Hardware Design Manager

Spectrum IT Recruitment; Southampton; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Spectrum IT Recruitment is partnering with a rapidly growing technology company to hire an experienced Hardware Design Manager. You will lead and grow the RTL/Digital Hardware engineering team, delivering ASIC and FPGA projects while scaling processes and adopting AI-assisted tools.

You will manage teams across locations, recruit and mentor engineers, and provide technical leadership to shape the hardware organisation as it expands. This role blends tech depth with people leadership.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and growing digital hardware/RTL engineering teams.
• Strong technical background in ASIC and/or FPGA development.
• Experience across architecture, RTL design and verification.
• Track record of recruiting, developing and retaining engineering talent.
• Strong knowledge of hardware development methodologies and design flows.
• Ability to balance technical leadership, people development and project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a growing RTL/Digital Hardware engineering organisation.
• Manage engineering teams across multiple locations.
• Recruit, mentor and develop high‑performing engineers.
• Provide technical leadership across ASIC/FPGA development.
• Improve engineering processes, methodologies and design flows.
• Drive adoption of automation and AI-assisted engineering tools.
• Work with architects, project managers and senior stakeholders.
• Support technology and product roadmap development.
• Take ownership of engineering quality, performance and hardware delivery.

Skills

RTL design

ASIC development

FPGA development

Leadership

People management

Engineering delivery

Automation

AI tools

Hiring/Mentoring

Architecture

Job description

Spectrum IT Recruitment is working with a rapidly growing technology company to recruit a Hardware Design Manager to lead and develop its RTL engineering capability.

This is a senior leadership position combining technical direction, people management and engineering delivery, with responsibility for a growing team developing advanced ASIC and FPGA technology.

You’ll play a key role in shaping the engineering organisation as it scales, building high-performing teams, improving development processes and introducing modern engineering methodologies – including AI-assisted development tools.

Experience within 5G/6G, wireless communications, satellite technology, DSP or semiconductor IP would be particularly valuable.

We’re also keen to speak with engineering leaders who have experience scaling teams through significant growth or introducing new development automation and AI-based engineering tools.

If you’re an experienced Hardware Engineering Manager who still understands the technology at a deep level but gets the most satisfaction from building teams, developing engineers and creating an environment where great engineering can happen, I’d be keen to speak with you.

The role will include:

• Leading and developing a growing RTL / Digital Hardware engineering organisation
• Managing engineering teams across multiple locations
• Recruiting, mentoring and developing high-performing engineers
• Providing technical leadership across ASIC and FPGA development
• Improving engineering processes, methodologies and design flows
• Driving adoption of automation and AI-assisted engineering tools
• Working closely with architects, project managers and senior stakeholders
• Supporting technology and product roadmap development
• Taking ownership of engineering quality, performance and successful hardware delivery
• Proven experience leading and growing digital hardware / RTL engineering teams
• Strong technical background in ASIC and/or FPGA development
• Experience across architecture, RTL design and verification
• A track record of recruiting, developing and retaining engineering talent
• Strong knowledge of hardware development methodologies and design flows
• The ability to balance technical leadership, people development and project delivery