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Senior Hardware Engineer Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Senior Sustaining Engineer - Electrical

Madison, WI · On-site

$108K - $141K/yr

Job Title Senior Sustaining Engineer - Electrical Requisition JR000015832 Senior Sustaining ... Proven ability in system-level troubleshooting across hardware, firmware, and integrated systems

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Senior Hardware Engineer information

See Madison, WI salary details

$84.7K

$132.9K

$193K

How much do senior hardware engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior hardware engineer in Madison, WI is $132,933.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,400.00 and $148,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior hardware engineer?

Senior Hardware Engineers are experienced professionals who design, develop, and test computer hardware components such as processors, circuit boards, memory devices, and networks. They lead hardware development projects, oversee junior engineers, and collaborate with software teams to ensure seamless integration. Their responsibilities often include evaluating new technologies, troubleshooting complex issues, and ensuring products meet quality and performance standards. Senior Hardware Engineers typically have several years of experience and a strong background in electrical or computer engineering.

How does a senior hardware engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a product development cycle?

As a Senior Hardware Engineer, you'll frequently collaborate with software engineers, mechanical designers, project managers, and manufacturing teams throughout the product development process. This collaboration involves regular design reviews, troubleshooting sessions, and integration testing to ensure all components work together seamlessly. Clear communication and problem-solving skills are essential, as you'll often act as a technical liaison between departments to address challenges and meet project milestones. Working closely with diverse teams not only enhances the final product but also provides opportunities for professional growth and learning from other disciplines.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior hardware engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Hardware Engineer, you need strong expertise in electronic circuit design, hardware architecture, and system integration, typically supported by a degree in electrical or computer engineering. Proficiency with CAD tools like Altium Designer or Cadence, as well as experience with simulation, testing equipment, and relevant certifications such as IPC or FCC, is highly valued. Exceptional problem-solving, teamwork, and project management skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills ensure reliable hardware development, effective cross-functional collaboration, and the successful delivery of complex engineering projects.

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

AspectSenior Hardware EngineerHardware Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, certifications like Cisco or IPCBachelor's or Master's in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, manufacturing facilities, R&D teamsDesign studios, prototyping labs, development teams
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, hardware manufacturers, R&D firmsConsumer electronics, embedded systems, hardware startups
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for seniority, responsibilities, and experience levelCompared for design focus, technical skills, and project involvement

The main difference is that a Senior Hardware Engineer oversees complex projects, manages teams, and ensures hardware integration, while a Hardware Design Engineer primarily focuses on designing and developing hardware components. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and certifications but differ in scope and responsibilities within the hardware development process.

What are the most commonly searched types of Hardware Engineer jobs in Madison, WI?

The most popular types of Hardware Engineer jobs in Madison, WI are:

What cities near Madison, WI are hiring for Senior Hardware Engineer jobs?

Cities near Madison, WI with the most Senior Hardware Engineer job openings:

Engineering Manager - Hardware

AprilAire

Sun Prairie, WI • On-site

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Oversee and coordinate activity within the internal hardware engineering team.

  • Contribute to hardware development and testing project scope and schedule, and plan and oversee sprint execution.

  • Define, manage, and ensure hardware, simulation, test, and validation performance requirements for new products.


Job description

Overview

AprilAire is currently seeking an Engineering Manager - Hardware to join us at our Sun Prairie Innovation Center! In this role you will oversee and coordinate activity within the internal hardware engineering team, with responsibilities that include communication and coordination across all engineering groups. You will also be responsible for the robust task  of developing processes, creating and tracking KPIs, and providing mentorship as well as technical and project oversight for the hardware team as needed.


Responsibilities
  • Contribute to the scope and schedule determination for the hardware development and testing portion of projects 
  • Plan and oversee the execution of sprints within the hardware team (including story pointing, retrospectives, and prioritization of tasks with input from stakeholders/project managers) 
  • Triage hardware issues raised and assign to the appropriate engineer 
  • Define and manage hardware, simulation, test, and validation performance requirements for new products 
  • Collaborate on circuit design, schematics, layout, analysis, and documentation 
  • Own hardware architecture requirements and design specification documents  
  • Conduct design reviews and translate findings into actionable tasks 
  • Develop complete PCB designs, including schematics and layouts 
  • Provide oversite for obsolescence management and other life cycle support requirements 
  • Suggest and contribute to the development of R&D concepts 
  • Continuously improve development processes based on cutting edge best-practices 
  • Ensure the team follows approved hardware design and review processes 
  • Track and report hardware KPIs including schedule status, sprint velocity, and hardware test findings 
  • Act as a point of contact for specification clarity and alignment 
  • Communicate deliverables to test teams and other stakeholders.  
  • Update manager with bi-weekly sprint reports 
  • Identify and appropriately flag risks  
  • Contribute to and participate in gate reviews 
  • Collaborate with product owner, program manager, and stakeholders to define project milestones, requirements, and estimate task efforts for our hardware development 
  • Provide oversight and mentorship for hardware engineers.  
  • Assist project managers in keeping track of hardware development and testing portions of the schedule and budget 
  • Work closely with quality team to develop and maintain processes to validate hardware 
  • Build a diverse and high-performing team through strategic hiring, talent development, and effective role alignment 
  • Management of external hardware resources used to supplement our internal engineers, as needed 
  • Set and manage individual and team goals focused on capability building, efficiency, and performance 
  • Willing and capable of travelling between AprilAire facilities, suppliers, and customers. Expected amount of travel is small (1-2 trips a year outside of WI) 

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, or related field.
  • 7-10 years of experience as a hardware engineer. 
  • 1-3 years of project management or people leadership experience. 
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate with both internal and external stakeholders and senior leadership.
  • Experience in hardware reliability analysis, FMEA required.
  • Experience in conducting root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
  • Experience in document creation including specifications, design descriptions, design & test reports.
  • Experience designing products for manufacture. 
  • Experience with electrical CAD tools, preferably Altium Designer. 
  • Experience with increasing responsibility in project development with demonstrated leadership success 
  • Organizational, coordination, and multi-tasking experience 
  • Strong understanding of analog and digital circuit design principals, including PCB layout and design for EMC.
  • Experience establishing work relationships across multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Experience taking a design from architecture through to production. 

LinkedIn Tag
Keyan Stremikis #LI-KS1Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, or related field.
  • 7-10 years of experience as a hardware engineer. 
  • 1-3 years of project management or people leadership experience. 
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate with both internal and external stakeholders and senior leadership.
  • Experience in hardware reliability analysis, FMEA required.
  • Experience in conducting root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
  • Experience in document creation including specifications, design descriptions, design & test reports.
  • Experience designing products for manufacture. 
  • Experience with electrical CAD tools, preferably Altium Designer. 
  • Experience with increasing responsibility in project development with demonstrated leadership success 
  • Organizational, coordination, and multi-tasking experience 
  • Strong understanding of analog and digital circuit design principals, including PCB layout and design for EMC.
  • Experience establishing work relationships across multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Experience taking a design from architecture through to production. 
Education:UNAVAILABLEEmployment Type: FULL_TIME