Principal Hardware Design Engineer – Computing Products

Jobtailor; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Cedar Rapids, IA, seeks an experienced hardware engineer to design and analyze Circuit Card Assemblies for avionics computers, including processors, memory, and interfaces. You will lead hardware integration testing, capture schematics, and design avionics I/O interfaces such as Ethernet, ARINC 429, MIL-STD 1553, and PCIe.

You will oversee PCB layout, apply DfX practices, mentor junior engineers, support the full hardware lifecycle from pursuit to factory transition, and collaborate

Qualifications

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics; 8+ years experience or advanced degree with 5+ years experience.
• Hands‑on troubleshooting experience.
• Experience in the defense or aerospace industry preferred.
• Experience with avionics regulatory and certification requirements (TSO, DO-160, DO-254, MIL-STD-461) preferred.
• U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze Circuit Card Assemblies for avionics computers, including processors, memory, and interfaces.
• Perform hardware integration testing using laboratory equipment.
• Capture schematics for mixed-signal digital/analog electrical circuit designs.
• Design avionics I/O interfaces including Ethernet, ARINC 429, MIL-STD 1553, and PCIe.
• Oversee Printed Circuit Board layout.
• Apply Design to Cost, Design for Manufacturing, and Design for Test practices.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and delegate tasks.
• Support all phases of the hardware development lifecycle, including program pursuit, design, integration, verification, and factory transition.
• Collaborate with Systems, Software, Mechanical, Environmental Effects, Manufacturing/Operations, and Design-to-Cost teams.
• Ensure product requirements are successfully achieved.
• Perform hands‑on troubleshooting and, where applicable, root cause analysis and corrective actions.

Skills

Hardware testing

Root cause analysis

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics

Advanced degree in related field

Tools

PCB layout

Electrical circuit simulation

EMI/EMC testing

Job description

• Design and analyze Circuit Card Assemblies for avionics computers, including processors, memory, and interfaces


• Perform hardware integration testing using laboratory equipment


• Capture schematics for mixed-signal digital/analog electrical circuit designs


• Design avionics I/O interfaces including Ethernet, ARINC 429, MIL-STD 1553, and PCIe


• Oversee Printed Circuit Board layout


• Apply Design to Cost, Design for Manufacturing, and Design for Test practices


• Mentor less experienced engineers and delegate tasks


• Support all phases of the hardware development lifecycle, including program pursuit, design, integration, verification, and factory transition


• Collaborate with Systems, Software, Mechanical, Environmental Effects, Manufacturing/Operations, and Design-to-Cost teams


• Ensure product requirements are successfully achieved


• Perform hands‑on troubleshooting and, where applicable, root cause analysis and corrective actions

Requirements

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics and minimum 8 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience


• Hands‑on troubleshooting experience


• Excellent communication and presentation skills


• Ability to work collaboratively and independently on assigned tasks


• Experience in the defense or aerospace industry preferred


• Experience with EMI/EMC, lightning protection circuits, and testing preferred


• Demonstrated use of software tools for electrical circuit simulation and/or PCB layout preferred


• Experience with avionics regulatory and certification requirements including TSO, DO-160, DO-254, or MIL-STD-461 preferred


• Demonstrated ability to perform root cause analysis and drive corrective actions preferred


• U.S. citizenship required

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in designing and analyzing Circuit Card Assemblies for avionics systems, with a strong focus on hardware integration testing, troubleshooting, and compliance with avionics regulatory requirements. Proven ability to mentor engineers and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to ensure successful product development.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Circuit Card Assembly Design


• Hardware Integration Testing


• Avionics Regulatory Compliance


• Root Cause Analysis


• Mentoring and Task Delegation

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Circuit Design


• Mixed-Signal Design


• Troubleshooting


• EMI/EMC Testing


• PCB Layout


• Electrical Circuit Simulation


• Design for Manufacturing


• Design for Test


• Avionics I/O Interface Design


• Factory Transition Support

Soft Skills

• Excellent Communication


• Collaboration


• Independent Work


• Presentation Skills

Certifications & Qualifications

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics


• TSO Certification


• DO-160 Certification


• DO-254 Certification


• MIL-STD-461 Certification

Industry Keywords

• Avionics


• Defense Industry


• Aerospace Industry


• Design to Cost


• Program Pursuit