Product Prototyping Expert

Product Prototyping Expert

Department: Product

💼 About the role

PQShield is looking for an Experienced Product Prototyping Expert - Hardware / Low-Level Firmware to join the core Product Security & Innovation (PS&I) unit. This is a critical role focused on accelerating the transfer of cryptographic research, patented IP, and standards into commercially viable products.

Candidates should hold a degree in Computer Engineering/Computer Science or equivalent with at least 5 years of experience, coupled with an open, research-oriented mindset.

You will operate as the technical bridge between R&D, Product Security & Innovation, and core Engineering, directly contributing to the company’s strategic goal of translating innovation into a durable product pipeline.

⚒️ What you’ll be doing

The primary focus is on the incubation, de-risking, and maturation of new concepts through high-fidelity, hardware and low-level firmware prototypes.

• Develop and build functional prototypes and reference implementations for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and PQ/T hybrid primitives on embedded hardware platforms, primarily FPGAs and MCUs.

• Translate patented IP and cryptographic research into tangible, de-risked product artifacts and system architectures suitable for commercialization.

• Focus on low-level firmware integration and bare-metal programming to validate hardware/software co-design and secure boot flows.

• Perform deep performance and security trade-off evaluations, including latency, resource utilization (area and power), and security against side-channel and physical attacks.

• Drive innovation by actively contributing ideas and identifying new opportunities.

• Document all technical artifacts, firmware interfaces, and validation results in comprehensive, handover-ready application notes and reports for Product Management and Engineering.

• Collaborate with R&D, Product Management, and core Engineering to ensure a disciplined, repeatable flow of innovation from the Incubation Phase into the commercial product roadmap.

• Actively contribute to the strategic activation and commercial embodiment of PQShield’s patent portfolio.

🎯 Required Skills And Qualifications

• Strong experience with bare-metal programming and low-level firmware development for embedded systems.

• Knowledge of firmware development tools and debugging techniques.

• Hands-on debugging skills with hardware tools (multimeter, logic analyzer, oscilloscope).

• Proven experience with FPGA development and prototyping.

• Familiarity with using cryptographic hardware and security testing methodologies.

• Deep understanding of security principles (secure boot, roll back protection, input validation, trusted execution).

• Experience with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) and embedded Linux environments.

• Excellent communication, teamwork, and technical documentation abilities, particularly for detailed handover specifications.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

👍 Preferred Skills And Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 5+ years of experience.

• Track record of successfully prototyping and de-risking new hardware/firmware concepts from a strategic patent or research input.

• Knowledge of timing attacks, fuzzing, tamper resistance and/or power side-channel security countermeasures.

• Proficiency in hardware description languages (HDLs) such as Verilog or VHDL.

• Strong understanding of digital design principles.

• Usage of AI tools for productivity gains.

🖥️ Specific Technologies You Are Confident Using

• C, assembly on MCUs (STM32, RH850, RPI2350...).

• Python (to communicate with the board from a host computer and test automation).

• Handling of FPGA boards and interfaces (UART, I2C, SPI, QSPI flash...).

• Linux as development OS.

• Nice to have:

• Familiarity with RISC-V architecture.

• Rust/Zig.

• Renode.

• HDL tools like Vivado, Verilator, TCL

• Development tools like Github, Gitlab, JIRA, CMake

• Fusesoc, OpenRoad, SpinalHDL…

🏆 Some of the perks of working with us:

• Unparalleled opportunities to learn and accelerate career development.

• A collaborative, team environment with people who truly love what they do.

• Competitive salary and share option scheme.

• Flexible and hybrid working, and a working from home budget.

• Private health insurance for yourself and your family.

• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and two wellness weeks).

• 50% gym membership discount.

• The chance to work with a spirited, smart, and friendly team!

PQShield is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We’re passionate about talent and proud to foster an inclusive environment; all applicants will be considered regardless of their gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.