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Hardware Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As a Mixed Signal Hardware Design Engineer, you will be responsible for the design, implementation and verification of digital and power portions of wireless designs across all Apple products. The ...

Hardware Design Engineer

Annapolis, MD ยท On-site

$125K - $270K/yr

Worker Type Regular The primary role of the Hardware Design Engineer is hands-on engineering, focused on embedded electronics, subsystem integration, and associated testing. You will work closely ...

Hardware Design Engineer

Milpitas, CA ยท 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 ...

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 ...

Seeking a talented and self-motivated automotive EE HW Engineer for the Design Engineering group ... Modify existing hardware designs or create new hardware to realize the desired operational and ...

The Electronic Warfare Division of Leidos is seeking a Hardware Design Engineer to support Circuit Board and FPGA Firmware Design Engineering work with a multi-disciplined design team (electrical ...

Hardware Design Engineer

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$94K - $141K/yr

As a Hardware Design Engineer, you will join an inventive team responsible for developing next-generation 6G prototype platforms and high-performance hardware modules. This role sits at the ...

The Electronic Warfare Division of Leidos is seeking a Hardware Design Engineer to support Circuit Board and FPGA Firmware Design Engineering work with a multi-disciplined design team (electrical ...

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 ...

Futurex is seeking a team-oriented individual to fill the position of Digital Hardware Design Engineer in Bulverde, 15 miles north of San Antonio, Texas. The ideal candidate will perform moderately ...

Showing results 41-60

Hardware Design Engineer information

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$69.5K

$147.5K

$215K

How much do hardware design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for hardware design engineer 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 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.

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 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.

What cities are hiring for Hardware Design Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Hardware Design Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Hardware Design Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Hardware Design Engineer jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Hardware Design Engineer jobs? The top employers for Hardware Design Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Hardware Design Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Hardware Design Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Hardware Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,512 per year, or $70.9 per hour.

Senior Hardware Design Engineer

Fairchild Imaging, Inc.

San Jose, CA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 19 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.