Sr. System Hardware Design Engineer

Job Title: Sr. System Hardware Design Engineer (High Speed Design)

Location: Milpitas, CA

Duration: 12 months + possible contract to hire beyond a year

Ideal Start Date: 8/31/2026

Work Schedule: 5 days a week onsite

US Persons Only

Background Check and Drug Screen Both Required 

Project Details:

Our client is seeking a Senior System Hardware Design Engineer to support the development of next-generation high-speed embedded hardware platforms. This role will be responsible for the complete hardware design lifecycle, from system architecture and board-level design through validation, manufacturing support, and product release.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience designing high-speed digital systems (10 Gbps+), performing signal integrity simulations, collaborating with PCB layout teams, and working cross-functionally with firmware, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and customer support to deliver robust, production-ready products.

Duties / Responsibilities:

• Design and develop high-speed digital circuit boards and system-level hardware for embedded platforms.
• Perform board-level architecture, schematic design, component selection, and system integration.
• Execute high-speed signal integrity and timing simulations using tools such as HSPICE, HyperLynx, ADS, HFSS, or similar.
• Develop PCB layout guidelines and collaborate with external PCB layout providers to ensure optimal high-speed performance.
• Perform board bring-up, debugging, and hardware validation in partnership with firmware and logic engineering teams.
• Develop board- and system-level test plans, validation procedures, and characterization testing.
• Analyze and verify test data to ensure compliance with electrical and engineering specifications.
• Support manufacturing, production transfers, and customer support by troubleshooting hardware-related issues.
• Partner with Mechanical Engineering on enclosure design and integration of electrical and mechanical assemblies.
• Assist with EMC/EMI compliance, testing, and certification activities.
• Utilize advanced laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, and logic analyzers to debug and validate hardware designs.

Musts:

• Bachelor s or master s degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering (master s preferred).
• 10+ years of experience designing high-performance system- and board-level embedded hardware.
• Strong experience with high-speed digital design (10 Gbps+).
• Expertise with modern high-speed interfaces including:
• PCIe
• USB
• SAS/SATA
• Ethernet
• Experience performing signal integrity, timing, and jitter analysis.
• Proficiency with simulation tools such as HSPICE, HyperLynx, ADS, HFSS, or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of PCB layout best practices for high-speed digital designs.
• Experience with high-speed clock design, implementation, and measurement.
• Hands-on experience debugging complex hardware using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers.
• Knowledge of EMC/EMI mitigation techniques at both the PCB and component levels.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, product validation, and production release activities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across hardware, firmware, mechanical, manufacturing, and support teams.

Pluses:

• FPGA development experience.
• Experience transferring products from development into manufacturing.
• Strong systems-level mindset with the ability to optimize hardware across electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing disciplines.