Senior Hardware Design Engineer

6AM City, LLC; California (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

6AM City, LLC is seeking a Hardware Design Engineer to own end-to-end digital hardware development, from schematic capture to PCB layout and signal integrity analysis.

The role requires hands-on experience with multi-layer boards (4–10 layers), DDR memory interfaces, high-speed interfaces (HDMI, USB-C, PCIe), and HFSS simulations, collaborating with firmware, software, test and mechanical teams to deliver production-ready hardware.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in digital hardware design.
• Hands-on PCB layout and review for high-speed boards.
• Proficiency with Altium for schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Experience with 4–10 layer multi-layer PCBs.
• Strong DDR2/DDR3/DDR4 memory interface knowledge.
• Experience with high-speed peripherals (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, PCIe, etc.).
• Experience with high-speed signals (TMDS, 10 Gb Ethernet).
• HFSS or similar high-frequency simulation tools.

Responsibilities

• Design digital circuits and develop detailed schematics for complex electronic systems.
• Review and refine schematics to ensure correctness and robustness.
• Lead PCB layout activities with a focus on high-speed design and manufacturability.
• Use Altium for schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Perform simulations with HFSS to optimize high-frequency behavior.
• Redesign boards to resolve performance or reliability issues.
• Support multi-layer boards (4–8, up to 10 layers).
• Own hardware design lifecycle from concept to production.
• Integrate DDR memories and ensure stable operation.
• Design/validate interfaces for HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, DVI, 3G/12G-SDI, SFP+, Ethernet, PCIe, LVDS, MIPI.
• Interface hardware with microcontrollers ensuring timing and connectivity.
• Implement high-speed signals with careful length matching and controlled impedance.
• Analyze signal integrity and power integrity issues including crosstalk and eye diagrams.
• Collaborate across firmware, software, test, and mechanical teams.
• Participate in design reviews and provide guidance on high-speed techniques.
• Support testing and debugging including board bring-up and validation of high-speed interfaces.

Skills

Digital hardware design

PCB layout design

Altium

DDR2/DDR3/DDR4 interfaces

High-speed interfaces

HDMI/DisplayPort/USB-C

SIPI analysis

HFSS simulations

FPGA integration

Education

Electrical engineering degree

Tools

Altium Designer

HFSS

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Hardware Design Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on end-to-end ownership of complex digital hardware designs, from circuit and schematic development through PCB layout review and high-speed signal integrity analysis. The Hardware Design Engineer will work on multi-layer boards, contribute to redesigns to resolve existing issues, and collaborate closely with firmware, software, test, and mechanical engineering teams to deliver robust, production-ready hardware solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design digital circuits and develop detailed schematics for complex electronic systems.
• Review and refine schematics to ensure correctness, robustness, and compliance with design requirements.
• Lead and review PCB layout activities, with a focus on high-speed design best practices and manufacturability.
• Use Altium for schematic capture and PCB layout design, ensuring consistency and accuracy across design artifacts.
• Perform simulations using HFSS to evaluate and optimize high-frequency and high-speed behavior of designs.
• Redesign existing boards and circuits to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve performance or reliability issues.
• Design and support multi-layer boards, typically 4–8 layers and occasionally up to 10 layers, balancing signal integrity, power integrity, and layout constraints.
• Own the hardware design lifecycle, including concept, design, review, validation, and support into production.
• Integrate and validate DDR2/DDR3/DDR4 memory interfaces and ensure stable operation under target conditions.
• Design and validate interfaces for various high-speed peripherals such as HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C/USB 3.x, DVI, 3G/12G-SDI, SFP/SFP+ transceivers, Ethernet (1G/10G), PCIe, LVDS, and MIPI.
• Interface hardware designs with microcontrollers, ensuring proper connectivity, timing, and system-level functionality.
• Implement and verify high-speed signals, interfaces, and buses, including TMDS, DDR, SDRAM, and Ethernet, with careful attention to length matching, differential pairs, and controlled impedance routing.
• Analyze and mitigate signal integrity and power integrity issues, including crosstalk and return path concerns, using SIPI analysis and eye diagram evaluation.
• Collaborate with firmware, software, test, and mechanical engineers to ensure seamless integration of hardware into complete systems.
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical guidance on high-speed design techniques and best practices.
• Support testing and debugging activities, including board bring-up and validation of high-speed interfaces and multimedia/video paths.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in digital hardware design, including circuit design and schematic development.
• Hands-on experience with PCB layout design and review, particularly for high-speed digital boards.
• Proficiency using Altium for schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Experience designing and supporting multi-layer PCBs, typically in the 4–8 layer range, with occasional designs up to 10 layers.
• Strong experience with DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 memory interfaces, including layout and timing considerations.
• Experience working with high-speed peripherals such as HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C/USB 3.x, DVI, 3G/12G-SDI, SFP/SFP+ fiber optic transceivers, 1G/10G Ethernet, PCIe, LVDS, and MIPI.
• Experience interfacing hardware designs with microcontrollers.
• Demonstrated ability to design with high-speed signals, interfaces, and buses, including TMDS (150 MHz–500 MHz) and 10 Gigabit Ethernet.
• Expertise in high-speed design techniques such as differential pair routing, length matching, controlled impedance routing, and return path optimization.
• Experience with signal integrity and power integrity analysis, including crosstalk mitigation, eye diagram analysis, and SIPI analysis.
• Familiarity with multi-gigabit differential interfaces and their layout and validation requirements.
• Experience using HFSS or similar tools for high-frequency and high-speed simulations.
• Ability to take ownership of hardware designs throughout the product lifecycle, from concept through validation.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with video or multimedia products, particularly those involving high-speed video interfaces.
• FPGA experience, including integrating FPGAs into hardware designs and working with associated high-speed interfaces.
• Experience in electronics, electrical engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience working within cross-functional engineering teams that include firmware, software, test, and mechanical disciplines