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Senior Hardware Design Engineer Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

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 ...

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 ...

As part of a multidisciplinary engineering team, you will serve as a senior technical authority ... What You'll Do Hardware Design & Development * Direct the design, development, testing, and ...

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Senior Hardware Design Engineer information

See Silver Spring, MD salary details

$95.6K

$143.7K

$191.8K

How much do senior hardware design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior hardware design engineer in Silver Spring, MD is $143,716.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $124,600.00 and $158,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior hardware design engineer?

Senior Hardware Design Engineers are experienced professionals who design, develop, and test electronic hardware components and systems. They typically lead hardware development projects, create detailed schematics and layouts, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful integration of hardware with software. In addition to technical design work, they often mentor junior engineers, oversee prototyping, and troubleshoot complex hardware issues. Their expertise is vital for developing advanced electronics found in products such as computers, mobile devices, automotive systems, and industrial equipment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior hardware design engineer?

To thrive as a Senior Hardware Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, circuit design, and experience with industry standards, usually supported by a relevant degree and several years of design experience. Proficiency with schematic capture tools (e.g., Altium Designer, Cadence, or OrCAD), PCB layout software, and simulation systems is essential, and certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) can be advantageous. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective cross-functional communication are valuable soft skills in this role. These skills and qualifications are crucial to ensure reliable product development, successful project execution, and seamless collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

How do senior hardware design engineers typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project?

Senior Hardware Design Engineers regularly work alongside software engineers, product managers, and manufacturing teams to ensure the seamless integration of hardware with other systems. This often involves participating in design reviews, troubleshooting interdisciplinary issues, and aligning hardware specifications with overall project goals. Effective communication and documentation are crucial, as is the ability to provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers within the team.

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

AspectSenior Hardware Design EngineerHardware Design Engineer
QualificationsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or related field; 5+ years experienceBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field; 1-3 years experience
ResponsibilitiesLeading complex hardware projects, mentoring junior engineers, system architectureDesigning and testing hardware components, supporting project development
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, R&D departments, collaborative projectsDesign labs, development teams, manufacturing support

The main difference is experience level and responsibility. Senior Hardware Design Engineers lead projects and mentor others, while Hardware Design Engineers focus on designing hardware components. Both roles require similar technical skills but differ in scope and leadership expectations.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Hardware Design Engineer jobs in Silver Spring, MD?

For Senior Hardware Design Engineer jobs in Silver Spring, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Hardware Design Engineer jobs in Silver Spring, MD look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Hardware Design Engineer jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:

What cities near Silver Spring, MD are hiring for Senior Hardware Design Engineer jobs?

Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Senior Hardware Design Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Hardware Design Engineer job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,716 per year, or $69.1 per hour.

Principal Hardware Design Engineer

Leidos

Laurel, MD

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Leidos rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 152 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

79th of 495 rated business services


Job description

About Leidos

Leidos is a FORTUNE 500 company bringing a mix of innovative technology and sector expertise to customers in the national security, engineering, and health industries. We deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. Guided by our Mission, Vision, and Values, Leidos empowers its teams, contributes to its communities, and operates sustainably-always with a commitment to doing the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community.

The Leidos Intel Sector combines technology-enabled services and mission software capabilities in the areas of cyber, logistics, security operations, and decision analytics to support Intelligence Community customers as they address evolving national security challenges.

About the Opportunity

Leidos is seeking an accomplished Principal Hardware Design Engineer to provide technical leadership in the design, development, testing, and reverse engineering of advanced hardware solutions supporting mission-critical Government programs. As part of a multidisciplinary engineering team, you will serve as a senior technical authority, guiding complex engineering efforts, advancing innovative design methodologies, and helping shape the future direction of hardware engineering capabilities supporting national security missions.

Why This Role Matters

Mission success depends on engineers who not only solve today's technical challenges but also help define tomorrow's solutions. As a Principal Hardware Design Engineer, you will provide expert technical guidance across complex engineering efforts while developing innovative hardware solutions, advancing reverse engineering methodologies, and mentoring engineering teams. Your expertise will directly influence the development of critical hardware technologies that enable Intelligence Community operations.

What You'll Do

Hardware Design & Development

  • Direct the design, development, testing, and continuous improvement of advanced integrated circuits, hardware components, embedded firmware, and signal processing technologies.

  • Lead complex hardware engineering initiatives while ensuring designs remain reliable, manufacturable, cost-effective, and aligned with mission objectives.

  • Provide technical direction throughout the hardware development lifecycle, supporting successful delivery of complex engineering solutions.

  • Collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering organizations to resolve challenging technical problems and ensure project success.

Physical Design & Implementation

  • Direct the application of ASIC and FPGA Place-and-Route (P&R) tools, engineering libraries, and physical implementation methodologies.

  • Oversee integration of new P&R tools, design libraries, and technology updates into the Government's computer-aided design environment.

  • Provide technical guidance for complex physical design, implementation, and optimization activities.

  • Collaborate with tool and library vendors to evaluate and implement innovative engineering solutions.

Reverse Engineering & Analysis

  • Lead advanced reverse engineering efforts involving integrated circuits, firmware, and complex electronic components.

  • Oversee de-processing activities and firmware retrieval using approved reverse engineering procedures.

  • Develop novel reverse engineering methodologies supporting new component technologies and evolving mission requirements.

  • Guide hardware adaptation efforts that modify vendor-manufactured hardware to satisfy specialized Government needs.

Technical Leadership & Innovation

  • Serve as an internal technical consultant, providing expert engineering guidance on the organization's most complex hardware design initiatives.

  • Direct and review the technical work of Hardware Design Engineers while promoting engineering excellence and knowledge sharing.

  • Mentor engineers across multiple experience levels, supporting technical growth and continuous learning.

  • Evaluate emerging hardware technologies, engineering tools, and design methodologies to improve engineering capabilities and mission performance.

  • Develop engineering best practices and technical standards that enhance design quality, innovation, and long-term maintainability.

This posting is for multiple opportunities.

Required Qualifications

Clearance

  • TS/SCI with Polygraph, at time of Application, to be considered for the position.

Education

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering from an accredited college or university.

  • Five (5) additional years of hardware design engineering experience may be substituted for the required bachelor's degree.

Experience

  • Minimum of twelve (12) years of experience in integrated circuit or microelectronic component design or reverse engineering supporting programs or contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience supporting Intelligence Community or other national security missions.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:August 18, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.


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About Leidos

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable practices. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Reston, VA, US

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