Principal Hardware Engineer I

Overview

In this Principal Hardware Engineer role, you lead end-to-end hardware development for complex space-grade electronics, from concept to production. You will guide cross-functional teams, deliver high-reliability modules, and present designs to customers and executives. The role blends hands-on design with technical leadership in a startup-like environment, enabling impactful innovations for satellites and airborne platforms. Join a fast-paced, high-rigor team that values initiative and clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end design of complex electronics modules and systems (high-speed digital, power electronics, RF) from concept to production
• Lead hardware teams to develop multi-module products
• Provide subject matter expertise to support hardware development
• Develop hardware architecture and write system-level hardware requirements
• Perform detailed schematic design for complex boards and PCB layout in Altium Designer
• Conduct worst-case, signal integrity, and power integrity analyses and guide analysis methods
• Create bring-up plans and verification tests for new hardware and complex systems
• Release modules to production in collaboration with Manufacturing and Test Engineering
• Mentor junior and senior engineers for technical growth
• Collaborate with adjacent fields (software, mechanical) to streamline hardware design
• Prepare design review materials for customers and executive team

Key requirements

• BS in Electrical Engineering or higher
• 9+ years in board-level electronics design, analysis, and test
• Experience designing high-reliability electronics for space/defense (including derating, worst-case, thermal constraints)
• Ownership of design phase for complex board-level electronics and small systems
• Experience delivering hardware through production and deployment
• Expert in PCB layout and HDI stackups, IPC standards, industry best practices
• Experience derisking designs via board-level SI/PI simulations (e.g., Ansys SIwave, ADS SIPro, Mentor Hyperlynx)
• Strong understanding of software and mechanical interactions with hardware architectures
• Expert-level proficiency with electronics design tools (Altium)
• Extensive lab bring-up and verification experience
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills

• leadership
• clear communication
• mentoring
• Altium Designer
• HDI stackup design
• IPC standards

…