Hardware Design Engineer

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced Hardware Design Engineer with a strong background in PCB design, embedded system hardware, power electronics, and hardware testing. The ideal candidate will own the full hardware design lifecycle — from concept and schematic capture through multilayer PCB layout, component selection, bring-up, and production validation — working closely with embedded firmware teams and mechanical engineers to deliver robust, production-ready hardware.

  Key Responsibilities

1. Schematic Design & Circuit Design

• Design and review analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits for embedded products
• Create and maintain detailed schematics using Altium Designer, KiCad, or OrCAD
• Design microcontroller-based circuits integrating MCUs, FPGAs, sensors, and communication ICs
• Design power supply circuits: LDO regulators, SMPS (buck, boost, buck-boost), battery management systems
• Implement ESD protection, EMI filtering, and signal conditioning circuits
• Apply design-for-reliability (DFR) and design-for-manufacturability (DFM) principles

2. PCB Layout & Multilayer Design

• Design multilayer PCBs (4, 6, 8+ layers) with proper layer stack-up planning for signal integrity and EMC
• Perform high-speed PCB layout: controlled impedance traces, differential pairs, length matching
• Plan and execute power and ground plane strategy for low-noise, high-current designs
• Apply best practices for thermal management: copper pours, thermal vias, component placement for heat dissipation
• Follow IPC-2221, IPC-7351 standards for design rules and footprint creation
• Manage PCB DRC (Design Rule Check) and generate Gerber, ODB++, and fabrication outputs
• Coordinate with PCB fabrication and assembly vendors for manufacturability review

3. Component Selection & BOM Management

• Select appropriate electronic components based on electrical specs, temperature ratings, package type, and reliability
• Source components from distributors (Digi-Key, Mouser, Arrow) and evaluate alternatives for cost and availability
• Perform ECAD library creation: schematic symbols and accurate PCB footprints
• Maintain and manage Bill of Materials (BOM) with lifecycle, lead time, and cost considerations
• Identify and qualify alternate/second-source components to avoid supply chain risk
• Review datasheets and application notes to validate component suitability

4. Power Electronics & Power System Design

• Design switching power supplies (SMPS), DC-DC converters, and linear regulators
• Implement battery charging circuits for Li-Ion / Li-Poly / NiMH chemistries
• Analyze power budgets, efficiency, thermal dissipation, and load transient response
• Design and validate power sequencing for multi-rail embedded systems
• Perform power integrity analysis and simulation (LTSpice, PSPICE, or similar)
• Ensure compliance with safety and regulatory requirements (CE, UL, RoHS) for power designs

5. Hardware Testing & Validation

• Develop hardware test plans, test procedures, and validation test cases for new PCB designs
• Perform board bring-up: power-on sequencing, voltage rail verification, peripheral enumeration
• Use lab instruments to test and characterize circuits: oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, LCR meter, multimeter, power supply
• Conduct EMI/EMC pre-compliance testing and resolve emission or immunity failures
• Perform thermal testing, stress testing, and environmental testing (temperature, humidity)
• Execute functional testing for all interfaces: UART, SPI, I2C, USB, CAN, Ethernet
• Debug hardware failures using schematic analysis, in-circuit probing, and rework
• Document test results, failure analysis reports, and corrective actions

6. Embedded System Hardware Support

• Collaborate with firmware engineers for hardware-firmware co-design and integration
• Define hardware abstraction layer (HAL) requirements based on peripheral interfaces
• Support JTAG/SWD debugger integration, bootloader flashing, and programming interface design
• Review firmware team's hardware requirements and incorporate them into design
• Assist in hardware debugging during firmware bring-up and integration testing

7. Documentation & Collaboration

• Prepare detailed hardware design documents: block diagrams, schematics, layout guidelines, test reports
• Create and maintain hardware BOM, assembly drawings, and manufacturing notes
• Support design reviews (schematic review, layout review, DFM review)
• Coordinate with mechanical team for enclosure fit, connector placement, and thermal design
• Participate in Agile/sprint planning and support product lifecycle milestones

  Required Skills & Qualifications

  Preferred / Good to Have

• Experience with FPGA-based hardware design (Xilinx / Intel Altera)
• Knowledge of high-speed design: DDR memory, PCIe, USB 3.x, GigE
• Familiarity with RF/antenna design for wireless products (Wi-Fi, BLE, LoRa, GSM)
• Experience with DO-254, IEC 61508, or automotive (AEC-Q100) hardware standards
• Exposure to ITAR/MIL-spec hardware or aerospace/defense electronics
• Knowledge of ECAD-MCAD collaboration (SolidWorks, Fusion 360) for enclosure fit
• Experience with flying probe or ICT (In-Circuit Test) fixture design
• Understanding of firmware (C / Python) for hardware validation scripting