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Hardware Design Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Space-bound hardware requiring rigorous validation This role combines hardware design ownership with significant hands-on lab work, making it ideal for engineers who enjoy taking products from ...

As a Hardware Design Engineer for our spacecraft programs, you will be a key player in the entire lifecycle of our vehicle's electronic systems. This role is for a systems-thinking engineer who is ...

Mechanical Design Engineer Location: Bellevue, Washington Type: Contract Compensation: $52 - $85 ... Demonstrated ownership of hardware design and delivery * High attention to detail and commitment to ...

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Hardware Design Engineer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$79.1K

$167.9K

$244.7K

How much do hardware design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for hardware design engineer in Seattle, WA is $167,872.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $136,600.00 and $198,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a hardware design engineer?

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.

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 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 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 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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Hardware Design Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA?

The most popular types of Hardware Design Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:

What job categories do people searching Hardware Design Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA look for?

The top searched job categories for Hardware Design Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:

What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Hardware Design Engineer jobs?

Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Hardware Design Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Hardware Design Engineer job openings in Seattle, WA as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,872 per year, or $80.7 per hour.

Hardware Design Engineer

Bellevue, WA • Remote

Designworks Talent
Recruiting and Staffing Services • 1 - 10 employees

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 22 days ago


Job description

Hardware / Machine Design Engineer


Location: Hybrid | Bellevue, WA Area
Titles: Principal (multiple roles available) ; Staff level may be considered


Design the Hardware Powering the Next Generation of AI InfrastructureAbout the Opportunity

A well-funded, rapidly growing AI infrastructure company is building a next-generation cloud platform designed to power the full lifecycle of artificial intelligence. The organization is developing a comprehensive AI infrastructure, platform, and services portfolio that supports the full spectrum of AI workloads—including large-scale compute, model training, fine-tuning, inference, and emerging agentic AI applications.

Backed by significant long-term investment, the company combines the speed, ownership, and innovation of a startup with the stability and resources of an established parent organization. Engineering teams are intentionally lean, highly collaborative, and AI-native, leveraging modern automation and tooling to build world-class infrastructure capable of supporting the most demanding AI workloads.

We're seeking a Principal Hardware / Machine Design Engineer to lead the design of next-generation GPU server and rack infrastructure. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys translating vendor reference architectures into highly optimized, production-ready systems that maximize performance, reliability, serviceability, and cost efficiency.

 
 
The Opportunity

As one of the earliest infrastructure engineers on the team, you'll own the physical design of GPU servers and rack-scale systems that form the foundation of a rapidly expanding AI platform. Working closely with GPU vendors, ODMs/OEMs, data center engineering, networking, and operations teams, you'll drive hardware architecture from concept through deployment while influencing future infrastructure strategy.

This is a highly visible individual contributor role with broad ownership and the opportunity to shape hardware standards for a rapidly growing AI infrastructure organization.

 
 
What You'll Do
  • Lead the design and configuration of GPU servers and rack-scale infrastructure using vendor reference architectures from NVIDIA, AMD, and emerging AI hardware providers.

  • Partner closely with ODMs and OEMs to develop, validate, and optimize custom hardware platforms for production deployment.

  • Own rack-level architecture, including mechanical layout, power distribution, thermal design, cable management, serviceability, and deployment standards.

  • Evaluate new GPU platforms, server technologies, and hardware innovations to determine their suitability for next-generation AI workloads.

  • Collaborate with data center engineering, networking, infrastructure, and operations teams to ensure seamless integration across facilities and production environments.

  • Balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, scalability, and total cost of ownership when designing infrastructure solutions.

  • Support hardware validation, qualification, and production readiness for large-scale deployments.

  • Help establish engineering standards, hardware specifications, and design best practices as the infrastructure organization grows.

 
What We're Looking For
  • Extensive experience designing GPU-based servers, rack infrastructure, or large-scale compute platforms.

  • Deep knowledge of GPU server architecture and vendor reference designs, particularly NVIDIA and AMD ecosystems.

  • Experience working directly with ODMs and OEM partners to design, customize, qualify, and manufacture production hardware.

  • Strong understanding of rack-level infrastructure, including power, cooling, airflow, mechanical integration, cable management, and serviceability.

  • Experience supporting hyperscale cloud, AI infrastructure, HPC, or large-scale data center environments.

  • Ability to evaluate architectural trade-offs across performance, scalability, reliability, and cost.

  • Comfortable operating as a senior technical leader within a fast-moving, high-growth engineering organization.

 
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience designing infrastructure supporting AI training clusters or large-scale inference platforms.

  • Experience with liquid cooling technologies, high-density rack deployments, or advanced thermal management.

  • Familiarity with multiple GPU generations and evolving accelerator technologies.

  • Background designing hardware platforms for cloud providers, hyperscalers, or AI infrastructure companies.

  • Experience influencing long-term hardware architecture and infrastructure strategy.

 
Compensation
  • Competitive base pay for Bellevue market

  • Certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, annual bonus, and long term incentives. These awards are allocated based on individual performance

  • U.S. based employees have access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, employees also receive per calendar year, paid holidays.

 
Location
  • Hybrid role based in the Bellevue, WA area.

  • Approximately three days per week in the office.

  • Candidates elsewhere in the U.S. who are open to relocation are encouraged to apply.

  • U.S. work authorization is required. Visa sponsorship is not currently available.

 
Why Join?
  • Design the hardware foundation powering one of the industry's most ambitious AI infrastructure platforms.

  • Own architecture decisions spanning GPU servers, rack systems, and next-generation compute infrastructure.

  • Work directly with leading hardware vendors and manufacturing partners to build production-scale AI systems.

  • Join early enough to influence technical direction, engineering standards, and infrastructure strategy.

  • Collaborate with an exceptional team solving some of the most challenging problems in AI infrastructure, high-performance computing, and hyperscale systems.

  • Enjoy the autonomy and impact of a startup environment backed by substantial long-term investment and a bold vision for the future of AI.