Hardware Engineer

Hardware Engineer - High-Speed PCB Design This role focuses on a high-speed PCB design project centered on a board respin driven by component obsolescence. You will update schematics, replace obsolete components, and execute full design validation for extremely high-speed digital boards used in advanced electronic test systems. The position offers a one-year engagement with the potential for ongoing work, including possible changes to board materials that may impact high-speed performance.

You will own the complete lifecycle from design through validation, with a balanced workload of approximately 50% hands-on lab work and 50% design activities. --- Responsibilities Lead a high-speed PCB board respin effort driven by component obsolescence, ensuring functional and performance equivalence or improvement. Update and refine schematics to integrate replacement components while maintaining or enhancing high-speed signal integrity and overall board performance.

Select and qualify replacement components, ensuring compatibility with existing designs, interfaces, and high-speed requirements. Execute full design validation (DV) for high-speed digital boards, including planning, setup, execution, and documentation of validation activities. Perform hands-on lab validation and characterization work approximately half of the time, using high-speed oscilloscopes, BERT/BER testers, pattern generators, and related test equipment.

Own the complete design lifecycle from concept and circuit design through validation, verification, and release, rather than contributing only to a subset of activities. Characterize and troubleshoot high-speed interfaces, including SERDES links, PAM4 signaling, NRZ signaling, and related high-speed protocols. Analyze and optimize phase noise, clock and data recovery (CDR), and timing performance for high-speed channels.

Evaluate and, when needed, recommend changes to board materials and stack-ups to support 9+ GHz operation and maintain signal integrity. Collaborate closely with layout resources while providing clear guidance on high-speed routing constraints, stack-up, and design rules, even though you will not perform layout yourself. Perform power supply and power distribution network (PDN) design and analysis to support stable, low-noise operation of high-speed circuitry.

Develop, document, and follow validation and verification protocols for interfaces such as PCIe and other OIF-CEI or similar high-speed standards. Use and adapt to Cadence OrCAD or equivalent CAD tools to implement schematic changes and support the design process. Generate clear technical documentation, including test plans, test reports, design notes, and design validation summaries. Troubleshoot and resolve issues identified during validation and characterization, driving design changes or test refinements as needed.

Work both independently and in collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver robust, production-ready high-speed board designs. Take ownership of deliverables, schedules, and quality for assigned boards and subsystems within the one-year project timeline. --- Essential Skills 10–15+ years of experience in high-speed digital board design, including ownership of complete board projects. Strong fundamental expertise in all areas of PCB design excluding layout, with a proven track record of designing and delivering high-speed boards operating at 9 GHz and above.

Hands-on experience with high-speed lab validation and design verification using oscilloscopes such as Keysight high-speed scopes (DCA-X, N1000 series or equivalent). Practical experience with BERT/BER testing and pattern generators for high-speed interface characterization. Deep knowledge of high-speed signaling technologies, including SERDES, PAM4 signaling, NRZ signaling, and related channel behaviors.

Experience with clock and data recovery (CDR) techniques and phase noise analysis for high-speed systems. Proficiency in circuit design for high-speed digital boards,