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Board Level Hardware Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Principal Electrical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$162K - $199K/yr

Define and own the board-level hardware architecture and technical roadmap across multiple product lines and platform generations * Establish design standards, methodologies, and best practices that ...

Showing results 21-40

Board Level Hardware Design information

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$69.5K

$147.5K

$215K

How much do board level hardware design jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for board level hardware design in the United States is $147,512.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,000.00 and $174,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is board level hardware design?

Board level hardware design refers to the process of designing and developing printed circuit boards (PCBs) that house and connect electronic components. This involves schematic capture, layout design, component selection, signal integrity analysis, and often prototyping and testing. Board level hardware designers ensure that the PCB meets the required electrical, mechanical, and regulatory standards so that it functions correctly within a larger system. Their work is essential for creating reliable electronics found in devices ranging from consumer gadgets to industrial equipment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a board level hardware designer?

To excel as a Board Level Hardware Designer, you need a strong background in electrical engineering, circuit design, and PCB layout, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with industry-standard design tools such as Altium Designer, OrCAD, and experience with signal integrity analysis and EMC compliance are essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and troubleshooting complex designs. These skills ensure the development of reliable, high-performance hardware that meets technical standards and project requirements.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in board level hardware design, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in board level hardware design often encounter challenges such as managing signal integrity, meeting power requirements, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Addressing these issues typically involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams, thorough simulation and testing, and staying updated on the latest design tools and best practices. Effective communication with firmware, mechanical, and manufacturing teams is essential to anticipate and resolve potential integration issues early in the design process.

What is the difference between Board Level Hardware Design vs PCB Design Engineer?

AspectBoard Level Hardware DesignPCB Design Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, hardware design certificationsElectrical engineering or related degree, PCB design certifications
Work EnvironmentDesigning entire hardware systems, schematic capture, component selectionCreating detailed PCB layouts, signal integrity, manufacturing files
Industry UsageConsumer electronics, industrial equipment, aerospaceConsumer electronics, telecommunications, embedded systems

Board Level Hardware Design involves designing complete hardware systems, including schematics and component selection, while PCB Design Engineers focus on creating detailed PCB layouts. Both roles require electrical engineering knowledge and often overlap, but Board Level Hardware Design covers a broader scope from concept to integration.

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What are popular job titles related to Board Level Hardware Design jobs?

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Infographic showing various Board Level Hardware Design job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,512 per year, or $70.9 per hour.

Sr. Principal Electrical Engineer (digital board design)

Hudson, NH โ€ข On-site

$140K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:

As a Senior Principal Electrical Engineer at Mercury Systems, you will serve as a senior technical leader providing strategic direction and oversight to board-level hardware development across multiple programs. You will see the profound impact of your technical decisions on the most sophisticated mission-critical systems - from below the ocean to orbiting in space. You're not just designing boards; you're shaping the technical direction of complex programs and establishing the standards that ensure Mercury delivers world-class ruggedized solutions for the most demanding defense and aerospace applications including secure processing, advanced FPGA systems, DRFM devices, display technologies, and extreme environment electronics.

We emphasize design quality through collaborative reviews and proactive verification, helping teams deliver reliable solutions efficiently. In this role, you will serve as a recognized technical authority who drives innovation, establishes engineering standards, and champions strategic process improvements. At Mercury, we work with an Integrator Mindset, leading collaboration across sites and disciplines to create breakthrough board-level solutions that directly impact our country's security.

Job Responsibilities:
  • Provide strategic technical leadership and direction for board-level hardware development across new and ongoing programs
  • Architect innovative circuit board solutions for advanced secure processing, data storage, signal processing, DRFM, display, and extreme environment systems
  • Design using cutting-edge technology including 400G+ Ethernet, PCIe Gen 5+, DDR5+ SDRAM, advanced fiber optics and video interfaces
  • Champion design quality culture across programs through comprehensive reviews and proactive verification
  • Lead strategic initiatives to advance board Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Test (DFT) across the organization
  • Lead proposal development including system architecting, technical volume writing, and providing detailed BOE
  • Provide mentorship and technical guidance to engineers at multiple levels
Required Qualifications:
  • BS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering (Master's strongly preferred)
  • Minimum 10 years of electrical engineering product development experience in board-level hardware design from concept to production
  • Extensive experience designing highly complex embedded digital hardware products from concept to completion
  • Proven track record of technical leadership on complex programs
  • Experience developing advanced high-performance digital hardware, including next-generation interfaces, memory technologies, and high-speed interconnect architectures
  • Expert-level understanding of signal integrity for very high-speed digital board design
  • Significant experience leading proposals, developing schedule/cost estimates, and providing BOE at the program level
  • This position requires you to access information that is subject to U.S. export regulations. You may only access such information if you are a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. government
Preferred Experience:

Strong candidates typically have experience in several of the following areas:

Digital & High-Speed Technologies
  • Intel CPU architecture (Xeon-D, Cascade Lake, Sapphire Rapids, Emerald Rapids) or other advanced microprocessor architectures
  • Experience designing with Intel (Xilinx) and AMD (Altera) advanced FPGAs (Agilex, Versal, next-gen)
  • Experience designing advanced network interface devices (Mellanox, Broadcom, Marvell)
  • Experience designing cutting-edge high-speed digital board systems including 400G+ Ethernet, PCIe Gen 5+, DDR5+ SDRAM, advanced interconnects
DoD/Aerospace & Rugged Systems
  • Commercial/Defense 3U/6U VPX (VITA46, VITA65), VITA design standards (VITA 42, 46, 62, 65), or COM Express/SoM experience
  • Extensive knowledge of military standards and experience developing to MIL-STD-704F, 1275, 461G, 1399, DO-160G
  • Experience with video processing, display technologies, secure computing, anti-tamper, encryption, NSA certification, or DRFM devices (including 7-11 GHz)
  • Experience with space applications or radiation tolerant components
Tools & Analysis
  • Expert-level experience using Cadence Allegro for CAD/SI layout and simulation
  • Advanced analysis including stress derating, reliability, and FMECA
  • Experience in advanced power supply design and EMI compliance (CE EMI and MIL-STD-461G)
  • Requirements traceability tools (JAMA, DOORS) or Atlassian tools (JIRA, Confluence)
Leadership & Collaboration
  • Proven experience leading projects and mentoring engineers at all levels

We are also hiring at the Principal Electrical Engineer level. See job id #26-377.

Why should you join Mercury Systems?

Mercury Systems is a technology company that makes the world a safer, more secure place. We push processing power to the tactical edge, making the latest commercial technologies profoundly more accessible for today's most challenging aerospace and defense missions. From silicon to system scale, Mercury enables customers to accelerate innovation and turn data into decision superiority. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Mercury employs more than 2,300 people in 24 locations worldwide. To learn more, visit mrcy.com

Our Culture

We are committed to making Mercury a great place to work, no matter where our employees are located. We offer a casual and enjoyable atmosphere that allows employees to learn and grow. We help and care for one another and work as one to achieve results for us and for our customers. We value communication and transparency, and strive to foster two-way dialogue at all levels of the organization. We are committed to lifelong learning, offering comprehensive skills training and tuition reimbursement. Whether you're just starting out on your career journey or you are an experienced professional, it's important to us that you feel recognized and rewarded for your contributions.

To find out more aboutWhy Mercury?, or visit the Mercury Community or find answers to general questions at Mercury FAQs

Mercury Systems is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, creed, citizenship, disability, protected veteran or marital status.

As an equal opportunity employer, Mercury Systems is committed to a diverse workforce. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact the number below for assistance.

(978) 256-1300

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