Video Game Accessory Hardware Engineer

About

XYAB XYAB

is a consumer electronics company based in Cleveland, Ohio, designing and manufacturing gaming controllers, retro console accessories, and adapter hardware. We are building an in-house R&D department from the ground up and looking for a hardware engineer to be one of the foundational hires on that team. This is a hands-on engineering role. You will design circuit boards from scratch, write firmware for microcontrollers, prototype hardware, and work directly with manufacturing partners to take designs from concept to production. You will work alongside the Head of R&D daily. What You Will Do Design PCBs from scratch — schematic capture, layout, and generating production files for fabrication Write and debug firmware in C/C++ for RP2040, ESP32, and similar microcontrollers Implement USB HID device firmware for game controllers, adapters, and input devices Work with wireless protocols including 2.4GHz and Bluetooth Low Energy Prototype, assemble, and test hardware on the bench — soldering, rework, debugging with oscilloscope and multimeter Collaborate directly with the Head of R&D on product architecture and design decisions Prepare BOM files, gerbers, and production documentation for manufacturing partners Iterate designs through EVT, DVT, and PVT stages toward production Support FCC/CE pre-compliance testing for wireless products What We Need to See We value working history over formal credentials. A portfolio of projects you have designed, built, and shipped matters more to us than a degree. If you have been doing this work on your own — designing boards, writing firmware, getting PCBs fabricated, building things that work — we want to talk to you. Required — Must Demonstrate PCB design experience — you have designed circuit boards in KiCad (preferred) or Altium and had them fabricated. Not just schematics — actual manufactured boards that work. We will ask to see them. Microcontroller firmware — you have written original firmware for RP2040, ESP32, STM32, or similar ARM-based microcontrollers in C or C++. We will ask to see your code. USB HID implementation — you have built a device that enumerates as a USB HID device. Game controllers, custom keyboards, input devices, adapters — all count. SMD soldering and rework — you are comfortable working with surface-mount components, not just through-hole. We will ask to see your bench work. Schematic literacy — you can read, create, and review schematics and identify errors. Strong Preferences Experience with retro gaming hardware — console modding, homebrew, controller adapters, replacement boards Contributions to open-source hardware or firmware projects (game controllers, input adapters, keyboard firmware, or similar embedded projects) Experience ordering from JLCPCB, PCBWay, or similar PCB fabrication services — meaning you have done the full design-to-doorstep workflow Familiarity with FCC/CE compliance requirements for wireless consumer electronics 3D printing or CAD experience for prototyping enclosures Experience generating production documentation for contract manufacturers What We Do Not Require A formal engineering degree is not required for this position. If you have the portfolio to back up your skills, that is what matters. We are looking for someone who builds things because they are passionate about it — not someone looking for a paycheck. Why XYAB You will be a foundational member of a new R&D department, not a cog in a machine Direct collaboration with the Head of R&D on product architecture — your input shapes the product Products you design go to market under the XYAB brand — you will see your work on shelves Open-source foundations where possible — we build on and contribute back to the community Small team, fast execution, real ownership of your work Stable full-time position doing the kind of work most people in this space only get to do as a hobby How to Apply Send us the following: A link to your GitHub, GitLab, or Hackaday.io profile showing your project work Photos or documentation of at least one PCB you have designed and had fabricated A brief description of the project you are most proud of and why Your resume or CV (optional — the portfolio matters more)

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$40,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Parental leave Retirement plan Application Question(s): Please provide a link to your personal GitHub. Please tell us about one of your hobbies or interests in as much detail as possible Tell us about your favorite game from your childhood and the impact it had on you.

Work Location:

In person