# Hardware Engineer at Proto-Town

Hardware Engineer at Proto-Town in Lockhart. On-site, full-time. Posted April 24, 2026.

- Company: Proto-Town
- Location: Lockhart
- Workplace: On-site
- Job type: Full-time
- Posted: 2026-04-24
- Apply: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/proto-town/5d580b8b-c559-48a5-abcc-bd1c604d64a7/application
- Source: https://jobmagic.ai/jobs/hardware-engineer-proto-town-w8jjjq

## Description

Proto-Experiments runs ambitious projects. Our current focus is ML-driven crystal growth systems that close the loop between sensors, ML-driven control, and physical hardware. We're looking for a **tinkerer** whose core strengths are **sensors, microcontroller programming, and breadboard-level fabrication**. A lot of this role is figuring out how to prototype and build. Materials science or ML background is a plus but not required. **Hiring ASAP.**
Crystal growth is the immediate project, but Proto-Experiments has other unusual builds in the pipeline. If it is a good fit, there is real opportunity to keep working together on what comes next.
**What you'll do**

- Build the sensing side of our growth rigs: thermocouples, optical sensors, cameras, pressure sensors - selecting them, wiring them cleanly, and getting clean signals out of noisy environments.

- Program the microcontrollers running the rigs: sensor sampling, control loops, motor sequencing, and host comms.

- Breadboard and prototype-level fabrication: protoboards, harnesses, simple carrier boards, plus 3D-printed brackets and basic mechanical scaffolding.

- Power side: heater control, motor drives, PID loops, MOSFETs, isolation, grounding.

- Take rigs from "works on the bench" to "runs reliably for a 72-hour growth," and debug across the stack when they don't.

**We're looking for**

- A natural tinkerer - someone who learns quickly, stays deeply curious, works extremely hard, and brings creativity to the bench.

- Strong sensor integration experience

- Solid microcontroller programming

- Real breadboard and prototype-fab skills

- Light mechanical fab: basic CAD, 3D printing

**You don't need every one of these.** We care more about mindset and attitude.
**Logistics**

- **Contract**: Hours flexible. **Hiring ASAP. **Potential to convert to full-time.

- **On-site in Lockhart, TX.**

- **To apply:** email jack@earthship.city