Senior High-Speed Digital Hardware Engineer New Cedar Rapids, IA

Quest Defense; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions in Cedar Rapids, IA is seeking a Senior High-Speed Digital Hardware Engineer to design complex circuit cards for aerospace and defense. You will work with high-speed interfaces, multiple FPGAs and DDR5/DDR6 memory, from schematic capture to board bring-up.

As an early senior member, you will define technical direction, lead reviews, and collaborate across ECAD, PCB layout, software, and systems to deliver reliable hardware on aggressive schedules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience designing complex digital hardware or circuit-card assemblies.
• Hands‑on experience with high‑speed digital board design, from schematic capture through hardware bring‑up and validation.
• Experience designing high‑speed serial interfaces with multiple lanes per card.
• Experience integrating multiple FPGAs, complex SoCs, and high‑performance memory such as DDR5 or DDR6.
• Strong understanding of signal integrity, timing, crosstalk, electrical interference, and board‑level design constraints.
• Experience collaborating closely with ECAD and PCB layout engineers.
• Ability to lead technical decisions, resolve complex hardware issues, and deliver under demanding schedules.
• Ability to work onsite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design complex high-speed digital circuit cards for aerospace and defense applications.
• Develop schematics, select components, and define board-level interfaces and design requirements.
• Design high-speed serial interfaces with multiple data lanes, including Ethernet, fiber, and copper connectivity.
• Integrate multiple FPGAs, complex SoCs, and DDR5/DDR6 memory.
• Analyze and resolve signal‑integrity, timing, crosstalk, and electrical-interference challenges.
• Partner with ECAD and PCB layout engineers to define stackups, routing constraints, placement, and layout requirements.
• Lead technical reviews, design trade studies, risk assessments, and hardware troubleshooting activities.
• Support board bring-up, integration, testing, debugging, and validation in the lab.
• Collaborate with FPGA, software, systems, mechanical, and test engineers to deliver cohesive system solutions.
• Create and maintain schematics, design documentation, bills of materials, analysis results, and test procedures.
• Drive first-pass hardware success while meeting demanding technical and program schedules.

Skills

High-speed design

FPGA/SoC integration

Signal integrity

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

Cadence

Mentor Graphics

Altium

Job description

Senior High-Speed Digital Hardware Engineer

Cedar Rapids, IA

Unlock the power of Safety and Mission Critical Engineering with QDSS. We are seeking exceptional individuals to join our elite team- where your expertise will make an impact that matters. Elevate your career in a company dedicated to excellence and the pursuit of safety and mission success.

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions is seeking a Senior High-Speed Digital Hardware Engineer to design complex circuit cards for advanced aerospace and defense systems. You’ll work with high-speed serial interfaces, multi-lane architectures, Ethernet, fiber and copper interfaces, multiple FPGAs and SoCs, and advanced DDR5/DDR6 memory.

As an early senior member of the team, you’ll help establish the technical direction and drive designs from architecture and schematic capture through PCB layout, integration, and first-pass hardware success. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on engineer who enjoys solving challenging signal-integrity problems and taking meaningful ownership of critical hardware designs.

This position is based in Cedar Rapids, IA. Relocation assistance is available.

U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Secret clearance are required. Active Secret clearance is preferred.

What You’ll Do

• Architect and design complex high-speed digital circuit cards for aerospace and defense applications.
• Develop schematics, select components, and define board-level interfaces and design requirements.
• Design high-speed serial interfaces with multiple data lanes, including Ethernet, fiber, and copper connectivity.
• Integrate multiple FPGAs, complex SoCs, and DDR5/DDR6 or comparable high-performance memory.
• Analyze and resolve signal-integrity, timing, crosstalk, and electrical-interference challenges.
• Partner closely with ECAD and PCB layout engineers to define stackups, routing constraints, placement, and layout requirements.
• Lead technical reviews, design trade studies, risk assessments, and hardware troubleshooting activities.
• Support board bring-up, integration, testing, debugging, and validation in the lab.
• Collaborate with FPGA, software, systems, mechanical, and test engineers to deliver cohesive system solutions.
• Create and maintain schematics, design documentation, bills of materials, analysis results, and test procedures.
• Drive first-pass hardware success while meeting demanding technical and program schedules.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience designing complex digital hardware or circuit-card assemblies.
• Hands‑on experience with high‑speed digital board design, from schematic capture through hardware bring‑up and validation.
• Experience designing high‑speed serial interfaces with multiple lanes per card.
• Experience integrating multiple FPGAs, complex SoCs, and high‑performance memory such as DDR5 or DDR6.
• Strong understanding of signal integrity, timing, crosstalk, electrical interference, and board‑level design constraints.
• Experience collaborating closely with ECAD and PCB layout engineers.
• Ability to lead technical decisions, resolve complex hardware issues, and deliver under demanding schedules.
• Ability to work onsite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active Secret security clearance.
• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Previous experience developing hardware for aerospace or defense applications.
• Experience with schematic and PCB design tools such as Cadence, Mentor Graphics, or Altium.
• Experience with Ethernet and fiber and copper communication interfaces.
• Familiarity with signal- and power‑integrity analysis tools and techniques.
• Hands‑on experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other high‑speed debugging equipment.
• Knowledge of DO‑160, MIL‑STD, EMI/EMC, or environmental qualification requirements.
• Experience serving as a technical lead for complex circuit‑card development.
• Experience adopting and/or integrating emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI, automation platforms, digital assistants) into day‑to‑day operations for continuous improvement.

The QDSS Advantage:

At QDSS, our advantage is purpose‑driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact.You’llgrow your career while contributing to mission‑critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future.

WhatYou’llFind Here

• Work That Matters – Next‑generation, safety- and mission‑critical projects where your contributions have real‑world impact.
• GrowthThat’sSupported – Competitive compensation, employer‑matched 401(k), certificationassistance, and clear opportunities for advancement.
• A Culture That Works – A flexible, collaborative, and people‑first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued.

Benefits Include

• Competitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/lifeand disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace.

Full compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications

Pay Ranges

$120,000 - $145,000 USD

At Quest Defense Systems and Solutions, we don’t just build technology — we engineer the future. From next‑generation aerospace solutions to cutting‑edge defense systems, we tackle the toughest, mission‑critical challenges that keep people safe and push the boundaries of innovation. This is where problem‑solvers, innovators, and visionary thinkers come together to shape the future. With over 25 years of aerospace and defense engineering expertise, our commitment to delivering high‑quality, transformative solutions sets us apart — not just as an industry leader, but as a driving force for impactful change. Together, we’re not just leading the industry — we’re revolutionizing it.

Quest Defense provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Quest Defense Systems & Solutions, Inc.’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.