems & Firmware Collaboration
• i) Collaborate closely with firmware/software engineers to integrate hardware with embedded code (C/C++, MicroPython, Arduino IDE).
• ii) Test and validate hardware-firmware interaction for systems including solenoid lock actuators, reed switches, keypads, GPS modules (NEO-6M, AT6558), and camera modules (OV2640).
• iii) Ensure GPIO, UART, SPI, and I2C communication interfaces are correctly implemented and stable.
• IoT & Communication Systems
• i) Integrate wireless communication protocols, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (BLE), and UART-based GPS logging.
• ii) Work with storage solutions (MicroSD modules) for onboard event logging, GPS track data, and image capture.
• iii) Configure and test power management systems, including 12V-to-5V/3.3V step-down regulators, battery backup systems, and MOSFET-driven high-current switching.
• System Integration & Testing
• i) Integrate and test full hardware stacks: controllers, lock mechanisms, sensors, power systems, indicators, and enclosures.
• ii) Perform functional testing, stress testing, and field simulation for ruggedized deployments (IP65 enclosures, outdoor environments).
• iii) Diagnose and resolve hardware faults, component failures, and integration issues
• iv) Maintain hardware test logs and defect tracking documentation.
• Procurement & Vendor Management
• i) Source components from local and international suppliers; compare vendor pricing, lead times, and quality.
• ii) Manage component inventory and ensure readiness for production runs.
• iii) Coordinate with enclosure fabricators for IP-rated (IP65+) junction boxes, keypad cutouts, and camera mounts.
• AI/ML Integration at the Edge
• i) Collaborate with AI/ML engineers to deploy lightweight inference models (TensorFlow Lite, ONNX, or similar) onto edge hardware such as ESP32-S3, Raspberry Pi, or Coral/Edge TPU modules.
• ii) Support hardware selection and benchmarking for AI-capable edge deployments — evaluating memory, compute, and power trade-offs for running on-device models.
• iii) Assist in integrating vision-based AI features (e.g., object detection, face/plate recognition) into checkpoint and fleet monitoring systems.
• iv) Work with data engineering teams to ensure hardware-collected sensor data (GPS tracks, camera snapshots, event logs) is structured, timestamped, and pipeline-ready for ML model training.
• v) Prototype and test sensor fusion setups that combine GPS, camera, and magnetic sensor data to feed anomaly detection or predictive maintenance models.
• vi) Stay current with edge AI hardware trends (ESP32-S3 AI extensions, Hailo, Rockchip NPUs) and contribute recommendations to the department’s technology roadmap
• Documentation & Compliance
• i) Produce hardware design documentation including schematics, BoMs, assembly guides, and test procedures.
• ii) Ensure hardware designs comply with relevant safety and operational standards.
• iii) Contribute to project technical reports and handover documentation.