Senior Hardware Engineer (Board/System Design)

Palo Alto Networks; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 143,000 - 231,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks in Santa Clara, CA is seeking a senior hardware engineer to own the complete hardware design cycle for our platform hardware, including spec, schematic entry, layout oversight, bring-up and validation.

You will collaborate with mechanical, firmware, product management and QA, work with lab equipment, support factory builds and drive design for reliability and cost.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in EE or CE; MS preferred.
• 8+ years in hardware development with PCB design.
• Experience bringing products from architecture to production.
• Hands-on PCBAs bring-up and debugging for hardware releases.
• Experience coordinating multiple projects across teams.

Responsibilities

• Own complete hardware design cycle from spec to validation.
• Define, bring-up, and debug new PCB designs.
• Collaborate with mechanical, firmware, and QA teams.
• Support factory builds and production ramp.

Skills

Task ownership

Cross-functional communication

Product life-cycle ownership

PCB design

Lab prototyping

Factory support

Education

BS in EE or CE

MS in EE (desired)

Tools

Schematic capture

PCB layout tools

Job description

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

Your Career

As a key contributor in the Platform Hardware development team, you will be responsible for the complete design cycle of Palo Alto Networks hardware including: specification; component selection; schematic entry; layout oversight; prototype bring-up, debug, and validation testing. The Hardware Engineering team is an interdisciplinary team including: mechanical engineering, signal integrity, PCB layout, and compliance. You will also collaborate cross-functionally with product management, software, operations and quality assurance.

Job Requirements

• Excellent ability to drive tasks proactively, independently and escalate and communicate issues and needs clearly to the cross-functional team
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic development environment
• Demonstrated success at full product life-cycle ownership from concept to production release
• Define, design, bring-up, and debug new PCB designs
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout tools
• Experience working with lab equipment for hands-on prototyping, design, and power analysis
• Support at the factory when needed for engineering builds and production

Desired Skills

• Networking product design
• Design for low-cost
• OT, Ruggedized, IP-rated product design
• Embedded CPU design, especially x86
• Design for integrated radio
• Power over Ethernet PSE design
• Strong leadership/communication/interpersonal skills

Qualifications

Your Experience

• BS EE or CE; MSEE desired
• Minimum of 8 years experience in hardware development
• Multiple successful product design cycles from architecture to production required
• Hands-on experience in the design, bring up and debug of PCBAs for hardware products launched to customers
• Experience managing simultaneous projects from start to finish
• Experience prototyping, reworking, troubleshooting board & component level issues to resolution
• Experience using schematic capture and PCB layout tools
• Experience using productivity apps such as Microsoft Office and Google Docs
• Experience working with factories and internal teams to support builds for production

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/com-missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

$143,100.00 - $231,475.00/yr

Our Commitment

We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at [e-mail].

Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?: Yes