Senior Hardware Design Engineer - High-Speed ElectronicsPosition SummaryWe are seeking an experienced
Senior Hardware Design Engineer to lead the design and development of advanced PCB-based electronic systems featuring high-speed digital interfaces, complex multilayer boards, and demanding signal and power integrity requirements.
The role requires deep expertise in high-speed digital hardware design, PCB architecture, signal integrity, power delivery, and system-level optimization. Experience with USB-C interoperability and robust high-bandwidth data interfaces is particularly valuable.
In addition to hands-on engineering, this role may include responsibility for mentoring engineers, driving technical direction across projects, and contributing to team growth and engineering excellence.
Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Leadership and Team Development- Provide technical leadership across hardware development programs.
- Mentor junior and mid-level hardware engineers in schematic design, PCB layout, debugging, and engineering best practices.
- Lead hardware design reviews, architecture discussions, and cross-functional technical decision-making.
- Establish and promote engineering standards for high-speed PCB design, signal integrity, documentation, and validation.
- Support project planning, task prioritization, resource estimation, and execution tracking.
- May directly manage a small team of hardware engineers, including goal setting, performance feedback, career development, coaching, hiring, and onboarding.
High-Speed Hardware Architecture and Design- Architect, design, and validate complex multilayer PCBs for high-performance electronic systems.
- Define board-level architectures, component selection, schematics, layout constraints, and interconnect strategies.
- Design and validate high-speed interfaces, including:
- USB-C and USB high-speed data interfaces
- LVDS and other high-speed serial interfaces
- High-speed differential links and memory interfaces
- Collaborate with firmware, software, systems, and other engineering teams to ensure robust system integration.
- Optimize board architecture, power delivery, grounding, clocking, and layout to meet performance, reliability, and noise requirements.
- Evaluate and mitigate hardware design impacts on system performance, including timing errors, electrical noise, EMI/EMC coupling, and power integrity artifacts.
USB-C Interoperability and System Integration- Design and debug robust USB-C implementations, including:
- Connector orientation and configuration support
- Enumeration and connection reliability
- Sustained high-bandwidth data streaming
- Cable, host, and hub interoperability
- Power sequencing and interface robustness
- Diagnose intermittent hardware and interface failures through systematic testing, measurement, and root-cause analysis.
- Analyze and resolve signal integrity and power integrity challenges across USB-C and other high-speed interfaces.
- Work with firmware and software teams to distinguish hardware, firmware, and system-level failure modes.
Signal Integrity and Hardware Excellence- Serve as a technical authority in high-speed and high-density PCB design.
- Apply and guide best practices for:
- Signal integrity analysis and validation
- Impedance control and stackup design
- Differential-pair routing and skew management
- Return-path continuity and via transitions
- Crosstalk and insertion-loss mitigation
- Power integrity and low-noise supply design
- Drive schematic reviews, layout reviews, design-for-test considerations, and hardware validation plans.
- Lead prototype bring-up, lab debugging, failure analysis, and design iteration.
- Document design decisions, test results, and corrective actions to support reliable product development and production readiness.
Required Qualifications- BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
- 8+ years of hardware design experience, including complex multilayer PCB design.
- Proven expertise designing high-speed digital systems and high-density PCBs.
- Demonstrated technical leadership, mentoring, or team lead experience.
- Strong working knowledge of signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC, and high-speed layout constraints.
- Practical experience with high-speed interfaces such as USB-C, USB, LVDS, or other high-speed serial and differential interfaces.
- Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout tools such as Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or equivalent.
- Hands-on lab debugging skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and related instrumentation.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex hardware issues, identify root causes, and drive corrective actions.
- Strong technical communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Fairchild Imaging provides our employees with a range in benefits offerings that includes:
- 9/80 Schedule - You get every other Friday off!
- Medical, Dental and Vision coverage with multiple plan offerings
- Health Savings Account with an employer contribution annually
- 401(k) retirement plans with Employer matching
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Generous Paid Time Off policy
The compensation salary range for this role is $180,000 to $200,000. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, education, certifications, and knowledge.
