Hardware Engineer

Octagon Group; Newtown; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Octagon Group in Newtown, Powys, is seeking a Hardware Engineer to troubleshoot and improve hardware systems within an in-house R&D team. You’ll design, prototype, test, and bench‑verify new solutions, advancing products from concept to production.

The role requires hands‑on prototyping, strong technical writing, and clear communication across disciplines. You’ll collaborate with engineers, technicians and managers, delivering documented designs on schedule and contributing to the wider system

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in hardware engineering.
• A degree, or equivalent, in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science or a related field.
• Hands-on experience building prototypes, experimenting on systems and bench testing.
• Excellent technical writing.
• Strong communication skills, written and spoken, at all levels including management.
• Comfortable working on your own and as an active team member.

Responsibilities

• Analyze hardware problems and write reports with recommendations for improvement
• Create designs and blueprints for improved versions of existing systems and for new systems
• Build prototypes, or oversee their production and assembly, then test and refine them to meet the specification
• Select production equipment and write purchase orders or the documents that justify it
• Record data on system functions, capabilities and requirements
• Supervise and train technicians, designers and junior engineers, and give ongoing technical support
• Work to agreed timescales and project plans
• Work every day with engineers from other disciplines to make sure solutions fit the wider system architecture
• Write clear, concise technical documentation and reports
• Present, discuss and justify design concepts

Skills

Hardware engineering

Prototyping

Technical writing

Team collaboration

Independent working

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field

Job description

We’re recruiting a Hardware Engineer for an established engineering business with an in-house R&D department in Newtown, Powys. You’ll troubleshoot existing hardware systems, design better ones, then build and bench test the prototypes. You’ll work in a multi-skilled team with plenty of development opportunities.

About the Hardware Engineer role

You’ll use your technical and applied mathematics skills to find problems and solve them. Sometimes you’ll be part of a larger team on major projects. At other times you’ll take on smaller design challenges on your own.

Key responsibilities

• Analyse hardware problems and write reports with recommendations for improvement
• Create designs and blueprints for improved versions of existing systems and for new systems
• Build prototypes, or oversee their production and assembly, then test and refine them to meet the specification
• Select production equipment and write purchase orders or the documents that justify it
• Record data on system functions, capabilities and requirements
• Supervise and train technicians, designers and junior engineers, and give ongoing technical support
• Work to agreed timescales and project plans
• Work every day with engineers from other disciplines to make sure solutions fit the wider system architecture
• Write clear, concise technical documentation and reports
• Present, discuss and justify design concepts

Skills and experience for this Hardware Engineer job

• Relevant experience in hardware engineering
• A degree, or equivalent, in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science or a related field
• Hands-on experience building prototypes, experimenting on systems and bench testing
• Excellent technical writing
• Strong communication skills, written and spoken, at all levels including management
• Comfortable working on your own and as an active team member