For technical founders
Hardware engineering for technical founders: we pick up your design where you left off, in your own files
You know what you're building. What you need is the next stage done properly: the board laid out for production, the firmware finished, the tests passed. We take the whole stage, work inside your files and repo, and hand it back done at a fixed price.
- Your files, your repo
- Review before rewrite
- Fixed price per stage
- You own everything
The short answer
Should I hire a hardware engineer or contract one?
Hire when the work is steady and core to your product for years. Contract when you need a stage done well and fast, or skills you'll only need for a few months, like RF, low power or certification. Many founders do both: they keep the architecture in-house and hand us whole stages, with every file staying in their repo.
Free design review
Send us your design before you spend on boards
Share your schematic, layout or firmware under NDA. Our engineers look for the problems that usually surface only after the first boards come back, and tell you plainly what to change.
- Power and battery
- RF and antenna
- EMC risks
- Parts availability
- Design for manufacture
A written list of the risks we find and a fixed quote to fix them. Free, with no obligation.
Working rules
Four rules we keep on every project
Your files, your repo
We work in your native design files and your Git repo, not copies on our side.
Review before rewrite
We build on your existing design and only redo what really has to change.
You own everything
Schematics, layout and firmware source are yours from day one, in writing.
Fixed price per stage
Each stage is quoted as a fixed price before it starts, never an hourly meter.
We work in Altium and KiCad, among other common design tools.
Whole stages, end to end
Hand us a stage and get it back finished
Stage 01 of 06
Architecture
Pressure-test the architecture, parts and unit cost before you commit.
Feasibility studyStage 02 of 06
Schematic and layout
Boards laid out for production, with RF and power done right.
PCB designStage 03 of 06
Firmware
Drivers, low power, wireless and updates that can't brick a device.
Embedded firmwareStage 04 of 06
Pre-compliance and certification
EMC pre-scans in-house, then FCC and UL testing through to done.
CertificationStage 05 of 06
EVT and DVT builds
Production-intent builds you can test, ship to users and show investors.
PrototypingStage 06 of 06
Factory handoff
A transfer pack, a pilot run and the right factory for your volume.
ManufacturingConnected device? IoT product designAI on the device? Physical AIEnclosure? Product design
Hire or contract?
What changes when you hire versus hand us a stage
| Question | Hire an engineer | Hand us a stage |
|---|---|---|
| When the work stops | The salary continues | The stage ends and so does the cost |
| Specialist skills | One person covers a few areas | Specialists for each stage |
| Test equipment | You buy or rent it | Ours, including in-house EMC pre-scans |
| Getting started | Months to recruit and onboard | Starts once you approve a fixed quote |
| Where the knowledge lives | Mostly in one person's head | In your repo, documented |
Many founders hire for the core and hand us the stages in between.
Missing one skill?
The specialist skills founders most often need for one stage
RF and antennas Low power and battery life EMC and FCC Design for manufacture
FAQ
Questions technical founders ask us
Do you work in our Altium or KiCad files?
Yes. We work in your native design files and your Git repo, so nothing has to be converted or copied back.
Who owns the design and the IP?
You do. Schematics, layout, firmware source and documents are yours from day one, in writing.
Can you take over a half-finished design?
Yes. We review it first, keep what works and only redo what has to change.
Can your engineers join our team as extra hands?
We take on whole stages end to end rather than adding individual engineers to your team. You stay in charge of the architecture and approve each stage.
How is a stage priced?
As a fixed price, agreed before the stage starts. If the scope changes, we quote the change before doing it.
What does the free design review include?
We review your schematic, layout or firmware for power, RF, EMC, parts and manufacturing risks, and send a written list with a fixed quote to fix them.
Will you sign an NDA?
Yes, before you share any files.
Can you work alongside our in-house engineer?
Yes. We work in the same repo and tracker, and your engineer reviews and approves each stage.
Start here
Get your free design review
Send a few lines about your product and where the design is today. We'll sign the NDA, review what you share and send back the risks we find with a fixed quote. No obligation.
Tell us about your idea
Share as much or as little as you like. An engineer reads every enquiry and replies within one business day, under NDA before you share details.