Senior Internet of Things Engineer

About Akvo

Akvo designs and deploys atmospheric water generation systems that extract potable water from air. Our machines operate continuously in hot, humid, dusty, voltage-unstable, and remote environments across 15+ countries.

At Akvo, hardware reliability and power integrity are mission-critical. IoT exists to serve the machine, not the other way around.

We are looking for a Senior Hardware-Centric IoT Engineer with strong grounding in power electronics, control systems, and embedded hardware, who can own the electrical and electronic backbone of our products end-to-end.

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Role Overview

This is a deep hardware role with IoT as an enabler.

You will be responsible for: • Power electronics design & validation • Control hardware for compressors, pumps, heaters, fans • Embedded systems integration • Field reliability and electrical safety • Hardware–firmware–cloud coherence

You will work closely with mechanical, manufacturing, and operations teams, not just software engineers.

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Key Responsibilities

Power Electronics & Electrical Systems • Design, validate, and improve power architectures for AWG systems: • SMPS, VFDs, inverters, relays, contactors • AC–DC and DC–DC conversion • High inrush and inductive load handling • Manage power distribution for: • Compressors • Pumps • Fans & blowers • UV, heaters, and auxiliary loads • Handle unstable grid conditions (voltage fluctuation, phase loss, harmonics). • Design protection systems: • Surge, overcurrent, short-circuit, thermal protection • Earthing, isolation, and safety compliance

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Embedded Hardware & Control Systems • Design and review control boards and system schematics. • Work with MCUs/SBCs (ESP32, STM32, or equivalent). • Interface and validate: • Flow sensors • Temperature & humidity sensors • Pressure sensors • Energy meters • Ensure clean signal integrity in high-noise electrical environments. • Implement safe-state logic and hardware interlocks.

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IoT Hardware Integration • Define hardware standards for: • GSM/LTE modules • SIM and antenna design • EMI/EMC robustness • Ensure reliable telemetry from machines operating 24×7. • Design for graceful degradation when connectivity fails. • Support OTA readiness from a hardware perspective.

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Field Reliability & Manufacturing • Debug real-world failures: • Burnt boards • Relay welding • Sensor drift • Power supply failures • Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) on field returns. • Improve DFMEA / PFMEA and reliability metrics. • Support vendor development and component qualification. • Ensure designs are manufacturable, serviceable, and scalable.

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Leadership & Ownership • Act as hardware owner for Akvo’s electronic systems. • Mentor junior hardware/embedded engineers. • Translate field issues into design improvements. • Create documentation, schematics, and test protocols. • Work directly with founders on product evolution.

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Required Skills & Experience

Must-Have • 5-7 years in hardware engineering / power electronics / industrial electronics • Strong hands-on experience with: • Power electronics design • High-current and inductive loads • Industrial control systems • Solid understanding of: • Electrical safety • Grounding & isolation • EMI/EMC considerations • Experience working with real machines, not just lab prototypes • Ability to debug with multimeter, oscilloscope, power analyzer • Ownership mindset — comfortable being accountable for failures

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Good to Have • Experience with HVAC, refrigeration, water, or energy systems • Familiarity with IEC / IS / CE safety standards • Experience designing for tropical or harsh environments • Exposure to IoT platforms and cloud telemetry • Understanding of energy efficiency and power optimization

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What This Role Is Not • Not a software-only IoT role • Not a dashboard or analytics position • Not academic or simulation-focused

This is boots-on-the-ground hardware engineering.

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Why This Role Matters at Akvo • Your designs directly affect water availability, uptime, and safety • You’ll influence systems deployed across continents • You’ll build hardware that must survive heat, humidity, dust, and abuse • You’ll help shape Akvo’s long-term product architecture