Job Description

Job Summary  

The Hardware Engineer will be responsible for selecting Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components for new designs, influence engineering drawings with a focus on ruggedization, and contributing to the development of complex systems. This role involves designing to meet product requirements, creating system block diagrams, and participating in key engineering reviews, including PDR, CDR, TRR, and PRR. 

Duties & Responsibilities  

• Component Selection for New Designs: 
• Select appropriate COTS components for assemblies, ensuring the optimal performance and compatibility to meet system requirements. 
• Be responsible for utilizing the GIDEP (Government-Industry Data Exchange Program) to identify and report part failures, obsolescence, and counterfeit risks. 
• Analyze and compile relevant data to ensure ongoing product quality and adherence to regulatory compliance standards. 
• Assess the need for custom boards and define specific requirements to support make-or-buy programmatic and technical decisions. 
• For computing systems: select and specify components including motherboards, memory, storage devices, graphics cards, power supplies. 
• For display systems: select components such as video boards, video conversion boards, power supplies 
•  Custom Board Identification and Requirement Definition: 
• Assess and identify the need for custom boards based on system requirements, technical risk and product specifications. 
• Define and manage detailed requirements for custom boards and collaborate with an approved vendor base to contribute to their successful design. 
• Engineering Reviews and Collaboration: 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance design concepts and address technical challenges. 
• Actively contribute to design reviews and process improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing product quality, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Engage in engineering peer reviews, offering valuable input on requirements, system designs, enclosure designs, and board designs. Participate in both internal and external formal phase gate reviews, including PDR, CDR, TRR, PRR, and TRL/MRL. 
•  Engineering Drawing Creation and Ruggedization: 
• Develop comprehensive engineering drawings that specify the design and ruggedization aspects of assigned products. 
•  Define system requirements and create system block diagrams to represent the architecture of the product. 
• Develop cable specifications and ensure all components meet reliability and ruggedness standards for demanding environments. 

Education and Experience  

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. 
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in hardware design, component selection, and system-level design for computing or display systems. 
• Hands-on experience in selecting and integrating COTS components (motherboards, memory, storage, graphics) for new designs. 
• Experience creating and editing engineering drawings and system block diagrams. 
• Familiarity with ruggedization techniques and reliability standards for electronic components and systems. 
• Strong understanding of electrical systems, component functionality, and product specifications. 
• Proficiency with CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, Altium Designer) and other relevant design tools. 
• Experience with custom board designs and defining requirements for specialized hardware preferred. 
• Knowledge of military or aerospace standards for rugged electronic systems preferred. 
• Familiarity with power management and video signal conversion technologies preferred. 

Skills and Abilities  

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team. 
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. 
• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively. 
• Proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues throughout the product development lifecycle. 
• Working knowledge of the principles, procedures, and best practices in the military electronics industry. 
• Ability to read and understand the electrical (block diagrams, schematics and wire lists) and mechanical drawings. 
• Able to use tools such as oscilloscopes, multi-meters, spectrum analyzers, and other common lab tools. 
• Ability to build displays, computers, tablets, and peripheral products; as well as install BIOS, firmware, and software. 
• Able to test displays, computers, tablets, and peripheral products following DOD/MIL specs. 

Physical Demands  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, see, and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; use hands to pick up, handle, feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. 

Work Environment  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Office environment with temperature control; may be exposed to chemicals related to the manufacturing process. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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