Principal Systems Engineer, Communications Hardware

Jobtailor; Arizona; On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Jobtailor in the United States is seeking an experienced hardware systems architect to own system architecture and cross-disciplinary technical decisions from concept to mass production.

You will define standards, drive verification strategies, and collaborate with EE, RF, and ME leads to ensure regulatory compliance and production readiness. Strong communication and leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hardware engineering experience.
• Deep expertise in at least two of EE, RF, or ME with strong knowledge of the third.
• Experience owning system architecture and cross-disciplinary technical decisions for complex hardware.
• Experience taking compact, connected, battery-powered hardware from concept to mass production, including EVT/DVT/PVT and manufacturing ramp.
• Familiarity with hardware certification and regulatory requirements (US and international).
• Experience working with ODM/JDM or contract manufacturing partners.

Responsibilities

• Own system architecture and technical integration across electrical, RF, mechanical, and thermal domains.
• Define system standards, architecture, and engineering processes for mission-critical hardware.
• Lead cross-discipline design reviews and present recommendations to leadership.
• Write and vet system requirements with clear, testable targets.
• Manage requirements traceability from PRD through V&V.
• Partner with ODM/JDM and manufacturing teams on DFM/DFA and production readiness.
• Own system-level certification strategy across US and international standards.

Skills

System Architecture

Cross-Disciplinary Technical Decision

Leadership

Technical Communication

Requirements Development

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Altium

Cadence

SolidWorks

Creo

NX

Job description

• Own system architecture and technical integration across electrical, RF, mechanical, thermal, and power domains
• Define and drive technical standards, architecture, and engineering processes for mission-critical hardware
• Partner with EE, RF, SW, and ME leads to define system requirements and cross-functional design decisions
• Build system architectures, block diagrams, and interaction diagrams
• Analyze power, thermal, and computational budget constraints and balance performance, size, and cost
• Lead concept studies with internal and external development teams and present recommendations
• Write and vet system requirements with clear, testable design targets
• Review product requirements for next-generation devices
• Simulate and estimate subsystem capability against requirements
• Manage requirements traceability from PRD through V&V
• Lead cross-discipline design reviews and organize cross-functional system reviews
• Resolve competing engineering constraints and provide technical direction to EE, RF, and ME leads
• Own system-level verification and validation strategy
• Perform risk analysis, develop mitigation strategies, and close the loop on characterization and verification results
• Carry technical accountability for program schedule and risk
• Translate engineering tradeoffs into decisions for program and executive leadership
• Partner with ODM/JDM and manufacturing teams on DFM/DFA, engineering builds, and production readiness
• Own system-level certification strategy across U.S. and international regulatory standards

Requirements

• 10+ years of hardware engineering experience
• Deep expertise in at least two of electrical engineering, RF engineering, or mechanical engineering, with strong working knowledge of the third
• Proven experience owning system architecture and cross-disciplinary technical decisions for complex, integrated hardware
• Experience taking compact, connected, battery-powered hardware from concept through mass production, including EVT/DVT/PVT, certification, and manufacturing ramp
• Deep experience across RF/antenna integration, power architecture, thermal management, EMI/EMC, shielding, enclosure design, and mechanical tolerances
• Experience developing system requirements and validation plans
• Familiarity with U.S. and international hardware certification and regulatory requirements
• Experience working with ODM/JDM or contract manufacturing partners
• Familiarity with hardware design, simulation, testing, and lifecycle tools, such as Altium/Cadence, SolidWorks/Creo/NX, RF and electrical test equipment, thermal characterization tools, and PLM/BOM or requirements-management systems
• Ability to communicate technical risk to senior leadership
• Approximately 10–20% travel
• Must be currently based in the U.S. for relocation assistance eligibility
• Must be authorized to work for a U.S. employer for relocation assistance eligibility

Core Competencies

Demonstrates extensive expertise in system architecture and technical integration across electrical, RF, and mechanical domains, with a strong focus on hardware engineering processes and regulatory compliance. Capable of leading cross-functional teams to define system requirements, manage verification and validation strategies, and ensure successful product development from concept to mass production.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• System Architecture Ownership
• Cross-Disciplinary Technical Decision-Making
• Hardware Certification Strategy
• RF/Antenna Integration
• Requirements Development and Validation

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Electrical Engineering
• RF Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• System Requirements Development
• Verification and Validation
• Risk Analysis
• Thermal Management
• EMI/EMC
• Shielding Design
• Power Architecture

Soft Skills

• Technical Communication
• Leadership

Certifications & Qualifications

• U.S. Hardware Certification
• International Regulatory Compliance

Industry Keywords

• Mission-Critical Hardware
• Compact Connected Hardware
• EVT
• DVT
• PVT
• ODM
• JDM
• Manufacturing Readiness
• Design for Manufacturing
• Design for Assembly

Tools & Technologies

• Altium
• Cadence
• SolidWorks
• Creo
• NX
• RF Test Equipment
• Thermal Characterization Tools
• PLM Systems
• BOM Management Systems