• Job Title: Hardware Development Attaché
• Location: On-site with occasional field work
• Employment Type: Attachment/Internship
• Department: Technology Development and Innovation
• Reports To: Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
• Salary: KES 20,000 per month

About Us:

Synnefa🌱 is an innovative ag-tech startup dedicated to transforming agriculture through smart, climate-resilient solutions. We provide end-to-end solutions that integrate smart greenhouses, FarmShield IoT sensors, and FarmCloud record-keeping software to enhance farming efficiency, sustainability, and profitability. Our mission is to empower farmers with technology that simplifies farming and increases incomes.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Hardware Development attaché with a solid foundation in electronics and embedded systems to join our hardware engineering team. The ideal candidate will be pursuing or have completed a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE), Electronics & Computer Engineering (ECE), or Mechatronics Engineering, and be eager to apply their academic knowledge to real-world product development.

This role will involve PCB design, firmware development, mechanical casing design, and hands-on prototyping for our innovative hardware solutions. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to support the design, development, and testing of our products from concept to deployment.

Key Responsibilities

PCB Design

• Create and maintain schematic diagrams and PCB layouts.
• Ensure designs comply with electrical and safety standards.

Firmware Development

• Optimize code for low-power applications.
• Write, test, and debug firmware for microcontrollers
• Work with communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I²C, MQTT, and LoRa.

Mechanical & Casing Design

• Create 3D models of hardware enclosures using Fusion 360(or similar CAD tools)
• Collaborate with manufacturing teams to ensure feasibility of designs.
• Perform design iterations based on test feedback.

Testing & Validation

• Assist in assembling prototypes and conducting functional tests.
• Document test procedures, results, and recommended improvements.
• Support hardware troubleshooting and debugging.

Collaboration & Documentation

• Work closely with software, and production teams to ensure seamless integration.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for hardware and firmware designs.

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in EEE, ECE, or Mechatronics Engineering.
• Basic to intermediate experience with EasyEDA for PCB design.
• Basic to intermediate experience with Fusion 360 or similar for casing design.
• Familiarity with firmware development in C/C++ for embedded systems.
• Understanding of electronics fundamentals (digital and analog circuits).

Preferred / Nice-to-Have:

• Experience with 3D printing for rapid prototyping.
• Exposure to IoT hardware design.
• Knowledge of RF modules and sensors integration.
• Understanding of design for manufacturing (DFM) principles.

Soft Skills

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Good communication and teamwork abilities.
• Eagerness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced environment.