Hardware Design Engineer - Chicago

About FloVision

FloVision builds computer vision and machine learning systems that run on the production floor of meat processors around the world. Our FloVision Pro and FloVision Nano systems help plants measure what's happening on the line and cut waste, in service of our mission to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 1%.

We're a small team that moves fast and works directly with plant operators. You won’t be one engineer in a department of 200. You’ll design it, build it, and see it run on the line.

The role

We're looking for a builder. As our Hardware Design Engineer, you'll design, prototype, and ship the mounts, enclosures, and electromechanical systems that get our cameras running in tough, washdown plant environments.

Your home base is design: taking customer projects from scoping to a finished, installed system. When you’re not on the road, you’ll work out of our small hardware shop in Ravenswood, Chicago. You’ll often work solo, with our Chicago field engineer and forward deployed engineers joining you as projects need. FloVision is remote-first, and this is one of our first hybrid roles because good hardware needs a bench. When a site needs you, you’ll travel to install, troubleshoot, and repair systems alongside our field team. Seeing your own designs in action on the plant floor is the best way to learn what to build next.

When we can design and fabricate custom hardware in-house, customers get value faster. You'll own that.

What you'll do

Design (your home base)

• Design custom mounts, enclosures, and electromechanical assemblies in SolidWorks or similar CAD, from concept through production
• Build and test prototypes by whatever means necessary, including 3D printing, electrical wiring, metalwork, and yes, cardboard and popsicle sticks
• Work with outside vendors to produce prototype and production parts
• Create wiring diagrams and electrical schematics for new and existing installs
• Continuously improve our existing equipment and install process, including making sure our hardware holds up to daily high-pressure washdowns
• Own your projects end to end, from scoping with the team to documentation and handoff
• Leverage AI as a design and research tool
• Take on R&D projects and new hardware concepts as they come up, alongside production design work

Field work (varies with business needs)

Travel in this role is hard to predict. Some months you’ll be mostly in the shop with around 25% travel. Other stretches, you’ll be on the road up to 75% of the time, stepping in as a field engineer until the job is done. It shifts with what our customers need, so we can’t promise a set schedule. If you’re hoping for little or no travel, this probably isn’t the right fit.

• Travel to customer plants to install, commission, maintain, and repair FloVision systems
• Diagnose problems on-site, design a fix, and carry it out without waiting on others
• Work directly with plant operators and customer engineering teams as a trusted FloVision face

What you bring

• 3+ years of hands-on mechanical, electromechanical, or mechatronics design experience
• Strong 3D CAD skills (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Autodesk Inventor, or equivalent)
• Working knowledge of electrical design: schematics, wiring, and basic panel or controls work
• Experience taking a design from prototype to something installed and running
• Strong people skills on-site: you’re comfortable working with plant operators and site contacts to refine a design, and you can push them to keep the job moving
• Comfort troubleshooting hardware on-site and working with your hands
• Willingness to travel, up to 75% during busy stretches
• Self-managing, curious, and happy wearing many hats on a small team

Nice to have

• BS in Mechanical, Electrical, or Mechatronics Engineering (or equivalent experience)
• Experience with food-grade or washdown design (stainless, IP69K, sanitary design)
• Background in industrial automation, machine vision, or camera/optics hardware
• Side projects you're proud of (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, a home shop build, anything)

Comp & Benefits

• $100,000 to $120,000 base salary, depending on experience
• Equity in an early-stage company
• Travel fully covered, plus per diem
• Recovery days when field work runs into the weekend
• Flexible schedule
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) Plan
• Health Savings Account (HSA)

How hiring works

• Apply with your resume and answer a few short questions
• Behavioral interview (Google Meet)
• Technical interview (Google Meet)
• Final interview, then offer

We’ll keep you updated at every step.

Don’t check every box? Apply anyway. If you’re excited about this work, we’d love to hear from you. U.S. Remote Pay Range

$100,000 - $120,000 USD