Lead HW Engineer

The Hardware Engineering Lead is responsible for leading the design, development, and validation of hardware subsystems from concept through production while managing the day-to-day operations of the hardware engineering team. This role combines technical leadership and people management to ensure that hardware designs meet subsystem-level specifications, are fully validated, and are delivered on time and within budget. The Lead acts as both project technical owner and functional manager, driving technical excellence, design discipline, and team development., * Serve as the technical lead and primary point of contact for hardware subsystem and system-level projects;

• Define technical requirements, specifications, and performance targets in coordination with systems engineering;
• Ensure all hardware designs meet or exceed subsystem-level specifications for performance, reliability, and compliance;
• Lead formal Critical Design Reviews (CDR) and Test Readiness Reviews (TRR) for each hardware subsystem to verify design maturity and readiness for validation testing;
• Plan and manage technical execution, resource allocation, and project milestones;
• Identify and mitigate technical and program risks throughout the product lifecycle;
• Collaborate with firmware, mechanical, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams to ensure cohesive integration.

Hardware Design & Validation

• Oversee schematic design, PCB layout, and component selection activities;
• Guide hardware bring-up, debugging, and system integration efforts;
• Review and approve design documentation, analysis, and verification reports;
• Develop and oversee subsystem-level test and validation plans;
• Ensure completion of TRRs prior to major verification or qualification testing;
• Support certification, regulatory compliance, and environmental qualification (e.g., EMI/EMC, thermal, vibration).

Team & People Management

• Manage the hardware engineering team, including staffing, workload planning, and performance management;
• Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and career development discussions;
• Recruit, onboard, and train new hardware engineers and technicians;
• Provide mentoring and technical guidance to support professional growth and skill development;
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance engineering culture;
• Ensure effective communication, task prioritization, and coordination within the hardware team.

Process & Quality Management

• Champion structured hardware development processes including Requirements Reviews, PDRs, CDRs, and TRRs;
• Maintain documentation control, revision management, and design traceability;
• Drive continuous improvement in design methodology, validation, and documentation practices;
• Promote design reusability, standardization, and lessons-learned integration across projects.

Cross-Functional & Supplier Collaboration

• Coordinate closely with Program Management to align technical progress with project objectives;
• Interface with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and test facilities for design reviews, builds, and qualification testing;
• Support operations and manufacturing during NPI, ramp-up, and sustaining engineering phases.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field., * 8+ years of professional experience in hardware design and development;
• At least 3 years in a technical leadership or hardware management role overseeing teams or projects;
• Proven track record leading PDR, CDR and TRR processes and delivering hardware subsystems that meet defined requirements., * Deep expertise in analog, digital, RF, power, or mixed-signal circuit design;
• Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium or similar);
• Strong understanding of system integration, signal integrity, and DFM/DFT principles;
• Hands-on experience with hardware validation, debugging, and test automation;
• Familiarity with compliance testing (EMI/EMC, safety, reliability).

Leadership & Management Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage technical teams effectively;
• Strong communication, delegation, and conflict resolution skills;
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on technical involvement;
• Experience managing budgets, schedules, and resource plans;
• Commitment to developing engineering talent and fostering innovation., * Experience in high-reliability or regulated industries (e.g., aerospace, automotive, medical, defense);
• Experience implementing Agile or hybrid development processes for hardware teams;
• Exposure to PLM/ERP systems and hardware configuration management.