(Remote) Digital Hardware Design Engineer

Actalent; United States; Remote; USD 99,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Actalent seeks a Digital Hardware Design Engineer to drive digital hardware development for secure communications and SIGINT products. You will collaborate with software and mechanical teams to design high‑power thermal and interconnect solutions and lead product development from conception to production handoff.

The role requires 8+ years in electrical design, expertise in high-speed digital circuitry, embedded C, and experience guiding complex digital designs.

Qualifications

• Experience leading digital design teams and delivering schematics, interface control documents, and design specifications.
• Strong background in digital circuit design for communication products, RF interfacing, and high-speed data buses.

Responsibilities

• Lead digital engineering efforts or work independently to define requirements and produce technical docs.
• Analyze, simulate, prototype, and verify digital designs across circuit, card, and product levels.
• Mentor junior engineers and collaborate with PCB layout designers on layout activities.
• Manage requirements, scope, budget, schedule, and deliverables from concept to production.
• Generate documentation for programming components and root-cause analysis on field failures.

Skills

Schematic & electrical engineering

Digital electronics & hardware design

High-speed digital circuitry

Embedded C

8+ years electrical design

Digital circuit design for comms

Technical lead for complex designs

Lab experience with test equipment

EMI/EMC testing knowledge

Education

BSEE/MSEE or equivalent

Job description

Job Title: REMOTE Digital Hardware Design Engineer

Job Description

The Principal Engineer will collaborate with software engineers to co-design systems, ensuring seamless integration between software and hardware. You will work alongside mechanical engineers to design sophisticated high-power thermal and interconnect solutions. This role involves leading project meetings and coordinating product development from inception to production handoff.

Responsibilities

• Lead small digital engineering teams or work independently to define requirements and create technical documentation such as schematics and interface control documents.
• Analyze, simulate, and build prototypes, overseeing PCB layouts and loading firmware/software on prototype boards and radios.
• Perform verification testing, debugging, and optimization of digital circuit designs at the circuit, card, and product levels.
• Implement complex digital designs using microprocessors, DSPs, memory systems, FPGAs, displays, and power supplies for SIGINT and EW products.
• Utilize on-board high-speed data buses and control external RF amplifiers through high-speed interfaces.
• Conduct technical trade studies and analyses to select digital architecture and key components.
• Develop and implement design specifications, test plans, and procedures, while troubleshooting and solving technical issues efficiently.
• Collaborate with PCB Layout Designers for layout activities and provide mentorship to junior engineers.
• Manage technical requirements, scope, budget, schedule, and deliverables from concept to full-rate production.
• Generate documentation for programming components, loading firmware, and performing root cause analysis on field failures.
• Support R&D efforts and continuous process improvements, while ensuring quality and timely task completion with minimal supervision.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in schematic and electrical engineering.
• Expertise in digital electronics and hardware design.
• Experience in designing high-speed digital circuitry and embedded C.
• 8+ years of electrical design experience.
• In-depth knowledge of digital circuit design for communication products.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• BSEE/MSEE or equivalent; an advanced degree is desirable.
• Knowledge of Software Defined Radio circuitry is a plus.
• Experience as a technical lead for high-complexity digital designs.
• Hands-on lab experience with advanced engineering test equipment.
• Experience with industry standards for EMI/EMC, environmental, and certification tests.

Work Environment

The position is within a heavy engineering design and manufacturing environment, fully onsite. The team consists of 7 members primarily focused on digital hardware design for secure communications and SIGINT radio lines. The company designs and manufactures all products in-house.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Germantown, MD.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $72.00 - $96.00/hr.

• 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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Germantown,MD.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 20, 2026.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

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

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall 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 applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.