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.

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

Hardwarefirmwarecloud coherence

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

Key Responsibilities

Power Electronics & Electrical Systems

Design, validate, and improve power architectures for AWG systems:

SMPS, VFDs, inverters, relays, contactors

ACDC and DCDC 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

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.

IoT Hardware Integration

Define hardware standards for:

GSM/LTE modules

SIM and antenna design

EMI/EMC robustness

Ensure reliable telemetry from machines operating 247.

Design for graceful degradation when connectivity fails.

Support OTA readiness from a hardware perspective.

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.

Leadership & Ownership

Act as hardware owner for Akvos 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.

Required Skills & Experience

Must-Have

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

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

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.

Why This Role Matters at Akvo

Your designs directly affect water availability, uptime, and safety

Youll influence systems deployed across continents

Youll build hardware that must survive heat, humidity, dust, and abuse

Youll help shape Akvos long-term product architecture