Principal Hardware Engineer (Digital)

Alstom; Hatfield; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Alstom Hatfield-based team is seeking a lead engineer to design and develop control centre hardware and firmware for railway signalling systems. You will manage hardware/firmware development plans, interface with software, and drive obsolescence management and NPIs through the PLM tool.

You’ll collaborate with software, supply chain and component engineering to improve requirements capture, test specifications and overall product robustness, while mentoring peers and delivering on-time,

Responsibilities

• Design, development and implementation of digital hardware and firmware for railway signalling control systems.
• Prepare hardware / firmware development plans and interface with software teams.
• Debugging, technical documentation and design/code reviews.

Skills

Digital hardware

Firmware development

FPGA

CPLDs

RTOS

Intel processors

Carrier boards for SoM/CoM

Bus translation PCIe

Serial buses

Communication protocols

Requirements / test specs

Design reviews

Version control

Obsolescence management

Tools

PCB design

BSPs

Job description

Req ID:505982
Location: Hatfield (On-Site 4 days)
Appointment Basis: Permanent
Apply by: 1/9/26
Salary: c80k + Bonus DOE + Benefits

At Alstom, we understand transport networks and what moves people. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, and trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, we offer our diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. Every day, 86,000 colleagues lead the way to greener and smarter mobility worldwide, connecting cities as we reduce carbon and replace cars.

Overview

To lead the design and development / improvement of control centre hardware products, tools and adherence to process. Ensure activities are delivered on time and to budget including work package management. Provide mentorship to other team members. Lead the management of product obsolescence activities (re-design of multiple boards, including support for firmware migration from obsolete to new devices). Supporting and documenting industrial PC configurations, migration of NPI documentation into new PLM tool. Support of product approval, software integration and project delivery, ensuring that the products, tools and processes remain fit for purpose.

You’ll help to improve quality and product robustness through better design methodology. Day-to-day, you’ll work closely with teams across the business such as software, supply chain and component engineering. You will also work towards improving requirements capture and much more.

Responsibilities

• Design, development and implementation of digital hardware (at component level and above) and firmware for railway signalling control systems on bespoke and COTS platforms
• Preparation of hardware / firmware development plans
• Interfacing with software team
• Including specifying the hardware / software interface requirements
• Debugging and trouble shooting
• Technical documentation

We value passion and attitude over experience. That’s why we don’t expect you to have every single skill. Instead, we’ve listed some that we think will help you succeed and grow in this role:

Experience Or Understanding Of

• Digital hardware and firmware
• FPGA and CPLDs
• RTOS
• Housekeeping with Intel processors
• Carrier boards for SoM and CoM
• Bus translation e.g. PCIe to local buses
• Serial and parallel buses
• Communication protocols
• UARTs, USB, SPI, I2C etc
• Working to process
• Working from and creating requirements / test specifications
• Development plans
• Design and code reviews
• Configuration / version control
• Design analysis – timing diagrams etc

Knowledge of

• Memory technologies
• Spartan and Virtex FPGA families or similar
• Ability to read schematics / datasheets
• BSPs
• PCB design / specification
• Knowledge of embedded software and operating systems

Familiarity with

• DFM / DFT
• Setting up test environments
• Set-up and configuration of development tools
• V&V
• Characterisation of HW
• Obsolescence management

Things you’ll enjoy.

Join us on a life-long transformative journey – the rail industry is here to stay, so you can grow and develop new skills and experiences throughout your career.

• Enjoy stability, challenges and a long-term career free from boring daily routines
• Collaborate with transverse teams and helpful colleagues
• Contribute to innovative projects
• Steer your career in whatever direction you choose across functions and countries
• Benefit from our investment in your development, through award-winning learning
• Benefit from a fair and dynamic reward package that recognises your performance and potential, plus comprehensive and competitive social coverage (life, medical, pension)

You don’t need to be a train enthusiast to thrive with us. We guarantee that when you step onto one of our trains with your friends or family, you’ll be proud.

Important to note

Alstom is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local law.

As a 'Disability Confident' employer, we will interview all disabled job applicants who match the essential criteria of the job description or specification. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.