About Matter IO
Matter IO is a leading Australian environmental technology company revolutionising municipal infrastructure management through AI-powered smart sensing solutions. Based in Perth, we develop cutting-edge IoT sensor platforms that monitor stormwater systems, waste management, and flood prediction for councils, government agencies, and commercial clients across Australia and internationally.
As part of our team you'll collaborate with world-class IoT innovators across the globe, including CSIRO and local and state government authorities on partnerships that push environmental sensing to its limits. One example is our Strato layered technology that gives councils and emergency services the real-time intelligence to act before the water rises.
Our flagship products include:
* LiveFlow: Real-time stormwater monitoring platform with SensAI radar sensors
* ThinkOS: Advanced waste management systems with Think Lid sensors
* Strato - Flood prediction and early warning systems
We're experiencing rapid growth with deployments across multiple states and expanding into international markets. Join us in creating technology that makes a genuine environmental impact while working with cutting-edge sensor technology, AI/ML, and IoT systems.
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The Role
We're seeking an experienced Hardware/Firmware Engineer to join our R&D team and drive the next generation of our smart sensing platforms. This is a hands-on role where you'll design, develop, and optimise embedded systems for environmental monitoring, working across embedded hardware and firmware layers..
You'll work on exciting challenges including:
* Radar-based flow and level sensing in harsh outdoor environments
* Ultra-low-power IoT sensor design with multi-year battery life
* Real-time signal processing and data acquisition
* Wireless communication systems (LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, LTE-M)
* Environmental ruggedisation and IP68+ enclosure design
This is an opportunity to see your work deployed across Australia's critical infrastructure, with real-world impact on flood prevention, environmental protection, and smart city initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Hardware Design & Development
* Design and develop embedded electronics for radar sensing, environmental monitoring, and IoT applications
* Coodinate workflows with (some of the best) hardware/firmware houses in Australia and Europe
* Support external design teams and, also, create circuit designs, PCB layouts, and schematics for sensor systems and data acquisition platforms
* Select and integrate sensors, RF modules, power management systems, and microcontrollers
* Design for manufacturability, cost optimisation, and harsh environmental conditions
* Prototype, test, and validate hardware designs through to production
Firmware & Embedded Software
* Implement signal processing algorithms for a range of environmental sensors
* Design low-power firmware architectures with advanced sleep modes and power management
* Develop communication protocols and wireless stack integration (LoRaWAN, cellular IoT)
* Lightweight on-device signal analysis and anomaly detection (rule-based or ML-assisted where appropriate).
System Integration & Testing
* Integrate hardware and software components into complete sensing solutions
* Collaborate with in-house software engineers to ensure efficient and reliable transfer of telemetry to cloud systems.
* Develop and execute comprehensive testing protocols for environmental and EMC compliance
* Conduct field trials and deployment support for municipal infrastructure
* Troubleshoot and resolve hardware/firmware issues in deployed systems
* Collaborate with mechanical engineers on enclosure design and environmental sealing
Innovation & R&D
* Research and evaluate emerging sensor technologies, radar systems, and IoT platforms
* Contribute to patent applications and intellectual property development
* Drive continuous improvement in product performance, reliability, and cost
* Stay current with industry trends in smart cities, environmental monitoring, and IoT
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Essential Skills & Experience
Hardware Engineering
* Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Mechatronics, or related field, or equivalent experience
* 3+ years of hands-on experience in embedded hardware design and development
* Minimum years of experience may be flexible based on demonstrated skills and technical capabilities in embedded hardware design
* Strong PCB design skills using tools such as Altium Designer, KiCAD, or Eagle
* Experience with analog and digital circuit design, power electronics, and signal conditioning
* Proficiency with oscilloscopes, logic analysers, spectrum analysers, and other test equipment
* Understanding of EMC/EMI design principles and environmental compliance (IP ratings, temperature ranges)
Firmware & Embedded Systems
* Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems development
* Experience with ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers (STM32, Nordic, ESP32, or similar)
* Knowledge of RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr) and bare-metal programming
* Experience with communication protocols: SPI, I2C, UART, CAN
* Understanding of wireless protocols: LoRaWAN, BLE, LTE-M, NB-IoT
* Familiarity with version control (Git) and embedded development tools
Technical Foundation
* Strong understanding of DSP fundamentals and real-time signal processing
* Experience with sensor integration and data acquisition systems
* Knowledge of power management and battery-powered system design
* Problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex hardware/firmware issues
* Excellent documentation skills for design specifications and test procedures
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Highly Desirable Skills
Specialised Expertise
* Experience with radar systems (FMCW, pulsed radar, or time-of-flight sensing)
* Ultrasonic sensing and acoustic signal processing
* RF design and antenna integration for sub-GHz and 2.4GHz systems
* FPGA development (Xilinx, Altera) for high-speed signal processing
* Python for test automation, data analysis, and algorithm development
* Experience with edge AI/ML frameworks
* Experience with app development using frameworks such as Flutter
Industry Experience
* IoT product development from concept to mass production
* Environmental sensing, industrial monitoring, or smart city applications
* Working with harsh outdoor environments and IP67/IP68 systems
* Regulatory compliance (RCM, CE, FCC) and certification processes
* Experience with water/wastewater monitoring or stormwater systems
Professional Development
* Published research or patents in relevant technical areas
* Contributions to open-source hardware or embedded software projects
* Experience with Agile development methodologies
* Track record of taking products from prototype to production
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What We Offer
Competitive Package
* Salary range: $100,000 - $140,000 (depending on experience)
* Equity options in a high-growth environmental technology company
* Superannuation and comprehensive benefits
Career Growth
* Work on cutting-edge technology with real environmental impact
* Opportunity to lead R&D initiatives and shape product roadmap
* Professional development budget for training, conferences, and certifications
* Clear pathways to senior technical or leadership roles
* Exposure to international markets and partnerships
Work Environment
* Hybrid work arrangement with flexibility (Perth-based)
* Modern office facilities with fully equipped electronics lab
* Collaborative, innovative team culture with low ego and high trust
* Direct access to founders and leadership team
* Fast-paced startup environment with autonomy and ownership
Impact & Mission
* Contribute to flood prevention and environmental protection
* See your technology deployed across locally ie Australian councils and infrastructure as well as globally with an immediate focus on SE Asia
* Work with leading organisations including CSIRO, government agencies, and smart city initiatives
* Be part of Australia's growing environmental technology sector