Location: Karlsruhe, Germany (30% Hybrid)

Type: Full-time

Salary: depending on experience

About Us

We are re-shaing Cybersecurity w/ VISSBOX - a revolutionary ultra-portable cybersecurity device that provides hardware-isolated protection. The product is based on our successfully patented Technology. Think "premium security hardware meets everyday carry" - a cigarette pack-sized device that delivers military-grade isolation; basically, "The Condom for your PC". We are the Winners of the German StartUp Cup for Cybersecurity & are fully funded by German Government.

The Challenge

Design and build a production-ready hardware security appliance that combines:

• Triple-layer isolation (physical air-gap + electrical isolation + hypervisor)

• Ultra-miniaturization (Cigarette Pack Size)

• Premium materials (titanium-grade aluminum, sapphire glass)

• 3+ hour battery life in an ultra-compact form factor

• Competitive target price at volume production

Position Overview

You will be the hands-on lead for the hardware development - from concept to production. This role combines deep technical expertise with product leadership, requiring someone who can both design complex isolation circuits AND drive the product to market.

Core Responsibilities

Hardware Architecture & Design (40%)

• System Architecture: Design complete electrical isolation between three processing modules

• Power Management: Engineer ultra-efficient power systems for 3+ hour battery life

• Miniaturization: Achieve cigarette pack form factor without compromising security

• Isolation Design: Implement medical-grade electrical isolation (4kV+) using optical/magnetic coupling

• Thermal Management: Solve heat dissipation in ultra-compact enclosure

• Component Selection: Balance performance, cost, and availability for competitive target price

PCB Design & Manufacturing (25%)

• High-Density PCB: Design complex 8+ layer boards with isolation barriers

• Signal Integrity: Ensure clean power and high-speed signals in compact layout

• Manufacturing Optimization: DFM optimization for European PCB manufacturers

• Prototype Iteration: Lead 3-4 hardware revisions from concept to production

• Supply Chain: Establish relationships with German/EU component suppliers

Integration & Testing (20%)

• System Integration: Coordinate hardware with firmware and software teams

• Isolation Validation: Prove security barriers meet the specification

• Compliance Testing: EMC, safety, and regulatory certification

• Production Testing: Design automated test procedures for manufacturing

Technical Leadership (15%)

• Cross-functional Coordination: Work with firmware, software, and mechanical teams

• Vendor Management: Manage relationships with PCB houses, component suppliers, and assembly partners

• Documentation: Create production documentation, test procedures, and compliance reports

• Technical Reviews: Lead design reviews and risk assessments

Required Technical Expertise

Essential Hard Skills

• Advanced PCB Design: 8+ layer boards, high-speed digital, power integrity

• Power Management: Buck/boost converters, battery management systems, isolation

• Embedded Systems: ARM processors, microcontrollers, system integration

• Isolation Design: Optical isolators, isolated power supplies, safety standards

• Production Experience: DFM, DFT, manufacturing processes, supply chain

Specific Technologies

• Design Tools: Altium Designer or KiCad (expert level)

• Processors: ARM Cortex-A series, Raspberry Pi Compute Module experience

• Power ICs: TI, Analog Devices switching regulators and battery management

• Communication: USB 3.0, HDMI, high-speed digital interfaces

• Compliance: CE marking, EMC testing, safety standards (IEC 60950)

Security Hardware Experience (Highly Preferred)

• Hardware security modules (HSM)

• Air-gap systems or isolated networks

• Military/aerospace security standards

• Tamper-resistant design

• Secure boot and hardware attestation

Experience Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or related field

• Experience: 7+ years hardware design

• Product Development: Complete product lifecycle from concept to market

Preferred Background

• Startup Experience: Early-stage product development in resource-constrained environment

• Security Industry: Cybersecurity, defense, or financial security products

• Miniaturization: Ultra-compact devices, wearables, or mobile electronics

• Premium Products: High-end consumer or professional electronics

• Compliance: Medical devices, automotive, or safety-critical systems

• Regulatory Experience: CE/FCC certification process

• German/EU Manufacturing: Experience with European supply chains preferred

Required Soft Skills & Traits

Technical Leadership

• Systems Thinking: Ability to see big picture while managing complex details

• Problem Solving: Creative solutions under tight constraints (size, power, cost)

• Quality Focus: Obsessive attention to detail and manufacturing quality

• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate technical and business risks

Communication & Collaboration

• Cross-functional: Work effectively with firmware, software, mechanical teams

• Stakeholder Management: Communicate technical concepts to non-technical leadership

• Documentation: Clear technical writing for internal and external audiences

• German/English: Fluent in both languages preferred

Entrepreneurial Mindset

• Resource Optimization: Achieve ambitious goals with limited budget

• Speed to Market: Balance thorough engineering with rapid iteration

• Customer Focus: Design for real-world user needs, not just technical elegance

• Business Awareness: Understand cost implications of design decisions

What Makes This Role Unique

Technical Challenges

• Cutting-edge Security: Implementing hardware isolation that rivals military systems

• Extreme Miniaturization: Engineering challenges typically seen in smartphones

• Power Optimization: Achieving laptop-class functionality in a battery-powered device

• Cost Optimization: Premium features at accessible price point

Market Impact

• First of Its Kind: Creating entirely new product category

• Cybersecurity Revolution: Making enterprise-grade security accessible

• Technical Innovation: Patents and industry recognition likely

• Business Building: Ground floor opportunity in growing cybersecurity market

Career Growth

• Technical Leadership: Architect and lead entire hardware team as company grows

• Industry Recognition: Speak at conferences, publish papers on security hardware

• Startup Equity: Ownership stake in potentially valuable company

• Learning Opportunity: Exposure to cybersecurity, miniaturization, and premium hardware design

Compensation & Benefits

Base Compensation

• Base Salary +/- at TVÖD Level (Regulated Scale e.g. for Researchers)

• Equity: 0.25% - 1.25% depending on experience and role scope

Benefits

• Hardware Budget: build your Lab

• Conference/Training: for professional development

• Flexible Work: 30% Hybrid

• Vacation: 26 days + German holidays

Equipment & Tools

• Test Equipment: Build your lab from Oscilloscope, logic analyzer, power supplies, etc.

• Development Hardware: Unlimited budget for prototyping and testing

• Software Licenses: Altium Designer, MATLAB, simulation tools, etc.

Application Process

Portfolio Recommendations

Please include:

• Hardware Portfolio: 2-3 products you've taken from concept to production

• PCB Designs: Screenshots of complex board layouts you've designed

• Technical Challenges: Specific examples of miniaturization or power optimization

• Security Experience: Any work with safety-critical or secure systems

Interview Process

• Personal Fit (30min)

• Technical Portfolio Review - Show me something awesome (60 minutes)

• Leadership Interview - Product vision and business alignment (45 minutes)

• Reference Checks with previous hardware development colleagues

Ready to Build the Future of Cybersecurity?

The VISSBOX represents the intersection of three massive trends: increasing cyber threats, demand for portable security, and miniaturization of powerful computing. You'll be the technical architect of a product that could define a new category of security hardware.

If you're excited about solving hard technical problems while building a business, we want to hear from you.

Apply now with your portfolio and a brief note about why this challenge excites you to info@viss.cc

Equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified candidates encouraged to apply regardless of background.

READ BEFORE APPLYING:

Due to the nature of this role, candidates must be eligible to obtain NATO security clearance, which typically requires:

• Citizenship of a NATO member country (as of 2025: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States. )

• A clean criminal record

• The ability to pass background checks and vetting procedures conducted by national authorities

For Recruitment Agencies, we do not offer payment for any submitted candidates

Position: Embedded Software Engineer (Senior)
Location: CyberLab, Karlsruhe, Germany

Start Date: Flexible
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Compensation: 48.000-60.000€ /year depending on experience

About Us
At VISS, we are pioneering in cybersecurity through a patented hardware device that physically de-couples the data stream between the Internet and critical endpoint systems. Our solution protects against remote malware attacks while maintaining usability and performance. You’ll join a compact, research-driven team dedicated to bringing innovative prototypes from the lab into real-world deployment. We work at an incredibly fast pace and each team member acts like an owner.

What You’ll Do

Hardware–software integration: Act as the bridge between PCB designers, silicon engineers, and application developers.

Firmware development: Architect, implement, and maintain embedded firmware in Rust, C, and Assembly.

Prototyping on single-board computers: Rapidly prototype proof-of-concept features on Raspberry Pi platforms (e.g., Pi 4, Compute Module).

Microcontroller work: Develop and optimize low-level firmware e.g. on STM32 series MCUs (Cortex-M family), including board bring-up, peripheral drivers, and bootloader customization.

Testing & validation: Build automated test benches and CI pipelines for both SBC and MCU targets.

Performance & security tuning: Profile and harden code for real-time constraints, power budgets, and attack resistance.

Collaboration & mentoring: Work closely with hardware teams to finalize interfaces and coach junior engineers in best practices.

Research & innovation: Contribute to R&D efforts, patent filings, and technology evaluations that push our product’s capabilities forward.

What We’re Looking For

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s in EE, CS, or related.

Experience:

o   Raspberry Pi: Comfortable booting Linux images, writing low-level drivers or user-space daemons in C/C++/Rust, and integrating HATs or custom interfaces. (Strongly encouraged)

o   STM32 MCUs: Hands-on with STM32CubeMX, HAL/LL libraries, FreeRTOS (or Zephyr) on Cortex-M devices—preferably up through M7 series. (Optional)

o   Tech Stack: mostly C, Rust, and Assembly

o   Peripherals & protocols: SPI, I²C, UART, USB, Ethernet MAC, GPIO; familiarity with expanding via GPIO expander or bit-bang interfaces.

o   Debugging tools: JTAG/SWD, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, U-Boot or MCU bootloader flashing tools.

o   Optional ≥ 3 years in embedded firmware, with commercial products shipped

Mindset & soft skills:

o   Highly autonomous, self-driven learner

o   Excellent communicator and team player in a small, fast-paced R&D setting

o   English required ; German encouraged but optional 

Why Join Us

Impact: Your work instantly elevates endpoint defenses in critical sectors.

R&D-driven: Work at the bleeding edge of hardware and firmware security.

Autonomy & growth: Lead features end-to-end, influence product direction.

Culture: Flat hierarchy, close-knit team, big ambitions.

How to Apply

Email your CV, Optional brief cover letter (highlighting SBC projects), and any code samples/GitHub links you want to share to  info@viss.cc. We review applications on a rolling basis—early submissions encouraged!

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Position: Software Engineer (Senior)
Location: CyberLab, Karlsruhe, Germany

Start Date: Flexible
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Compensation: 48.000-60.000€ /year depending on experience

About Us
At VISS, we are pioneering in cybersecurity through a patented hardware device that physically de-couples the data stream between the Internet and critical endpoint systems. Our solution protects against remote malware attacks while maintaining usability and performance. You’ll join a compact, research-driven team dedicated to bringing innovative prototypes from the lab into real-world deployment. We work at an incredibly fast pace and each team member acts like an owner.

What You’ll Do

Systems & Platform Development: Design and implement core services and middleware running on both embedded Linux and custom OS environments.

Hypervisor Integration: Develop and maintain virtualization layers (e.g., KVM, Xen, or bespoke hypervisor) to isolate guest workloads and enforce hardware-enforced security domains.

Custom OS Engineering: Contribute to the development and hardening of our in-house operating system—kernel modules, device drivers, bootloaders, and security hooks.

Firmware & Boot Sequence: Collaborate with firmware teams on secure boot implementations, TPM integration, and chain-of-trust mechanisms.

Performance & Reliability: Profile and optimize system performance under real-time constraints; build fault-injection tests and resilience checks.

AI/HPC Infrastructure: Help design and deploy our GPU-based HPC cluster to support internal AI workloads and large-scale model training.

RAG Enhancements: Integrate and optimize retrieval-augmented generation pipelines / vector stores, LLM APIs, and caching layers to enhance data-driven features.

Cross-Layer Collaboration: Work closely with hardware, firmware, and UI/UX teams to define system APIs, IPC mechanisms, and debug interfaces.

CI/CD & Testing: Build and extend automated pipelines for unit, integration, and system-level tests across SBC, MCU, virtualized, and AI-cluster targets.

Documentation & Mentorship: Produce clear architectural documentation, lead design reviews, and mentor junior engineers on best practices in secure systems programming.

What We’re Looking For

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.

Experience:

o   Systems Programming (3+ years): Proficiency amongst others in C and Rust for low-level and high-performance code.

o   Hypervisors: Hands-on with KVM/QEMU, Xen, or equivalent; experienced in guest/host security policies and virtio drivers.

o   Custom OS/Kernel Work: Experience writing or modifying kernel modules, bootloaders (e.g., U-Boot), or microkernel components.

o   Embedded Linux: Comfortable building Yocto/OpenEmbedded or Buildroot images, debugging via JTAG/SWD.

o   Security & Cryptography: Familiarity with secure boot, Trusted Execution Environments (e.g., ARM TrustZone), or hardware root-of-trust designs.

o   AI/HPC Cluster Setup (Optional): Experience deploying and managing GPU clusters or Slurm/Kubernetes-based HPC environments for ML workloads.

o   RAG Frameworks: Knowledge of retrieval-augmented generation tools and libraries (e.g., LangChain, LlamaIndex, Pinecone, Weaviate) and integrating them into production systems.

o   Debugging Tools: Skilled with GDB, trace analyzers, lttng, perf, logic analyzers, and serial consoles.

Soft Skills:

o   Empathetic communicator who advocates for users while balancing technical and business constraints.

o   Agile mindset: comfortable iterating rapidly in a fast-paced R&D environment.

o   Self-driven and collaborative, with a knack for mentoring junior designers or developers.

o   English required; German proficiency is a plus.

Why Join Us

Impact: Your work instantly elevates endpoint defenses in critical sectors.

R&D-driven: Work at the bleeding edge of hardware and firmware security.

Autonomy & growth: Lead features end-to-end, influence product direction.

Culture: Flat hierarchy, close-knit team, ambitious goals.

How to Apply

Email your CV, Optional brief cover letter (highlighting SBC projects), and any code samples/GitHub links you want to share to  info@viss.cc. We review applications on a rolling basis—early submissions encouraged!

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Position: UI/UX Designer
Location: CyberLab, Karlsruhe, Germany

Start Date: Flexible
Employment Type: Full-time or Part-Time
Compensation: 38.000-54.000€ /year depending on experience

About Us
At VISS, we are pioneering in cybersecurity through a patented hardware device that physically de-couples the data stream between the Internet and critical endpoint systems. Our solution protects against remote malware attacks while maintaining usability and performance. You’ll join a compact, research-driven team dedicated to bringing innovative prototypes from the lab into real-world deployment. We work at an incredibly fast pace and each team member acts like an owner.

What You’ll Do

User Research & Requirements Gathering: Plan and conduct interviews, surveys, and usability tests to uncover needs, pain points, and workflows of both technical and non-technical users.

Interaction & Visual Design: Create wireframes, user flows, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes (Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD) that translate complex security concepts into intuitive interfaces.

Design System & Pattern Library: Establish and maintain a cohesive UI component library with documentation, ensuring consistency across desktop web apps, embedded device consoles, and internal dashboards.

Front-End Implementation: Partner with front-end engineers to deliver pixel-perfect React (or Vue) interfaces, writing clean HTML5, CSS3 (or Tailwind), and modular JavaScript/TypeScript.

Usability Testing & Iteration: Run A/B tests and heuristic evaluations; analyze metrics (e.g., task completion rates, click paths) to refine designs for performance, clarity, and accessibility (WCAG 2.1).

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with firmware, backend, and hardware teams to align on feature feasibility, data flows, and security constraints.

Accessibility & Internationalization: Ensure UI meets accessibility standards and can be localized for multilingual support.

What We’re Looking For

Education: Bachelor's or Master's in Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or related field.

Experience:

o   UI/UX Design (3+ years): Proven track record designing complex applications or embedded-device interfaces with a strong portfolio of work.

o   Prototyping Tools: Expert in Figma or Sketch; familiar with Adobe XD, InVision, or similar.

o   Front-End Skills: Hands-on experience with HTML5, CSS3 (Flexbox/Grid, preprocessors or utility-first frameworks), and JavaScript/TypeScript; React or Vue integration a plus.

o   User Research Methods: Skilled in planning and executing qualitative and quantitative studies, and translating insights into design decisions.

o   Design Systems: Demonstrated ability to build and evolve component libraries, style guides, and documentation.

o   Accessibility: Practical knowledge of WCAG guidelines and implementing accessible UI components.

Soft Skills:

o   Empathetic communicator who advocates for users while balancing technical and business constraints.

o   Agile mindset: comfortable iterating rapidly in a fast-paced R&D environment.

o   Self-driven and collaborative, with a knack for mentoring junior designers or developers.

o   English required; German proficiency is a plus.

Why Join Us

Impact: Your work instantly elevates endpoint defenses in critical sectors.

R&D-driven: Work at the bleeding edge of hardware and firmware security.

Autonomy & growth: Lead features end-to-end, influence product direction.

Culture: Flat hierarchy, close-knit team, ambitious goals.

How to Apply

Email your CV, Optional brief cover letter (highlighting SBC projects), and any code samples/GitHub links you want to share to  info@viss.cc. We review applications on a rolling basis—early submissions encouraged!

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Position: Working Student / Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter
Location: CyberLab, Karlsruhe, Germany

Start Date: Flexible
Employment Type: Part-Time ; 20h/week
Compensation: 15-21€ /h depending on experience

About Us
At VISS, we’re redefining cybersecurity with a patented hardware device that physically isolates critical endpoints from Internet-borne threats. Our lean, research-driven team moves at lightning speed—bringing lab prototypes into real-world deployment. As a working student, you’ll support both hardware and software engineers, gaining hands-on experience in microelectronics and embedded coding

What You’ll Do

Lab Support & Prototyping: Assist in hardware bring-up, PCB testing, and component validation on single-board computers (e.g., Raspberry Pi) and microcontroller platforms (e.g., STM32).

Equipment Setup & Calibration: Help install, configure, and calibrate lab instruments—oscilloscopes, signal generators, logic analyzers, power supplies, etc.—and maintain their operating readiness.

Test Bench & CI Maintenance: Build and run automated test rigs and maintain our continuous-integration pipelines for firmware and system tests.

Firmware & Script Development: Write and debug embedded C/C++ or Python scripts for board bring-up, peripheral drivers, and data-logging utilities.

Documentation & Inventory: Keep design files, bills of materials, and lab inventories up to date; draft clear hardware and software usage guides.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work side-by-side with senior engineers—troubleshooting circuits, refining firmware, and preparing demos for R&D evaluations.

What We’re Looking For

Enrollment: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics, Computer Science, or a related field.

Microelectronics Basics: Solid understanding of analog/digital circuit principles, reading schematics, and solder-level board work.

Coding Skills: Experience programming in Python and/or C/C++; familiarity with microcontroller toolchains (e.g., STM32CubeMX, Arduino IDE) is a plus.

Lab Instruments: Comfortable using and learning to calibrate multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and power supplies.

Soft Skills: Strong communicator in English; German proficiency welcome but not required. Organized, proactive, and able to juggle multiple tasks in a fast-paced R&D environment. English required; German proficiency is a plus

Availability: ~20 hours per week, flexible around your study schedule.

Why Join Us

Practical Experience: Gain direct exposure to cutting-edge hardware security projects and embedded-systems workflows.

Mentorship & Growth: Learn from senior engineers and have your contributions shape real prototypes.

Flexible Schedule: Balance your studies with meaningful, paid R&D work.

Collaborative Culture: Join a tight-knit team where your ideas matter and your work drives impact.

How to Apply

Email your CV, and any code samples/GitHub links you want to share to  info@viss.cc. We review applications on a rolling basis; early submissions encouraged!

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Position: Working Student / Intern
Location: CyberLab, Karlsruhe, Germany

Start Date: Flexible

About Us
At VISS, we’re redefining cybersecurity with a patented hardware device that physically isolates critical endpoints from Internet-borne threats. Our lean, research-driven team moves at lightning speed—bringing lab prototypes into real-world deployment. As a working student, you’ll support both hardware and software engineers, gaining hands-on experience in microelectronics and embedded coding

Positions Available

Business Development & Grant Writing Intern – Partnerships, Funding

Digital Marketing Intern – Content, Lead Gen

UI/UX Design Intern – Prototyping, Usability

Firmware Development Intern – Embedded, STM32

Cybersecurity Research Intern – PenTest, Threat Modeling

Regulatory Affairs Intern – Compliance, CE/FCC

R&D Innovation Intern – Prototyping, Patents

Why Join Us

Practical Experience: Gain direct exposure to cutting-edge hardware security projects and embedded-systems workflows.

Mentorship & Growth: Learn from senior engineers and have your contributions shape real prototypes.

Flexible Schedule: Balance your studies with meaningful, paid R&D work.

Collaborative Culture: Join a tight-knit team where your ideas matter and your work drives impact.

How to Apply

Email your CV, and any code samples/GitHub links you want to share to  info@viss.cc. We review applications on a rolling basis; early submissions encouraged!

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.