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The Forge — Hardware Engineers

The Forge is a curated database of the world's best hardware engineers — built by The Final Leap. We match exceptional engineers with top robotics and space hardware companies. This takes 8 minutes. Be specific — vague answers get deprioritised.

01. Identity

Full name

Email address

Phone Number

City / Location

LinkedIn URL

GitHub URL

Portfolio URL

02. Education

Highest degree

Field of study

Institution

03. Domain Expertise

Select every domain you have real hands-on experience in. Real means you have built something, shipped something, or worked professionally in this area — not just studied it.

Areas of expertise

Mechanical design

Kinematics & dynamics

Actuators & motors

PCB design

Embedded systems

Power electronics

Control systems

ROS / Robot middleware

Sensor integration

SLAM / Perception

Edge ML / Embedded AI

Propulsion systems

Avionics

Structures & composites

Thermal management

Manufacturing & DFM

Materials science

Systems integration

BCI / Neural interface

Firmware

Primary focus

Years of hands-on hardware experience

04. Tools & Hardware

CAD & simulation tools you use regularly

SolidWorks

CATIA

Fusion 360

Onshape

Altium

KiCad

MATLAB / Simulink

ANSYS

ROS 2

NVIDIA Isaac

Hardware you have physically built or worked with

e.g. 6-DOF robotic arm, brushless motor drive, IMU stabilization system, custom PCB for motor control

05. The Real Questions

Short answers are fine. Specific answers beat long ones every time.

1. Describe a hardware tradeoff you made in a project. What did you trade and why?

2. What is the hardest physical constraint you have worked against — and how did you handle it?

3. What is the most domain-specific thing you know that engineers outside your field wouldn't?

4. What do you think the industry is getting wrong about humanoid robotics or space hardware?

06. Career & Openness

Current status

Current or last company

Type of opportunity you're open to

Willing to relocate?

Expected salary range

Annual, in INR or USD. e.g. ₹25–40L or $80–120K