Our Custom Electronics Design and Engineering Experts
Your product’s success hinges on seamlessly integrating electronics, firmware, and mechanical elements. Our in-house electronics team collaborates with designers and software engineers throughout development, eliminating the disconnects and delays that typically occur when electronics engineering is outsourced or siloed.
Video: Meet our electronics design team (1:45min)
Trusted to develop manufacture-ready connected products for Companies, Start-Ups, and Entrepreneurs
Our hardware team designs electronics and custom circuit boards for your new design.
Our fully integrated software and hardware team creates high-quality electronics to operate the device, selecting alternatives for each electronic function and we use off-the-shelf components where possible.
Design 1st electronics team working in our labs.
Electronics Engineering That Delivers Market-Ready Products
Our approach ensures your custom-designed electronics work to specification. Avoid costly redesigns and certification delays through:
- Circuit design and simulation for first-pass success
- Concurrent engineering to avoid PCB–enclosure conflicts
- Weekly reviews to catch integration issues early
- Early component selection with procurement input
- Early thermal and EMC tests to avoid certification failures
- Manufacturing input during PCB layout to accelerate readiness
Electronics Design Services and Specializations
Our fully integrated software and hardware design teams create innovative user experiences, custom apps, and we integrate advanced sensors, enabling real-time data analysis and control at the edge.
Embedded System Design
Meeting all your embedded systems design needs, we can:
- Architect I/O,MCU,DSP,FPGA system elements
- Source components for cost/size/power constraints
- Analog interface circuitry
- ADC/DAC mixed-signal design
- Battery power management systems
- JTAG, UART debug/test interfaces
- Memory SDRAM, Flash, EEPROM elements
- Electrical Circuit protection and EMC elements
PC Board & Wireless Design
Providing you with a full range of PC board design services, we can:
- Analog, digital, optical, and RF design
- Wireless interfaces, including Wi-Fi/WLAN (802.11), Bluetooth®, GPS, Cellular, RFID, LoRa, ZigBee®
- Electronic system architecture, detailed circuit design and schematic capture
- PCB layout, including mixed signal/high speed/ flex circuit (Allegro®, Altium®, PADS®)
- Design for manufacturability/testability (DFM/DFT)
- Design for standards compliance (Safety, EMC/EMI)
Electronic Component - Code Design
Fulfilling all your software design requirements, we can:
- Design robust real-time architecture for microcontrollers (STM32, ESP32, NRF52/53, NXP, ARM Cortex) and Linux/RTOS platforms
- Develop low-level drivers, firmware, and middleware for wired/wireless protocols: Bluetooth 5.x, Wi-Fi 6, Matter, LoRa, Zigbee, Ethernet, USB 3.x, CAN, Modbus
- Optimize resource-constrained environments using C/C++, Python, and bare-metal RTOS implementations
- Build secure IoT ecosystems with seamless cloud integration (AWS IoT, Azure, MQTT, CoAP)
- Enable edge-to-cloud intelligence with embedded AI/ML (TensorFlow Lite, OpenCV, sensor MLC)
- Machine learning core optimization for low-power anomaly detection and predictive analytics
- Sensor Fusion & Edge Intelligence with integration sensor types (IMU, LiDAR, biometrics, UWB, environmental)
Battery and Power Mangement
We help you maximize efficiency in battery-powered connected devices, including:
- Advanced battery charging and management systems with intelligent protection
- Custom AC/DC and DC/DC BUCK/BOOST power supplies for optimal efficiency
- Low power microcontroller solutions
- Energy-efficient ultra-low power IoT sensor networks
- Smart power management for extended battery life
- Power over Ethernet (PoE) implementation for cable-consolidated installations
- Sustainable energy harvesting solutions (solar, vibrational, thermal)
- Wireless power transfer systems
4.7
What Clients Say About Working With Design 1st
Richard Mineo
CEO, Swabbot Solutions LLC
Design 1st Exceeds Expectations in Responsiveness
Design 1st took our Cobot from initial concept through final product testing, handling electrical, mechanical, software, and manufacturing needs all in one team. They efficiently developed our tank access system, finalized our swabbing robot, and created a benchtop version, keeping us updated and responding quickly to every change request.
George Tsintzouras
Director of Product, Christie Digital
Immediately understood what was needed
When we wanted to transition our older generation projector models to a more modern look and feel, Design 1st was a valuable asset. Given the depth of their design and engineering experience, Design 1st immediately understood what was needed. They worked with our internal engineering team through the process to provide us with compatible solutions to meet our needs.
Stephen Rayment
VP Engineering, Ericsson
Our trusted engineering partner for six years
Design 1st has been our trusted industrial design and mechanical engineering partner for over six years and they have proven themselves to be valuable, competent and committed to our success. They add value because they understand the tradeoffs between user value and cost, the need to balance both the business and product objectives, along with excellent knowledge of materials and manufacturing / tooling options.
Mike Tettenborn
VP Engineering, Caframo
Right balance of art and engineering
We selected Design 1st because their designers and engineers demonstrated the right creativity and technical understanding. With their CAD and modelling tools they were able to address the numerous design challenges encountered with this type of product. The end result was an easy-to-install, powerful marine hatch fan – unlike any on the market.
Kurt Francis
Co-Founder, CTO, Molecule
Deepest bench of technical talent
I did a lot of due diligence on product development companies and Design 1st had the deepest bench for technical capability. They worked on such a broad range of products with successful commercialization. Design 1st’s early efforts in prototype development helped us move from a powder substrate into a commercial product for testing.
John Lupton
Director of Engineering, GeoSight
Got up and running fast
The whole design was my idea and I had patents on them. The team’s main work was to solve the functionality issue of a piece of my design. On top of that, they helped identify one of our manufacturers.
Didi Horn
CTO, SkyX
Exceeded Our Expectations
The Design 1st team exceeded our expectations and helped us deliver an exceptional product to the market. As a startup, we were working within a budget but expected the highest quality product. Design 1st identified the risks up front, had the vast network of partners to find the right components, and customized it to meet our unique needs.
End-to-End Product Engineering Expertise to Drive Your Connected Devices
Our electronics team works from concept to manufacturing, ensuring all technical requirements are integrated seamlessly into your product. From concept idea to schematic capture to tested circuit boards, our integrated development teams address design challenges and supply constraints early and eliminate the surprises that typically delay market entry by 4-6 months, keeping your product launch on schedule and within budget.
Time Savings on Schematic Design & Capture
Component research & selection
5 days
1 days
4 days saved
Analysis & documentation
- Procurement analysis & report
- Derating analysis & report
- Interface Communication Document
- Verification checks & report
4 days
Minutes
4 days saved
Schematic capture & verification
3 days
1 day
2 days saved
Project 423 was a moderately complex electronics design. The conceptual design included block diagram, preliminary schematics, and a Bill of Materials. This work was completed in just 2.2 days with our internally developed design toolset, AI assistance and our deep electronics expertise.
Advanced Circuit Design and Component Selection
Modern connected devices demand sophisticated electronics that balance performance, cost, and reliability. In today’s volatile supply landscape, strategic component selection has become mission-critical.
Our electronics team develops resilient circuit designs with multiple sourcing options for critical components. We create detailed power budgets during concept phase, addressing battery capacity and thermal management before mechanical constraints—keeping your product manufacturable despite market fluctuations.
Power Management and Wireless Integration
Effective power management is essential for battery-operated devices, while proper wireless integration determines connectivity performance and certification success.
We optimize circuit designs to achieve 30-50% longer battery life than industry averages for comparable devices. Our wireless product designs are optimized for RF performance, ensuring operational specifications are met or exceeded in your intended applications.
Video: Swabbot Client Case study
Systems Testing and Compliance
Getting a product to market requires navigating complex certification requirements while ensuring real-world reliability.
We conduct pre-compliance EMC/EMI testing during prototyping to identify interference issues before certification.
Our comprehensive thermal imaging and systematic load testing protocols verify real-world performance under diverse environmental conditions, preventing costly field failures and future warranty claims.
PCB Design and Manufacturing Support
The transition from prototype to production demands PCB layouts that balance electrical performance with manufacturing requirements.
Our designs incorporate essential Design for Test elements, programming access, and data capture features supporting both development and high-volume manufacturing. We deliver comprehensive documentation—pick-and-place files, AOI specifications, and test protocols—reducing production startup time by weeks or months.
Video: VP Electronics Explains Designing Electronics for Manufacturing
Our Hardware Electronics Design Process
Our process for designing a printed circuit board (PCB) from an initial idea to a fully assembled PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) involves several iterative stages. We use Altium electronic design automation (EDA) software to meet functional, electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing requirements. Here are the key steps in our electronics design process.
Definition and Architecture
- Idea and Requirements Gathering: Starting with initial product concepts, define user needs and requirements.
- Collaborate with Electronics team: to identify hardware dependencies, processor requirements, sensor types, display resolution…
- System Architecture Design: Outline system, software partitioning, high-level modules, interfaces to custom circuits.
- Software Requirements Specification: Detail requirements, constraints, features, performance metrics, and safety considerations.
Design and Qualify
- User Interface (UI) Design: Design device’s UI – keys, connections, graphical display, LEDs, voice/gesture/motion interactions…
- Capture UI Features and States: Wireframe layout, user flows, peripherals compatibility (touchscreens, keys…).
- State Tables and Modeling: Create state diagrams, tables, finite state machines (FSMs), model device modes (idle, active, error…).
- Map Transitions: Capture transitions triggered by user inputs (keys/switches, sensors) based on states and modes.
- Function Definition: Break down software into functions and modules.
- Detailed Design: Define APIs, data structures, and embedded code for peripherals (drivers for displays, interrupts for switches).
Implementation, Validation And Deployment
- Hardware Prototyping: Assemble prototype PCBA, verify functions, test design assumptions, validate chosen platforms/algorithms.
- Implementation and Coding: Write the software code, including embedded firmware (for microcontrollers…), over air updates etc.
- Application/Custom Code: When required, develop app specific control schemes, algorithms and intelligence (PID loops, ML, etc).
- Integration and Testing: Integrate evolving software into hardware, perform system integration/validation testing to debug code.
- Deployment, Iteration, and Maintenance: Finalize production-ready software, flash it onto devices, and release.
- Maintain Strict Release Control: for software updates – working closely with electronics hardware revision releases.
The idea to software release process is iterative based on user feedback requests and hardware changes may affect software states.
Modeling tools, version control, and simulators enable methodical early software testing with the evolving hardware circuit design.
The Only Team You Need to Solve your Technical, Electronic and Mechanical Design Challenges
Design 1st’s in-house team of experts works as a single unit across design, engineering, software, and manufacturing to reduce risk, streamline development, and launch your connected device faster.
Embedded Systems
Seamless integration of electronics into physical devices.
Embedded Design Team
Mechanical Engineering
Find creative mechanical solutions to technical challenges.
Mechanical Design Team
Industrial Design
Transform your product concept into a refined manufacture-ready design.
Industrial Design Team
Electronics Engineering
Add power, secure connectivity, and interaction control to your products.
Electronic Design Team
Transfer to Manufacturing
Move your product into volume manufacturing.
Manufacture Transfer Team
Design Strategy
Set your new product up for success with a well-laid plan.
Design Strategy Team
Portfolio of Projects
Across every industry, our team excels at developing technically complex projects.
lūp – Magnetic USB Cable
General Fuel Cell
Swabbot
Lumenera Case Study
Molecule – Industrial Dehumidification
ARC Case Study
SkyX – Drone Recharging Station
Ridemaster – Motorcycle Communication
Heatstone – Outdoor Radiant Heating
Zumio – Clitoral Stimulator
vSculpt – Pelvic Floor Toning
TravelWay – Lunch Box Container
Fully Certified and Award-Winning
Our company and staff are professional engineers with multiple industry certifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
NDA’s ensure confidentiality for both parties during conversations. We provide a mutual NDA where the terms apply to both parties. If your organization has an NDA that requires our signature, we handle this through email.
Our process has been refined over hundreds of projects. It is based on rapid iterations that produce concrete ideas and tangible prototypes that can be viewed, assessed, tested, and refined.
The Measures Taken To Ensure Your Products With Electronics Succeed
Design 1st integrates our knowledge and expertise with yours to bring your product idea to life.