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.