Early Contributor Product Development – Engineering / Embedded Systems

Founding Team forAbacus Mind: Tangible tools to combat digital overwhelm

Task: Support the development of a functional prototype Option: Prospect of a long-term key role in the team

About the project

Abacus Mind builds physical tools for contexts where screens aren’t welcome but functionality is needed. Our first product, CorkBox, uses physical tokens to play locally stored audio content, with no streaming, cloud services, or digital interfaces.

CorkBox forms the electronic core of a broader ecosystem of tangible tools (phonestorage boxes, adjustable abacuses, stacking stones, hourglasses) designed to help adults set healthier boundaries with technology. We are creating tools that bring analog interaction to digital content. The approach is particularly relevant for knowledge workers, neurodivergent adults, and anyone seeking to reduce screen time without losing capability.

The concept is rooted in Dr. Whitaker’s postdoctoral research at TU Dresden on tactile processing and embodied cognition and is being developed within the EXIST start-up funding framework.

Who we are looking for

We’re looking for someone with technical depth and an interest in hands-on prototyping. If you enjoy building embedded systems from scratch and want to shape a hardware product from its earliest stages, we’d be happy to hear from you.

Your profile:

• Studies or a degree in electrical engineering, embedded systems, mechatronics, or related fields
• Experience with microcontrollers (ESP32, STM32, Arduino)
• Knowledge of wireless protocols (NFC, RFID, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth)
• Familiarity with PCB design (KiCad, Eagle, Altium)
• Understanding of power electronics, charging circuits, or battery management
• Practical experience with prototyping (soldering, breadboards, 3D-printed housings)

What you will do:

• Development of the CorkBox hardware architecture
• Implementation of magnetic docking with wireless power delivery to battery-free tokens
• Integration of NFC and ultra-short-range Wi-Fi systems with RF containment
• Development of haptic feedback mechanisms
• Collaboration with industrial design for enclosure and manufacturing feasibility

What to expect

• Active participation in shaping a new physical-digital product
• Small interdisciplinary team with flat hierarchies
• Space for your own ideas and experimentation
• If funded: Full-time position for 1 year starting May 2026
• Dresden-based with remote flexibility
• Personal stipend (depending on status): €1,000-3,000/month + €150 child allowance per child

The team

Dr. Grace Whitaker – Cognitive Neuroscience & Product Development You – Embedded Systems Engineering UX/Interaction Designer – currently being recruited

Applications open until: January 30, 2026

Abacus Mind – Analog relief for digital overwhelm