Senior Hardware Engineer

Jobtailor; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks an experienced hardware engineer to translate system requirements into hardware designs and develop low‑power modules for small devices in demanding environments. You will work with firmware and software teams to ensure hardware integrates with IoT tracking and telemetry networks.

Requirements: 8+ years in hardware; strong architecture, board‑level design, and OrCAD Capture; RF/wireless IoT (BLE/Wi‑Fi/Thread/Zigbee/LoRa/Cellular); debugging; DFM/DFT; embedded hardware.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in hardware-related fields.
• Strong knowledge of hardware architecture and board-level design.
• Proficiency with OrCAD Capture for schematic and PCB layout.
• Knowledge of low-power hardware design and battery-powered systems.
• Understanding of RF and wireless technologies used in IoT.
• Strong debugging skills using oscilloscopes, analyzers, and testers.
• Experience with verification, validation, and product qualification.
• DFM/DFT and product lifecycle processes.
• Experience with ODM/CM and global supply chains.

Responsibilities

• Translate system requirements into hardware design specifications.
• Design hardware modules for low-power, small-scale devices.
• Collaborate with firmware and software to integrate hardware with IoT telemetry.
• Develop and execute testing protocols for end-to-end validation.
• Participate in technical design reviews for system architecture.
• Conduct simulations and prototyping to validate designs.
• Improve hardware development processes for performance and reliability.
• Provide technical leadership in hardware engineering.

Skills

Hardware architecture

Low-power design

RF/wireless IoT

Hardware debugging

DFM/DFT

Root-cause analysis

Embedded hardware design

PCB stack-up & layout

EMI/EMC & testing

ODM/CM & supply chain

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

MS in EE/CS preferred

Tools

OrCAD Capture

PCB layout tools

Job description

Responsibilities

• Translate system requirements into detailed hardware design specifications, ensuring alignment with firmware and software requirements.
• Design and develop hardware modules and systems for low‑power, small‑scale devices operating in challenging environments.
• Collaborate with Firmware and Software Engineers to ensure seamless integration of hardware with tracking and sensor telemetry applications for LPWAN or Cellular IoT networks.
• Develop and execute testing protocols to verify the end‑to‑end functionality of prototype devices, including hardware, firmware, and connectivity.
• Participate in technical design reviews, providing input on system architecture and deployment strategies to optimize hardware performance.
• Conduct simulations and prototyping to validate hardware designs and ensure compliance with system specifications and environmental constraints.
• Continuously explore and implement improvements to hardware development processes, enhancing performance, reliability, and efficiency.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance in hardware engineering, ensuring best practices in design, testing, and deployment across the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 8+ years of experience in related fields.
• Strong knowledge of hardware system architecture, board‑level design, and electronic component selection.
• Proficiency with OrCAD Capture for schematic design and PCB layout design tools.
• Knowledge of low‑power hardware design techniques, including battery‑powered system design and power optimization.
• Understanding of RF and wireless technologies used in IoT products, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi‑Fi, Thread, Zigbee, LoRa, or Cellular.
• Strong hardware debugging and troubleshooting skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and other laboratory equipment.
• Knowledge of hardware verification, validation, and product qualification methodologies.
• Ability to perform root‑cause analysis and drive issue resolution in a structured and organized manner.
• Understanding design‑for‑manufacturing (DFM), design‑for‑test (DFT), and product lifecycle development processes.
• Desirable: MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related field is preferred with 5+ years of experience.
• Advanced knowledge of RF system design, antenna integration, RF performance optimization, and wireless certification processes.
• Expertise in low‑power system architecture for battery‑operated and energy‑constrained IoT devices.
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC mitigation, and compliance testing methodologies.
• Experience with embedded hardware design.
• Proficiency with PCB stack‑up design, board layout reviews, and manufacturing design considerations.
• Knowledge of hardware reliability, environmental qualification, and product lifecycle management processes.
• Familiarity with ODM, CM, and global supply‑chain development models.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in hardware system architecture, low‑power design techniques, and integration with firmware and software for IoT applications. Proficient in hardware debugging, testing methodologies, and compliance processes to ensure optimal performance and reliability.