Junior Electrical Hardware Engineer

Title: Junior Electrical Hardware Engineer

Location: Carlsbad, CA – Onsite, Monday–Friday

Compensation: $75,000–$90,000 annually

Employment Type: Full-Time | 12-Month W2 Assignment

Company: Arlo Technologies

Experience Level: Entry-Level / Early Career

Launch Your Hardware Engineering Career !

Are you a recent Electrical Engineering graduate who loves working with electronics, building circuits, troubleshooting hardware, and figuring out how things work?

We're partnering with an innovative leader in smart home security technology to find a curious, motivated, and hands-on Junior Electrical Hardware Engineer to join its Research & Development (R&D) Hardware Engineering team in Carlsbad, CA.

This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with experienced hardware engineers, gain exposure to real-world product development, and contribute to the testing and validation of cutting-edge smart home security devices.

You don't need years of professional experience to succeed here. We're looking for someone with strong electrical engineering fundamentals, a passion for electronics, and the curiosity to investigate problems and learn new skills.

Whether your experience comes from engineering internships, college labs, senior design projects, robotics competitions, or personal electronics projects, we'd love to hear from you!

What You'll Be Doing

You'll spend most of your time working hands-on in a hardware engineering lab, supporting the development and testing of electronic products.

• Hardware Testing & Validation: Perform hands-on testing of electronic circuits, prototype boards, and smart home devices using oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, and other laboratory equipment.
• Power & Battery Testing: Measure and analyze power consumption, battery charging/discharging performance, and electrical behavior under different operating conditions.
• Circuit Troubleshooting: Review electrical schematics, investigate unexpected test results, and work with senior engineers to identify potential hardware issues.
• PCB Modifications & Prototyping: Assist with soldering, wiring, component replacements, PCB modifications, and prototype adjustments to support testing.
• Automated Testing: Support engineering testing using Python scripts and other automated test tools.
• Wireless & Audio Testing: Gain exposure to RF coexistence, EMI, and audio performance testing.
• Test Documentation: Collect, organize, and analyze test results using Excel or similar tools, clearly communicating findings to the engineering team.
• Lab Support: Help maintain an organized, functional engineering lab and support evolving R&D project needs.

What We're Looking For

Education & Background

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or a closely related discipline.
• Associate degrees in Electronics or Electrical Engineering Technology will also be considered.
• Recent graduates and candidates with approximately 0–3 years of relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
• Hands-on experience gained through internships, academic projects, engineering clubs, or personal projects is highly valued.

Technical Fundamentals

• Solid understanding of basic electrical engineering concepts, including voltage, current, resistance, power, and circuit behavior.
• Familiarity with electronic components, circuit schematics, and basic troubleshooting principles.
• Understanding of the purpose and applications of common laboratory instruments, such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, and power supplies.
• Some exposure to building, testing, or modifying electronic circuits.
• Ability to approach technical problems logically, investigate unexpected results, and ask thoughtful questions.
• Basic experience documenting and communicating technical findings.

Nice to Have – Not Required

Don't worry if you haven't mastered everything below. The engineering team is willing to provide hands-on training.

• Experience soldering electronic components or performing PCB rework.
• Familiarity with Python scripting or automated hardware testing.
• Experience testing battery-powered or wireless electronic devices.
• Exposure to RF, EMI, audio, or power consumption testing.
• Experience with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, microcontrollers, robotics, or embedded hardware projects.
• Experience using electronic test equipment in an internship, laboratory, or personal project.

What Will Make You Successful

Beyond technical skills, we're looking for someone who:

• Loves hands-on engineering: You enjoy working with physical electronics, experimenting with circuits, and understanding how devices operate.
• Has strong fundamentals: You understand the basic principles of electrical engineering and can apply them to practical problems.
• Is naturally curious: When something doesn't work as expected, you're motivated to investigate why.
• Thinks independently: You can evaluate a problem, propose an approach, and collaborate with experienced engineers to find a solution.
• Is eager to learn: You welcome mentorship, feedback, and opportunities to develop new technical skills.
• Communicates clearly: You can explain what you tested, what you observed, and what questions or challenges you encountered.

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

Real-World Engineering Experience

Work directly with electronic hardware and prototypes that support innovative consumer security products.

Mentorship & Technical Development

Learn from experienced engineers who are invested in helping early-career talent strengthen their technical capabilities.

Exposure to the Full Hardware Development Process

Build practical experience in circuit testing, power analysis, troubleshooting, hardware modifications, and product validation.

A Path Toward Hardware Design Engineering

This opportunity is designed for someone interested in developing the skills and experience needed to grow into more advanced hardware engineering responsibilities.

Potential for Future Opportunities

This is initially a 12-month fixed-term position with the possibility of extension or consideration for other opportunities, depending on business needs and approvals. Extension or conversion is not guaranteed.

Position Details

• Location: Carlsbad, California
• Work Arrangement: Onsite, five days per week, with occasional flexibility based on business needs
• Salary: $75,000–$90,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience
• Employment: 12-month fixed-term, direct W-2 position with the hiring company
• Benefits: Eligibility for applicable company benefits, subject to plan terms and eligibility requirements
• Interview Process: Initial phone screen followed by an approximately two-hour onsite interview with engineering team members

Ready to Build Your Engineering Career?

If you're passionate about electronics, enjoy hands-on problem-solving, and want to learn from experienced engineers while contributing to innovative smart home technology, we encourage you to apply.

You don't need to know everything on day one. Bring your electrical engineering fundamentals, curiosity, and enthusiasm for learning—and we'll help you build from there!

Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing an inclusive workplace and considering qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds.

TCWGlobal is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on age, ethnicity, gender, nationality, religious belief, or sexual orientation.