Senior Hardware Design Engineer - Satellite Payload - PCB Design & Lab

GCS Recruitment; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS Bellevue seeks a Senior PCB Hardware Design Engineer to drive hands-on development of satellite payload boards, focusing on bring-up, debugging, verification, and transitioning validated designs into revisions.

You will lead board bring-up, perform high-speed testing and power measurements, and document results while collaborating with hardware teams to drive corrective actions; support RF/antenna teams with validated hardware and measurements.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in board-level hardware design.
• Strong lab bring-up and debugging experience.
• Experience with high-speed interfaces and SerDes.
• Solid understanding of power delivery and SI/PI.

Responsibilities

• Lead bring-up of newly fabricated PCBs, power-on and debugging.
• Plan and execute design verification and validation campaigns.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to drive corrective actions.
• Contribute to schematic capture and PCB layout for next-gen hardware.
• Support RF/antenna teams with validated hardware and measurements.
• Troubleshoot hardware issues using systematic lab methods.
• Support lifecycle from design to manufacturing.

Skills

Board-level design

Schematic capture

Power integrity

Lab debug

High-speed interfaces

SerDes tech

Education

BSEE/MSEE

Tools

PCB layout tools

Test & measurement

Job description

Senior Hardware Design Engineer - PCB Board

Satellite Payload - Design & Lab

Location: Bellevue, WA
Contract: 12+ months, extendable; C2H opportunity
Work Arrangement: 5 days onsite

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior PCB Hardware Design Engineer / Senior Hardware Development Engineer to support the development of advanced satellite payload hardware. This is a hands‑on role focused heavily on board bring‑up, hardware debug, design verification, validation, and supporting the transition of validated designs into subsequent hardware revisions.

The ideal candidate will have strong board‑level design experience combined with extensive laboratory expertise and the ability to troubleshoot complex hardware issues from initial power‑on through root‑cause identification and resolution.

Responsibilities

• Lead bring‑up of newly fabricated circuit boards, including power‑on, section‑by‑section checkout, and first‑time hardware debug through root cause.
• Plan and execute design verification and validation campaigns, including high‑speed link testing, power measurements, functional testing, and detailed documentation of results.
• Partner closely with hardware design engineers to identify issues and drive corrective actions into subsequent board revisions.
• Contribute to schematic capture and PCB layout activities for next‑generation hardware as project priorities and bandwidth allow.
• Support RF and antenna engineering teams with validated hardware and assist with their measurement and characterization requirements.
• Troubleshoot board‑level hardware issues using systematic debug methodologies and laboratory instrumentation.
• Support the complete hardware development lifecycle from design and fabrication through bring‑up, validation, and manufacturing support.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of electrical engineering experience in board‑level hardware design.
• Strong experience with schematic capture and complex, dense multilayer PCB designs.
• Solid understanding of power delivery, power distribution, and sequencing.
• Extensive hands‑on laboratory experience with board bring‑up, hardware debug, and validation.
• Proficiency with oscilloscopes, logic/protocol analyzers, and high‑speed test and measurement equipment.
• Experience with high‑speed digital interfaces and multi‑gigabit SerDes technologies such as JESD204, PCIe, 25G+ Ethernet, DDR, or similar.
• Strong understanding of signal integrity and power integrity considerations.
• Demonstrated experience across the full hardware lifecycle: design → build → bring‑up → validation → manufacturing support.
• BSEE, MSEE, or equivalent practical engineering experience.

GCS is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.