Lead Hardware Engineer

Zenovo; Rawtenstall; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A long-established technology manufacturer in Blackburn seeks a Lead Hardware Engineer to take ownership of system-level design within a close-knit product team. The role involves end-to-end hardware development for embedded systems, hands-on debugging, and collaboration with firmware engineers. Candidates should have solid PCB design experience and strong system design skills with MCUs. The position offers a competitive salary and hybrid working conditions.

Benefits

Hybrid working

Flexible hours

Modern labs

Senior-level influence

Qualifications

• Solid PCB design/layout awareness with a pragmatic approach to EMC/EMI.
• Analogue design skills (sensors/ADC interfacing, DC/DC power stages).
• Strong system design experience with single-chip MCUs.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end hardware development for embedded systems.
• Board bring-up, lab debugging, and problem-solving.
• Partnering with firmware to define interfaces and power budgets.

Skills

PCB design/layout awareness

Analogue design skills

System design experience with MCUs

Knowledge of industrial interfaces

Integrating modular communications

Tools

Scopes

Logic analysers

JTAG tools

Job description

Lead Hardware Engineer

Location: Blackburn (hybrid - 1 day onsite per week)

Salary: up to £75,000 + benefits

The company

A long-established technology manufacturer designing and building intelligent electronic products for global markets. With a strong, multi-year roadmap, they re investing in R&D and strengthening their hardware capability.

The role

You ll be the go-to hardware specialist in a close-knit product team, taking ownership of system-level design and collaborating daily with embedded firmware engineers. Expect a hands-on role spanning concept, schematic, layout input, bring-up, EMC, and release to manufacture.

What you ll be doing

• End-to-end hardware development for embedded systems (schematic capture, component selection, DfM/DfT, verification).
• Board bring-up, lab debugging, and problem-solving using scopes, logic analysers, and JTAG tools.
• Partnering with firmware to define interfaces, power budgets, and test strategies.
• Driving EMC/EMI compliance from design-through to test and sign-off.
• Supporting NPI, test fixtures, documentation, and sustaining engineering as products scale.

What you ll need

• Solid PCB design/layout awareness with a pragmatic approach to EMC/EMI.
• Analogue design skills (sensors/ADC interfacing, DC/DC power stages).
• Strong system design experience with single-chip MCUs (e.g. Renesas M16C, TI MSP430, STM32) and associated debug toolchains.
• Exposure to higher-end application processors (e.g. NXP i.MX6, ARM Cortex-A7).
• Knowledge of industrial and peripheral interfaces (e.g. RS-485, SPI, I C, UART).
• Integrating modular comms: 4G modems, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC.

Nice to have

• Hands-on with IoT/connected products.
• Low-power techniques for battery-operated devices.
• ISM-band RF transceivers for short-range wireless.
• Understanding of mains SMPS topologies and safety considerations.

Why join?

• Senior-level influence on architecture and product direction.
• Varied, tangible products with the backing of a stable, market-leading brand.
• Hybrid working and flexible hours, modern labs, and real ownership.

If interested, please send your updated CV asap. Interviews available at short notice.