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Hardware Design Engineer Jobs in San Ramon, CA (NOW HIRING)

Tensordyne

Hardware Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

About the role To keep pace in this exciting, multi-disciplinary field, we're looking for a Hardware Design Engineer. You will be in a unique position to have ownership of a wide-ranging list of ...

Tensordyne

Hardware Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

About the role To keep pace in this exciting, multi-disciplinary field, we're looking for a Hardware Design Engineer. You will be in a unique position to have ownership of a wide-ranging list of ...

Cisco

Hardware Design Engineer

Milpitas, CA

$135K - $193K/yr

As a Hardware Engineer, you will develop high-performance board designs for Cisco's next-generation ... Participate in the design and sustenance of complex, high-speed multi-layer PCBs, incorporating ...

New

Cisco

Hardware Design Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$135K - $193K/yr

As a Hardware Engineer, you will develop high-performance board designs for Cisco's next-generation ... Participate in the design and sustenance of complex, high-speed multi-layer PCBs, incorporating ...

New

supermicro

Hardware Design Engineer

San Jose, CA

$148K - $165K/yr

We are seeking a Hardware Design Engineer to join our talented design team. In this role, you will play a critical part in the research, design, development, and testing of high-performance server ...

New

Unigen

Senior Hardware Design Engineer

Newark, CA · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Senior Hardware Design Engineer Reports To: Sr. Director, Hardware & Systems Engineering Job Function: R & D Engineering Job Overview: The Senior Hardware Design Engineer architectures, designs, and ...

Array Labs

EE Hardware Design Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

About the Job As an EE Hardware Design Engineer , you will design and validate the digital and mixed-signal electronics that support Array's radar payloads and satellite platforms. Your work will ...

Array Labs

EE Hardware Design Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

About the Job As an EE Hardware Design Engineer , you will design and validate the digital and mixed-signal electronics that support Array's radar payloads and satellite platforms. Your work will ...

Array Labs

EE Hardware Design Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

About the Job As an EE Hardware Design Engineer , you will design and validate the digital and mixed-signal electronics that support Array's radar payloads and satellite platforms. Your work will ...

Tarana Wireless

Staff Hardware Design Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$155K - $200K/yr

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and 12 years of hardware design and test. What you'll be doing: * Take a leadership role in architecting, designing PCBAs ...

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All JobsHardware Design Engineer JobsHardware Design Engineer Jobs in San Ramon, CA

Hardware Design Engineer information

See San Ramon, CA salary details

$77.7K

$164.8K

$240.3K

How much do hardware design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for hardware design engineer in San Ramon, CA is $164,847.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,100.00 and $194,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Hardware Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as a Hardware Design Engineer, you generally need a strong background in electrical engineering, circuit design, and proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Altium Designer, Cadence, or OrCAD, and knowledge of simulation and testing equipment are typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills that help you innovate and troubleshoot efficiently. These skills and qualities ensure reliable hardware development, seamless collaboration, and successful project outcomes in a competitive tech industry.

What are Hardware Design Engineers?

Hardware Design Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and test physical components and systems for electronic devices. They work on creating circuit boards, microprocessors, memory devices, and other hardware used in computers, smartphones, and various electronic products. These engineers use specialized software tools to plan and simulate hardware designs before building and evaluating prototypes. Their work is essential for bringing new technology products to market and improving existing devices.

Is there a demand for hardware engineers?

Hardware Design Engineers are in high demand due to the growth of electronics, IoT, and embedded systems industries. Employers seek professionals skilled in circuit design, FPGA, and CAD tools, with job opportunities available across various sectors including consumer electronics, automotive, and telecommunications.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior hardware design engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills in FPGA, ASIC, or PCB design, and often in specialized industries like aerospace or semiconductor manufacturing can earn $500,000 or more annually. High compensation typically involves leadership roles, bonuses, stock options, or working in high-demand, high-cost regions.

What are some typical challenges Hardware Design Engineers face when collaborating with cross-functional teams?

Hardware Design Engineers often work closely with firmware, software, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless integration of their designs. A common challenge is aligning the hardware specifications with changing software requirements or manufacturing constraints, which may require iterative design adjustments. Effective communication and documentation are essential to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that all teams are synchronized throughout the product development cycle. Building strong relationships across disciplines can greatly enhance the efficiency and success of collaborative projects.

What do hardware design engineers do?

Hardware design engineers develop and test electronic circuits, components, and systems used in computers, consumer electronics, and industrial equipment. They create schematics, select appropriate components, and use CAD tools to design hardware that meets performance and safety standards, often collaborating with software engineers and testing teams.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior hardware design engineers, especially those with extensive experience, specialized skills in FPGA or ASIC design, and working in high-demand industries like aerospace or semiconductor manufacturing, can earn $300,000 or more annually. Compensation often includes bonuses, stock options, and other incentives, particularly at large tech companies or in leadership roles.

What Does a Hardware Design Engineer Do?

A hardware design engineer uses their advanced knowledge of computer systems and schematics to develop and build useful hardware. Their duties include identifying hardware needs, building new hardware pieces, and testing and analyzing the results to ensure the system works as desired. Hardware design engineers must have in-depth knowledge of computer components and processes to understand internet-ready computer systems. They must maintain their knowledge of the latest software and networking needs so they can design hardware that interacts with the internet appropriately. Hardware design engineers work in teams with software developers to ensure that all components are capable of working together.

What is the difference between Hardware Design Engineer vs Electronics Engineer?

AspectHardware Design EngineerElectronics Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning and developing hardware components and systemsDesigning, testing, and troubleshooting electronic circuits and devices
Required SkillsCircuit design, PCB layout, hardware testingCircuit analysis, component selection, electronic testing
Work EnvironmentHardware labs, manufacturing facilities, R&D departmentsElectronics labs, research centers, manufacturing
Common CertificationsIEEE certifications, PCB design certificationsCertified Electronics Technician (CET), IEEE certifications

While both roles involve working with electronic systems, Hardware Design Engineers focus on creating physical hardware components like circuit boards, whereas Electronics Engineers often work on electronic circuit design, testing, and troubleshooting. Both roles are essential in electronics development and often collaborate in product development cycles.

More about Hardware Design Engineer jobs
What job categories do people searching Hardware Design Engineer jobs in San Ramon, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Hardware Design Engineer jobs in San Ramon, CA are:
What cities near San Ramon, CA are hiring for Hardware Design Engineer jobs? Cities near San Ramon, CA with the most Hardware Design Engineer job openings:
Hardware Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Hardware Design Engineer job openings in San Ramon, CA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $164,847 per year, or $79.3 per hour.
Senior Hardware Design Engineer

Senior Hardware Design Engineer

Fairchild Imaging, Inc.

San Jose, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

Fairchild Imaging, headquartered in San Jose, California is a specialty image sensor design and manufacturing company with deep experience in developing leading edge performance CMOS image sensors. Our portfolio of image sensors can be found in many high-performance imaging applications like space exploration, medical x-ray, sciences, quantum computing, machine vision, low light, and 360 situational awareness.
Senior Hardware Design Engineer - Imaging Systems and High-Speed Electronics
We are seeking an experienced Senior Hardware Design Engineer to lead the design and development of advanced PCB-based imaging platforms for next-generation CMOS image sensors, board-level cameras, and X-ray camera systems. This role requires deep expertise in high-speed digital hardware design, signal integrity, sensor integration, and system-level optimization for imaging performance and interface interoperability.
In addition to hands-on technical leadership, this role may include responsibility for mentoring engineers, driving technical direction across projects, and contributing to team growth and engineering excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership and Team Development
  • Provide technical leadership across hardware development programs for imaging and sensor-based products.
  • Mentor and guide junior and mid-level hardware engineers in schematic design, PCB layout, debug methodologies, 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 for hardware development activities.
  • May directly manage a small team of hardware engineers, including:
  • goal setting and performance feedback,
  • career development and coaching,
  • hiring and onboarding support.

Board-Level Camera and CMOS Image Sensor Platforms
  • Architect, design, and validate high-performance PCBs for board-level camera systems supporting state-of-the-art CMOS image sensors.
  • Develop hardware platforms for:
  • image sensor bring-up and debugging,
  • electrical and optical characterization,
  • internal evaluation platforms,
  • customer demonstration systems.
  • Design interfaces and interconnects for high-speed sensor communication, including:
  • SLVS/SLVS-EC
  • MIPI CSI-2 / D-PHY / C-PHY
  • LVDS and other high-speed serial interfaces.
  • Collaborate with sensor, firmware, software, and applications teams to ensure successful sensor integration and system functionality.
  • Optimize board architecture, power delivery, grounding, clocking, and layout to maximize sensor performance and minimize electrical noise.
  • Evaluate and mitigate hardware design impacts on end-user image quality, including:
  • noise floor,
  • fixed pattern noise,
  • EMI/EMC coupling,
  • timing integrity,
  • power integrity artifacts.

X-ray Camera Electronics
  • Design and develop hardware platforms for X-ray camera systems integrating image sensors, detector electronics, and high-speed data interfaces.
  • Architect PCB solutions for sensor interface, power management, control electronics, and data acquisition subsystems.
  • Lead hardware development focused on robust USB-C interoperability, including:
  • USB-C orientation support,
  • enumeration and configuration reliability,
  • sustained high-bandwidth streaming performance,
  • cable and host interoperability robustness.
  • Analyze and debug signal integrity challenges across USB-C and other high-speed interfaces in demanding imaging applications.

Signal Integrity and Hardware Excellence
  • Serve as subject matter expert in PCB design for high-speed/high-density electronics.
  • Perform and guide best practices for:
  • signal integrity analysis,
  • impedance control,
  • differential pair routing,
  • return path management,
  • power integrity optimization.
  • Drive design reviews, schematic reviews, layout reviews, and hardware validation plans.
  • Support prototype bring-up, debug, failure analysis, and design iteration.

Required Qualifications
  • BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or 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 hands-on experience with CMOS image sensor integration and board-level camera development.
  • Deep working knowledge of:
  • SLVS / SLVS-EC,
  • MIPI CSI-2,
  • USB-C,
  • LVDS and related high-speed interfaces.
  • Strong understanding of:
  • signal integrity,
  • power integrity,
  • EMI/EMC considerations,
  • high-speed layout constraints.
  • Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout tools such as Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or equivalent.
  • Hands-on lab debugging skills using oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, logic analyzers, and related instrumentation.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Prior direct people management experience.
  • Experience with X-ray imaging systems or medical/industrial imaging electronics.
  • Familiarity with detector electronics, analog front ends, and low-noise sensor systems.
  • Experience supporting customer evaluation platforms and demo systems.
  • Knowledge of image quality characterization and hardware contributions to imaging artifacts.

Desired Attributes
  • Strong system-level thinking across hardware, firmware, optics, and software boundaries.
  • Ability to independently drive complex hardware projects from concept through validation.
  • Strong technical communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Ability to balance hands-on engineering depth with technical leadership and team development.

Why Join Us
  • Work on cutting-edge imaging technology with real-world impact.
  • High level of technical ownership and influence on system architecture.
  • Collaborative, engineering-driven culture.
  • Competitive compensation and benefits package.

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.
Fairchild Imaging is an equal opportunity employer. We foster a culture where everyone has an opportunity to succeed regardless of their race, color, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, social or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, union membership, and political affiliation, or any other legally protected group.

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