Hardware Design Engineer

Actalent; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Hardware Design Engineer in Milpitas, CA to lead system- and board-level hardware development for high-end products, with a strong emphasis on high-speed digital design, clocking, and timing performance.

You will drive PCB layout guidance, perform high-speed simulations (HSPICE), select components, and collaborate with firmware, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to ensure robust integration of CPUs, memory, FPGAs and subsystems.

Qualifications

• Experience in system- and board-level hardware design for high-speed applications.
• Proficiency in signal integrity, timing, and jitter analysis for 10 Gbps+ signals.
• Strong PCB routing guidance and collaboration with layout engineers.
• Familiarity with PCIe, USB, SAS/SATA, Ethernet and related high-speed buses.
• Experience with CPUs, memory and FPGA-based architectures.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop system-level and board-level hardware for high-end products with an emphasis on high-speed digital circuits.
• Lead PCB layout activities by providing detailed guidance on high-speed routing, signal integrity, timing, and jitter considerations.
• Perform high-speed simulations using tools such as HSPICE to validate design performance and ensure compliance with specifications.
• Select and qualify electronic components, ensuring compatibility with system requirements and long-term product reliability.
• Design and implement high-speed clock circuits, including measurement and optimization of timing and jitter performance.
• Develop hardware solutions incorporating CPUs, memory, FPGAs, and related subsystems to meet system architecture and performance goals.
• Support manufacturing teams by addressing hardware-related issues, reviewing test results, and assisting with design-for-manufacturability improvements.
• Provide technical support to customer-facing teams by helping diagnose and resolve hardware and system-level issues in the field.
• Collaborate on enclosure design and associated sub-assemblies to ensure proper integration of boards, connectors, and high-speed interfaces.
• Debug complex hardware systems and interfaces, including PCIe, USB, Ethernet, SAS/SATA, and other high-speed buses.
• Create and maintain design documentation, including schematics, simulation reports, and design guidelines for high-speed circuits.
• Work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of hardware with firmware, software, and mechanical designs.

Skills

High-speed digital design

PCB routing guidance

Signal integrity analysis

Timing and jitter management

High-speed bus protocols (PCIe, USB, S

CPU, memory, FPGA architectures

HSPICE simulations

Debugging complex hardware

Education

Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) or similar

Tools

HSPICE

Job description

Job Title: Hardware Design Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced system-level hardware design engineer with a strong focus on high-speed digital design. In this product development role, you will drive board and system-level design activities, guide PCB layout and simulations, select critical components, and support manufacturing and customer-facing teams. You will contribute to the development of high-end systems, providing expertise in high-speed simulation, layout guidance, and collaboration on enclosure design and associated sub-assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop system-level and board-level hardware for high-end products with an emphasis on high-speed digital circuits.
• Lead PCB layout activities by providing detailed guidance on high-speed routing, signal integrity, timing, and jitter considerations.
• Perform high-speed simulations using tools such as HSPICE to validate design performance and ensure compliance with specifications.
• Select and qualify electronic components, ensuring compatibility with system requirements and long-term product reliability.
• Design and implement high-speed clock circuits, including measurement and optimization of timing and jitter performance.
• Develop hardware solutions incorporating CPUs, memory, FPGAs, and related subsystems to meet system architecture and performance goals.
• Support manufacturing teams by addressing hardware-related issues, reviewing test results, and assisting with design-for-manufacturability improvements.
• Provide technical support to customer-facing teams by helping diagnose and resolve hardware and system-level issues in the field.
• Collaborate on enclosure design and associated sub-assemblies to ensure proper integration of boards, connectors, and high-speed interfaces.
• Debug complex hardware systems and interfaces, including PCIe, USB, Ethernet, SAS/SATA, and other high-speed buses.
• Create and maintain design documentation, including schematics, simulation reports, and design guidelines for high-speed circuits.
• Work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of hardware with firmware, software, and mechanical designs.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 8 years of system-level and board-level hardware design experience.
• Proven experience with high-speed digital design at data rates of 10 Gbps or higher.
• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) or a similar technical discipline.
• Strong expertise in high-speed clock circuit design, implementation, and measurement.
• Excellent knowledge of high-speed design methodologies and simulation techniques for 10 Gbps or higher signals.
• Hands-on experience with high-speed bus technologies such as PCIe, USB, SAS/SATA, and Ethernet.
• Proficiency in using HSPICE or similar tools for high-speed signal integrity simulations.
• Solid understanding of CPU, memory, and FPGA-based system architectures and interfaces.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and manage timing and jitter in high-speed digital systems.
• Strong debugging skills for complex board-level and system-level hardware issues.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• FPGA logic development experience, including design, implementation, and verification.
• Experience providing layout guidance for high-speed PCBs and working closely with layout engineers.
• Experience in supporting manufacturing and customer support teams with hardware-related issues.
• Ability to collaborate on enclosure and sub-assembly design to ensure optimal hardware integration.
• Strong communication skills to work effectively with cross-functional engineering and support teams.
• Attention to detail and a systematic approach to documentation, testing, and design validation.

Work Environment

This is an onsite role based in a professional engineering environment, working five days per week, Monday through Friday. You will collaborate closely with hardware, firmware, mechanical, and manufacturing teams, using industry-standard design and simulation tools for high-speed digital hardware development. The work focuses on product development and system-level integration in a lab and office setting, with access to test and measurement equipment for validating high-speed circuits and interfaces.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Milpitas, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $90.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Milpitas, CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 23, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Milpitas,CA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.