Hardware Design Architect

Maxonic Inc.; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Maxonic seeks an experienced Hardware Design Architect in Milpitas, CA to lead the architecture and development of next-generation test platforms. You will collaborate across firmware, FPGA, mechanical, and validation teams to deliver scalable, reliable hardware solutions.

The role demands 15+ years in hardware design, 5+ years leading architecture, and deep knowledge of high-speed interfaces, SI/PI, PCB reviews, and manufacturing support. Onsite in Milpitas with strong leadership opportunities.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of hardware design and development experience.
• 5+ years leading hardware architecture and technical development of complex electronic systems.
• Expertise in high-speed digital design and architecture.
• Experience with PCIe Gen4/Gen5/Gen6, USB, I2C, SMBus, UART, DDR memory systems, high-speed serial interfaces.
• Strong knowledge of: Signal Integrity (SI), Power Integrity (PI), Power distribution network design, EMI/EMC considerations, Thermal management.
• Expertise in PCB design and review using Cadence Allegro or equivalent design tools.
• Experience with FPGA, CPLD, and embedded system integration.
• Strong knowledge of control interfaces including SPI, I2C, UART, JTAG, and related protocols.
• Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, validation, debugging, and manufacturing support.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for hardware architecture decisions and executive-level design reviews.
• Define system-level hardware architectures and technical requirements for next-generation tester platforms and supporting infrastructure.
• Drive key technical decisions balancing performance, cost, manufacturability, reliability, and schedule objectives.
• Lead architecture reviews, design reviews, technical risk assessments, and design tradeoff analyses.
• Develop technology roadmaps and evaluate emerging technologies, components, and industry standards.
• Lead hardware development from concept, feasibility, architecture, design, validation, qualification, and manufacturing release.
• Review and approve hardware architectures, schematics, PCB layouts, simulation results, validation plans, and qualification strategies.
• Drive first-pass design success through robust engineering methodologies and design practices.
• Provide architectural oversight for high-speed digital, mixed-signal, power, and control systems.
• Drive root-cause investigations and corrective actions for critical design and manufacturing issues.
• Participate in hardware bring-up, debugging, validation, and failure analysis activities.

Skills

High-speed design

Signal Integrity

Power Integrity

PCB design

System integration

Tools

Cadence Allegro

FPGA tooling

Job description

Maxonic maintains a close and long-term relationship with our direct client. In support of their needs, we are looking for a Hardware Design Architect.

Job Description

• Job Title: Hardware Design Architect
• Job Location: Milpitas, CA
• Work Schedule: onsite

We are seeking an experienced Hardware Design Architect to lead the architecture, design, and development of next-generation high-performance test and validation platforms. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in high-speed digital design, signal integrity, power delivery, board-level architecture, and system integration. This individual will work closely with Firmware, FPGA, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Validation, and Program Management teams to deliver scalable, reliable, and cost-effective hardware solutions.

Responsibilities

Architecture & Technical Leadership

• Serve as the technical authority for hardware architecture decisions and executive-level design reviews.
• Define system-level hardware architectures and technical requirements for next-generation tester platforms and supporting infrastructure.
• Drive key technical decisions balancing performance, cost, manufacturability, reliability, and schedule objectives.
• Lead architecture reviews, design reviews, technical risk assessments, and design tradeoff analyses.
• Develop technology roadmaps and evaluate emerging technologies, components, and industry standards.

Hardware Development

• Lead hardware development from concept, feasibility, architecture, design, validation, qualification, and manufacturing release.
• Review and approve hardware architectures, schematics, PCB layouts, simulation results, validation plans, and qualification strategies.
• Drive first-pass design success through robust engineering methodologies and design practices.
• Provide architectural oversight for high-speed digital, mixed-signal, power, and control systems.

Technical Expertise

• Lead technical resolution of complex hardware issues involving: High-speed interfaces, Signal Integrity (SI), Power Integrity (PI), Power delivery networks, Thermal challenges, System-level integration.
• Drive root-cause investigations and corrective actions for critical design and manufacturing issues.
• Participate in hardware bring-up, debugging, validation, and failure analysis activities.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of hardware design and development experience.
• 5+ years leading hardware architecture and technical development of complex electronic systems.
• Expertise in high-speed digital design and architecture.
• Experience with PCIe Gen4/Gen5/Gen6, USB, I2C, SMBus, UART, DDR memory systems, High-speed serial interfaces
• Strong knowledge of: Signal Integrity (SI), Power Integrity (PI), Power distribution network design, EMI/EMC considerations, Thermal management
• Expertise in PCB design and review using Cadence Allegro or equivalent design tools.
• Experience with FPGA, CPLD, and embedded system integration.
• Strong knowledge of control interfaces including SPI, I2C, UART, JTAG, and related protocols.
• Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, validation, debugging, and manufacturing support.

About Maxonic

Since 2002 Maxonic has been at the forefront of connecting candidate strengths to client challenges. Our award winning, dedicated team of recruiting professionals are specialized by technology, are great listeners, and will seek to find a position that meets the long-term career needs of our candidates. We take pride in the over 10,000 candidates that we have placed, and the repeat business that we earn from our satisfied clients.