Lead Hardware Engineer

Synergize Consulting; Luton; On-site; GBP 79,556 - 113,307; Part time

Job summary

Synergize Consulting in Luton is seeking an experienced Principal/Lead Hardware Engineer (Contract) for a highly technical defence programme. You will focus on high-speed digital and mixed-signal hardware, FPGA/SoC architectures, and complex PCB design for airborne, maritime, and land platforms.

Candidates should have FPGA-based hardware design experience, embedded system integration, signal integrity and hardware verification competence.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in FPGA-based hardware design in safety-critical or defence contexts.
• Strong background in high-speed digital and mixed-signal hardware.
• Experience with DO-254 or MIL-STD would be beneficial.
• Ability to work across Systems, Firmware, Software and Mechanical teams.

Responsibilities

• Design high-speed digital and mixed-signal hardware.
• Develop FPGA/SoC architectures and interfaces (DDR, PCIe, Ethernet).
• Create complex multilayer PCB layouts and schematics.
• Lead hardware integration, verification and qualification.
• Perform board-level debugging with standard test equipment.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to meet programme milestones.

Skills

FPGA design

Mixed-signal HW

High-speed interfaces

PCB design

Hardware verification

Cross-functional collab

Job description

Principal / Lead Hardware Engineer (Contract)

Luton based – 4 days a week onsite

SC Clearance is essential

Up to £70 p/h Inside IR35

I'm working with a leading engineering organisation delivering some of the UK's most advanced defence technology programmes and am looking to speak with experienced Principal/Lead Hardware Engineers.

This is an opportunity to work on cutting‑edge electronic systems deployed across airborne, maritime and land‑based platforms, designing mission‑critical hardware that supports real‑world operational capability.

What you'll be working on:

• High-speed digital and mixed‑signal hardware design
• FPGA & SoC‑based architectures (Xilinx, AMD, Intel/Altera)
• High-speed interfaces including DDR, PCIe & Ethernet
• Complex multilayer PCB design and schematic capture
• Hardware integration, verification and system qualification
• Board‑level debugging using industry-standard test equipment
• Collaboration across Systems, Firmware, Software, RF and Mechanical Engineering teams

We're looking for engineers with experience in:

• FPGA-based hardware design
• Embedded systems integration
• Signal integrity, EMC/EMI and hardware verification
• Aerospace, Defence or other safety‑critical engineering environments Electronic Warfare, Radar, RF Systems, Communications, Sensor Systems or DO‑254, DEF STAN or MIL‑STD environments

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a highly skilled engineering team delivering complex programmes from concept through to integration, qualification and customer acceptance.