JR QA Hardware Engineer
Clear Ballot Group
Nashua, NH
Our nation's elections are being challenged like never before. As the first newcomer in the industry in the last 30 years, Clear Ballot rises to the challenge with a simple goal: Let's create technology that empowers our customers to improve democracy.
Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, with the right to vote being one of our greatest freedoms. Great elections require secure and reliable tabulation equipment, full transparency of the process in which ballots are created and cast, and the ability to audit the results. Our mission is to surpass those expectations in a way that will raise the bar for the entire election technology industry.
We are looking for a motivated Junior Hardware Quality Engineer to join our Hardware Engineering team.
This position serves as the designated entry point for recent university graduates or early-career engineers
looking to launch a career in hardware development and testing.
In this role, you will translate your academic knowledge into practical engineering skills under the close
guidance and mentorship of senior team members. You will learn and gain hands-on experience in the
hardware development of voting systems, from the initial design phase through prototyping and production
readiness. Your responsibilities will include assisting with prototype testing, supporting internal validation
efforts, and overseeing testing performed by external laboratories as part of formal certification processes.
Throughout this role, you will also develop foundational knowledge of the Voluntary Voting System
Guidelines (VVSG)—the federal standards that ensure voting systems are secure, reliable, and
accessible—as well as the hardware testing requirements necessary to meet certification and regulatory
compliance.
What You'll Do
Lab Operations & Hardware Management: You will be responsible for installing software on lab
hardware, inspecting incoming electronic parts, managing lab inventory, and preparing hardware for
demonstrations.
Defect Reporting: You will log defects, report test results, and communicate findings clearly and
promptly to senior team members.
Root Cause Analysis Support: You will assist in reproducing hardware issues to support Root Cause
Analysis (RCA) efforts and gather necessary information to aid in drafting Product Requirements
Documents (PRDs).
External Testing Opportunities: You will have the unique opportunity to shadow and oversee EMI/EMC
and environmental testing at external laboratories to gain hands-on experience with regulatory
certification processes.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical
field.
Experience: 0–2 years of relevant experience.
Technical Aptitude: A strong desire to learn voting system hardware and drive quality through
hands-on engineering. You must possess a natural aptitude for breaking and taking things apart in a
structured way to identify weaknesses.
Test Instrumentation Proficiency: Hands-on experience with standard lab equipment, including
oscilloscopes, digital multimeters (DMMs), and desktop power supplies.
Hardware & Software Setup: Familiarity with installing drivers, OS, and software on hardware.
Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential. You must be able to
work effectively with other departments and clearly report test results and technical issues.
Office Productivity Tools: Proficiency with Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace applications
(Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets) for documentation and data analysis.
Nice to Have
Previous Internships: Prior internship experience in hardware engineering or quality assurance.
CAD & PCB Layout: Familiarity with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools and circuit board layout
software is beneficial for understanding and reviewing mechanical and electrical components.
Soldering & Rework: Experience with soldering and using rework stations, including the ability to
perform basic soldering and rework on printed circuit boards (PCBs) for minor repairs or modifications.
Schematic Interpretation: Interest in learning to read and interpret electrical schematics and
mechanical drawings to trace signals and identify potential failure points.
Agile & Tools: Experience working within Agile frameworks (Scrum or Kanban) using Atlassian products
(Jira, Confluence).
Linux OS: Familiarity with Linux operating systems.
Clear Ballot Group, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe everyone deserves to work in a welcoming, respectful and considerate environment. We live by our values and hire accordingly. Our talented team and driven investors share a passion for solving problems and restoring confidence in America's democratic process. We are looking for energetic professionals to join us in this mission.