Hardware & Embedded Systems Engineer: Edge Prototyping in Denver

Work at Blissway: Opportunity for Impact Every Day ✨

Blissway is a startup that simplifies toll collection and dramatically improves highway safety. We are multiple startups in one: Deep Tech, AI/ML, Hardware, SaaS, and IoT. For the past five years, we have built a nearly insurmountable technological lead in tolling, a roughly $200B global industry expected to double in the next decade. We work for toll authorities and state DOTs, and we own the whole system, from the roadside camera to the final bill, so every vehicle we see becomes one accurate toll transaction and nothing more. While our competitors have thousands of employees, we operate with a lean but growing team of less than 30. Our impact is visible on the massive Interstate Highway System connecting every major US metro (except Juneau, AK—sorry, Juneau).

You are a good fit if...

• You love the grind: You take ownership and put in the time to meet deadlines. Our recent team survey showed an average of 55 hours/week, with occasional 70+ hour bursts for major releases.

• You are detail obsessed: You have experience writing code, designing or building systems that stands up to the unpredictability of the physical world, where the small details are the difference between success and failure.

• You are adaptable: We are a lean team. If you only want to work on a "niche thing" or are uncomfortable helping other teams when they need a boost, this isn't the place for you. We expect you to figure out what you need to get stuff done.

• You're not afraid to code: This is a hardware-centered role but most of our teammates have broad skillsets that allow them to build what they need, including code to help make our hardware more effective. At minimum you should be comfortable sketching what you need and collaborating with software engineers to build it. We mostly use Python, but we don’t care what you’re most proficient in today as long as you learn fast.

• You value working together in person: You’re excited to work alongside the team at our Denver office. This role is in-office five days a week, Monday through Friday, with flexibility to work remotely occasionally when needed.

The Mission: From Theory to High-Traffic Reality At a team of less than 30, we don't have "junior" tasks. You will be given immediate ownership over the hardware that keeps the Interstate Highway System running. You will use the basics of electrical, mechanical, and software engineering to:

• Optimize the Edge: Improve the reliability of cameras, detectors, and night-time illuminators that survive 24/7 exposure.

• Prototyping & R&D: Design circuit schematics and PCBs for new hardware integrations that push our device performance further.

• Full-Stack Hardware: Write the on-device code (Python/C++) to integrate new sensors and ensure the servers can handle the incoming data.

• Build for Scale: Iterate on CAD models to make our assembly process faster and more robust.

Requirements:

• Education: Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field. We are open to 2027 grads but may run those applications through a separate cohort.

• Portfolio of "Things": A track record of actually building physical hardware. Whether it’s high-impact internships, senior design projects, or a workbench full of hobbyist electronics (Raspberry Pi, ESP32, custom PCBs), we want to see what you’ve brought to life.

• Technical Versatility: You have a foundational understanding of circuit design and CAD, but you aren't afraid to write code. You should be comfortable (or eager to become comfortable) in Python or C++ to make your hardware talk to our software.

• Mindset: You take extreme ownership. You don't wait for a manual or a step-by-step guide; you figure out what you need to get stuff done and you do it with a professional, collaborative mentality. You understand that in a small team feedback is the fastest way to level up, and you welcome it.

Our Technical Ecosystem: While we value problem-solving over specific syntax, skills that transfer well are:

• Languages: Python, TypeScript, C/C++

• Tools: Altium, Onshape, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers

• Infrastructure: Linux, IoT Edge Devices, AWS

• Specialties: Edge Computer Vision, CAD, weatherproofing, outdoor deployment, vertical product integration

The Interview Process

We're a selectively small team, which means a deliberate and thorough interview process with 3-4 interviews and a final paid work trial. In exchange, you get real autonomy from day one, direct access to the people setting technical direction, and work that ships to roads in weeks, not quarters.

The Essentials (Health & Wealth)

• Relocation Support: We are excited for you to join the team at our engineering office in Denver. We value in-person collaboration and daily team lunches and we provide a relocation bonus to help you get here.

• Personalized Health Coverage (ICHRA): We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all healthcare. We provide a monthly allowance for you and dependents so you can choose the individual plan that actually fits your life.

• Investing in Your Future: 401(k) matching up to 4%.

• Peace of Mind: Transparent compensation. Company-sponsored life & disability insurance.

• Early Stage Equity: Competitive equity package. Every year, we facilitate a tender process that gives you the opportunity to sell your vested shares at the same valuation as our investors.

Rest & Recharge

• High-Trust Time Off: 4 weeks of untracked PTO. We don't micromanage your calendar; we focus on your impact. Take the time you need to stay sharp and inspired.

• Family First: 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth and adoptive parents. We want you present for the moments that matter most.

• The Deep Breath (Sabbatical): Every 5 years, take 12 weeks of fully paid leave . Go travel, write a book, or master a new hobby—then come back and tell us all about it.

Fuel & Community

• The Blissway Kitchen: Whether it’s breakfast to start your day or our daily group lunches, we keep the team fueled.

• Snacks Autonomy: Our kitchen is fully stocked and we mean it—if we’re missing your favorite fuel, just add it to the request list.

• The "BlissTrip": An annual 4-day getaway for the team and significant others.

• Monthly Beats: Game nights, escape rooms, and dinners to celebrate the grit we put in.

• Continuous Learning: Tuition reimbursement for courses, programs, and conferences that sharpen your craft.