Hardware Engineer Contract Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Mountain View, CA, United States (On-site)

Contract (4 months 1 day)

Published 2 days ago

hardware engineering

DFMEA

Hardware Documentation

cross - functional collaboration

Automotive Protocols

Validation & Testing

We are looking for a Hardware Engineer to join the Hardware Platform Development team. This role focuses on the design, development, validation, and support of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) and related electrical/electronic hardware systems for next-generation vehicles.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in automotive hardware development, including board level design, schematic/layout review, and system bring-up. This position collaborates closely with software engineers, validation teams, and suppliers to ensure robust, production-ready EE platforms

Key Responsibilities

• Hardware Development (80%)
  • Design and develop ECU hardware solutions in collaboration with cross-functional teams
  • Review and validate schematics, layouts, and component selections
  • Support hardware bring-up, system integration, and functional validation
  • Develop and maintain detailed hardware documentation (design specs, BOMs, schematics, test plans)
  • Work closely with software engineers to support low-level integration and debugging
  • Participate in failure analysis and root cause investigations
  • Interface with external suppliers and contract manufacturers on hardware builds
  • Ensure compliance with internal design standards, industry regulations, and automotive quality processes
• Operational Management (20%)
  • Assist with production and manufacturing test development for ECU hardware
  • Support prototype and pre-production builds, including rework and hardware modifications
  • Monitor and report on technical risks, delivery timelines, and quality issues
  • Contribute to team knowledge sharing and continuous improvement of development processes

Mandatory skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field
• Experience in design and development of ECUs or embedded electronic systems
• Proficiency in schematic capture and PCB layout tools
• Experience with hardware bring-up, board-level debugging, and validation
• Familiarity with automotive communication protocols: CAN, LIN, FlexRay, Ethernet
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, power supplies)
• Understanding of functional safety (ISO 26262) and EMI/EMC considerations

Optional skills:

• Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field
• Knowledge of connected vehicle infotainment and communication software systems
• Knowledge of DFMEA, DVP&R, and other automotive quality processes

The pay range that the employer in good faith reasonably expects to pay for this position is $38.83/hour - $60.68/hour. Our benefits include medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Unincorporated LA County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: client provided property, including hardware (both of which may include data) entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all portable client computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon completion of the assignment, and; maintain the confidentiality of client proprietary, confidential, or non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected client information technology systems and related data security obligations.