Senior Hardware Engineer

Actalent; Michigan; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent in the United States (Michigan) seeks a Hardware Engineer to lead automotive embedded hardware design from requirements through validation. You will guide a small hardware team, collaborate with cross-functional cores, and ensure compliance with IPC, EMC, and OEM testing standards.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in automotive embedded hardware, strong schematic/PCB skills, and experience with LIN/CAN and Cadence tools, plus familiarity with ISO Functional Safety and ASPICE.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics/Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 5+ years in automotive embedded hardware product design.
• Experience leading a small hardware team and delivering hardware designs.
• Strong experience with embedded hardware for automotive applications.
• Proficiency in schematic and PCB layout, including EMC considerations.
• Experience with LIN and CAN and OEM testing specifications.
• Familiarity with APQP processes and ISO/ASPICE frameworks is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and review hardware design activities to develop automotive embedded solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet timing and quality targets.
• Apply WCCA, thermal and EMC analyses to optimize hardware.
• Ensure designs meet OEM testing specs and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a small hardware team.
• Maintain component libraries and support APQP milestones.

Skills

Embedded hardware design

Schematic entry & PCB layout

LIN/CAN integration

Mentorship / leadership

Problem solving

Strong communication skills

APQP concepts

ISO Functional Safety knowledge

ASPICE knowledge

Cadence tool suite

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics/Mechatronics Engineering

Tools

Cadence tool suite

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Hardware Engineer

Job Description

The Hardware Engineer leads and reviews the design and development of electronic hardware, covering requirements analysis, architecture definition, schematic design, simulation, design for EMC, hardware layout, and validation. This role drives the creation of robust automotive embedded hardware solutions, ensures compliance with industry and regulatory standards, and provides technical leadership to a small hardware team. The engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional core teams and customers to deliver innovative, reliable products that meet performance, quality, and timing targets.

Responsibilities

• Use the ALM tool (Codebeamer) to analyze requirements and derive hardware design, verification, and validation criteria.
• Lead and review engineering activities to design, prototype, and validate electronic hardware solutions in line with customer and internal core team timing requirements.
• Maintain regular communication with internal and external stakeholders on technical issues to ensure clear understanding of needs and reliable delivery of design commitments.
• Actively participate in program core team meetings and present defined engineering deliverables in a proactive and structured manner.
• Develop engineered product solutions that meet customer needs by creatively using core part designs and technologies while ensuring compliance with IPC and other regulatory standards.
• Apply best practices such as Worst Case Circuit Analysis (WCCA), thermal analysis, electrical analysis, EMC simulations, and other standard engineering tools to optimize hardware design.
• Establish and maintain comprehensive records of technical information, process methods and standards, design details, program documentation, and other records that support reliable intellectual property and patent activities.
• Ensure designs are reviewed from a Design for Excellence (DFX) perspective, including Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Cost (DFC), Design for Testability (DFT), and Design for Reliability (DFR), to meet product targets for quality, cost, and performance.
• Provide technical leadership to a small hardware team by offering direction, guidance, and mentorship in embedded hardware design activities.
• Work with schematic entry and PCB layout design tools to produce high-quality schematics and layouts that meet functional, EMC, and manufacturability requirements.
• Support and maintain hardware component, footprint, and symbol libraries for use in global designs to ensure consistency and reuse across projects.
• Integrate standard automotive communication bus hardware, such as LIN and CAN, into embedded hardware designs.
• Ensure hardware designs meet OEM testing specifications, design requirements, and automotive project launch cycle expectations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support APQP processes and align hardware deliverables with overall program milestones.
• Complete additional assignments, duties, and projects as needed to support engineering and program objectives.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or Mechatronics Engineering.
• Preferred 5+ years of experience in an automotive embedded hardware product design role.
• Proven ability to lead a small hardware team by providing technical direction and guidance in embedded hardware design.
• Strong experience in embedded hardware design for automotive applications.
• Hands-on experience with schematic entry and PCB layout design tools and processes; experience with the Cadence tool suite is an asset.
• Proficiency in PCB and schematic design, including layout design and design for EMC.
• Experience performing engineering calculations and analyses, such as Worst Case Circuit Analysis (WCCA) and simulations.
• Experience integrating standard automotive communication bus hardware, including LIN and CAN, into designs.
• Experience working with OEM testing specifications and design requirements.
• Experience with automotive project launch cycles and related development processes.
• Experience managing and maintaining hardware component, footprint, and symbol libraries for global design reuse.
• Knowledge of automotive APQP terminology and processes.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex hardware issues.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for conveying technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of ISO Functional Safety and ASPICE frameworks is an asset.
• Experience with embedded hardware, automotive systems, P