Principal Hardware Design Engineer

Designworks Talent

• $150K — $180K *
Technical Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in GPU-based server and rack infrastructure design.
  • In-depth knowledge of NVIDIA and AMD GPU server architectures.
  • Proven track record working with ODMs and OEMs for hardware production.
  • Strong grasp of rack-level infrastructure including power and cooling systems.
  • Experience in hyperscale cloud or AI infrastructure environments.
  • Ability to assess architectural trade-offs in performance and cost.
  • Leadership experience in fast-paced engineering settings.

Responsibilities

  • Lead design and configuration of GPU servers and rack infrastructure.
  • Collaborate with ODMs and OEMs to optimize custom hardware platforms.
  • Own the architecture for rack-level mechanical layout and thermal design.
  • Evaluate new GPU platforms for AI workloads.
  • Work with cross-functional teams for seamless integration.
  • Balance performance, reliability, and cost in infrastructure design.
  • Support hardware validation and production readiness.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) plan with company match.
  • Paid holidays each calendar year.
  • Flexible hybrid work environment.
Full Job Description
Principal Hardware / Machine Design Engineer

Location: Hybrid | Bellevue, WA (downtown)
Titles: Principal (multiple roles available) ; Staff level may be considered

We're seeking a Principal Hardware / Machine Design Engineer to lead the design of next-generation GPU server and rack infrastructure. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys translating vendor reference architectures into highly optimized, production-ready systems that maximize performance, reliability, serviceability, and cost efficiency.

The Opportunity

As one of the earliest infrastructure engineers on the team, you'll own the physical design of GPU servers and rack-scale systems that form the foundation of a rapidly expanding AI platform. Working closely with GPU vendors, ODMs/OEMs, data center engineering, networking, and operations teams, you'll drive hardware architecture from concept through deployment while influencing future infrastructure strategy.

This is a highly visible individual contributor role with broad ownership and the opportunity to shape hardware standards for a rapidly growing AI infrastructure organization.

What You'll Do
  • Lead the design and configuration of GPU servers and rack-scale infrastructure using vendor reference architectures from NVIDIA, AMD, and emerging AI hardware providers.
  • Partner closely with ODMs and OEMs to develop, validate, and optimize custom hardware platforms for production deployment.
  • Own rack-level architecture, including mechanical layout, power distribution, thermal design, cable management, serviceability, and deployment standards.
  • Evaluate new GPU platforms, server technologies, and hardware innovations to determine their suitability for next-generation AI workloads.
  • Collaborate with data center engineering, networking, infrastructure, and operations teams to ensure seamless integration across facilities and production environments.
  • Balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, scalability, and total cost of ownership when designing infrastructure solutions.
  • Support hardware validation, qualification, and production readiness for large-scale deployments.
  • Help establish engineering standards, hardware specifications, and design best practices as the infrastructure organization grows.


What We're Looking For
  • Extensive experience designing GPU-based servers, rack infrastructure, or large-scale compute platforms.
  • Deep knowledge of GPU server architecture and vendor reference designs, particularly NVIDIA and AMD ecosystems.
  • Experience working directly with ODMs and OEM partners to design, customize, qualify, and manufacture production hardware.
  • Strong understanding of rack-level infrastructure, including power, cooling, airflow, mechanical integration, cable management, and serviceability.
  • Experience supporting hyperscale cloud, AI infrastructure, HPC, or large-scale data center environments.
  • Ability to evaluate architectural trade-offs across performance, scalability, reliability, and cost.
  • Comfortable operating as a senior technical leader within a fast-moving, high-growth engineering organization.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience designing infrastructure supporting AI training clusters or large-scale inference platforms.
  • Experience with liquid cooling technologies, high-density rack deployments, or advanced thermal management.
  • Familiarity with multiple GPU generations and evolving accelerator technologies.
  • Background designing hardware platforms for cloud providers, hyperscalers, or AI infrastructure companies.
  • Experience influencing long-term hardware architecture and infrastructure strategy.


Compensation
  • Competitive base pay for Bellevue market
  • Certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, annual bonus, and long term incentives. These awards are allocated based on individual performance
  • U.S. based employees have access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, employees also receive per calendar year, paid holidays.


Location
  • Hybrid role based in the Bellevue, WA area.
  • Approximately three days per week in the office.
  • Candidates elsewhere in the U.S. who are open to relocation are encouraged to apply.
  • U.S. work authorization is required. Visa sponsorship is not currently available.

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