Electronics Engineer

HyLight’s mission is to help society become more resilient to climate change by improving the observation and inspection of infrastructure.

We build HyLighters, airships that collect data across vast distances with zero emissions.

Our activities include:

• Detecting methane leaks from gas infrastructures (4% of global GHG emissions)
• Inspecting power lines to prevent outages and wildfires

By 2030, we aim to become the global leader in aerial monitoring. 

In just 3 years, we have pushed the realm of possibilities: as we have:

• Developed 8 iterations of the HyLighter
• Logged over 300 flight hours
• Secured our first inspection contracts with Europe’s largest infrastructure operators
• Joined the world’s top startup accelerator, Y Combinator
• Raised €6 millions

HyLight is aiming for a diverse and included team, if your profile doesn't fit all the description but you can bring a diverse point of view, push it forward, it will be highly appreciated.

We’re well-funded and backed by top investors, providing the resources you wish you had when building your own business. We don’t care about traditional roles or titles—just that you’re smart, proactive, and bring the same founder-level ownership and drive to help us build something massive.

Job Summary:

As an Electronics Engineer, your mission is to design, develop, and integrate the embedded electronic systems that bring the HyLighter to life. You will own the entire hardware lifecycle, from custom PCB design to system integration, ensuring our airships are reliable, lightweight, and capable of operating in complex, real-world conditions.

Personal Note from Josef (CTO) 

"This role encompasses every facet of our airship's electronics: from designing custom PCBs that optimize weight and power distribution, to integrating complex avionics, sensors, and hydrogen propulsion systems. You will collaborate daily with our software and mechanical teams as they develop new iterations of the HyLighter. With our airships pushing the boundaries of flight duration and data collection, the hardware challenge is thrilling. You won't just be plugging off-the-shelf components together; you will be architecting the custom nervous system of a revolutionary aerospace vehicle."

The Mission:

Under the guidance of our CTO and in collaboration with the engineering teams, your responsibilities will include:

Mission 1: PCB Design & Hardware Development

• Design custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) from schematic capture to layout and routing. The first goal is to reduce the amount of cables and properly manage the power electronics, while redesigning key components such as the flight controller.
• Select appropriate components considering weight, power consumption, availability, and aerospace constraints.
• Design power management systems (DC/DC converters, battery management, hydrogen fuel cell integration) and signal conditioning circuits.
• Optimize designs for EMI/EMC compliance and thermal management.

Mission 2: System Integration & Avionics

• Integrate flight controllers, communication links (LTE/5G, Satcom), cameras, and high-precision sensors (LiDAR, optical gas imaging) onto the HyLighter.
• Establish and validate communication interfaces between subsystems (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN bus).
• Work closely with the mechanical team to ensure optimal packaging, wire harnessing, and physical integration of electronics.
• Collaborate with the software team to ensure seamless hardware-software interfacing.

Mission 3: Testing, Validation & Manufacturing

• Prototype, solder, and bench-test newly designed electronic boards.
• Ideate and draft test procedures to validate hardware behavior, power stability, and safety hypotheses under flight conditions.
• Debug complex hardware issues at the system and component level.
• Manage the manufacturing process of custom boards (PCBA) with external suppliers and ensure quality control.

Profile Sought:

The following list of skills is exhaustive; while you may not perfectly fit with the profile, we highly value personal growth and development.

Technical Skills: 

• PCB Design: Proven experience in designing, routing, and testing custom PCBs (Altium Designer, KiCad, etc.).
• Electronics Fundamentals: Strong knowledge of analog and digital circuit design, microcontrollers (STM32, etc.), and power electronics.
• Prototyping: Hands-on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers) and soldering/reworking SMD components.
• Protocols: Deep understanding of embedded communication buses (CAN, I2C, SPI, UART).
• Innovation Mindset: Experience working with tech teams in a startup, aerospace, drone, or high-innovation environment is a major plus.

Soft Skills:

• Entrepreneurial profile with strong "self-execution" and adaptation capabilities.
• Rigorous, resilient, and proactive in problem-solving.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment where iterations happen quickly.

Nice to have: 

• Experience with EMI/EMC testing and aerospace certification standards.
• Basic knowledge of embedded C/C++ to test your own boards.
• Experience with drone hardware (Pixhawk, ArduPilot, PX4).

Languages:

• English (fluent – internal communication and documentation)
• French (professional working proficiency)

What We Offer:

• Annual compensation: €45,000 - €60,000 (based on experience)
• 100% reimbursement of public transport pass (Navigo) or €800/year for sustainable commuting
• Bike provided for commuting
• Free lunch
• Bi-annual offsite trips with the whole team
• Excellent work environment: international team, team events, beautiful offices on a former airbase

Why You Should Join:

• Founder Mentality: We value extreme ownership and want people who think like founders—fast decision makers, natural problem solvers, and executers.
• Ground Floor Opportunity: You’ll be helping to shape and grow a revolutionary company with the resources to back it.
• Impact & Speed: Work in a fast-paced environment where your contributions will have immediate, tangible effects on the company’s success.

Location:

• Office : Base 217, Brétigny-sur-Orge, accessible via RER C.
• Lab and Warehouse access
• You’ll work side-by-side with experts in embedded, aerospace, and hydrogen propulsion systems—where your impact matters from day one.