Principal Hardware Engineer

We are seeking an experienced Principal-level Electronics Engineer for a 6-month Outside IR35 contract to support an advanced engineering innovation centre in West Sussex, conveniently located near Gatwick and key South East transport links.

This engagement offers the opportunity to lead the development of high-integrity electronic systems deployed in ATEX and ultra-low-noise environments, combining hands-on engineering with system-level ownership and technical leadership.

If you enjoy operating at the intersection of deep technical problem-solving, architecture, and pragmatic leadership-without excessive corporate overhead-this contract offers meaningful and rewarding work.

The Engagement

You will take a leading role in the architecture, design, integration, and validation of complex embedded electronic products spanning analogue, digital, and embedded software domains.

The work covers the full development lifecycle-from early-stage requirements and concept development through prototyping, verification, and transition into manufacture. You will also act as a senior technical authority, mentoring engineers and shaping engineering best practice across the programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead system-level architecture and design of embedded electronic products
• Define system specifications, requirements, and interface documentation
• Design, simulate, and verify digital and analogue circuitry, including low-noise signal paths
• Develop and debug embedded firmware in C/C++, working within RTOS environments
• Drive hardware-software integration and system-level performance optimisation
• Contribute to DFMEA, design reviews, and regulatory compliance (EMC, safety, ATEX)
• Support design transfer to manufacturing, working with quality and production teams
• Define and execute verification and validation strategies, including compliance testing

• Strong systems engineering background across analogue, digital, and embedded software
• Hands-on experience with ADCs, DACs, op-amps, power supplies, and signal conditioning
• Embedded software development in C/C++, using standard toolchains and debugging methods
• Experience with RTOS and communication protocols (I²C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet)
• Comfortable operating in multidisciplinary product development environments
• Familiarity with PCB design and simulation tools such as Altium, OrCAD, KiCad, LTspice, MATLAB/Simulink

Desirable Experience

• Development of products for ATEX / hazardous environments
• Knowledge of ISO 60079 and intrinsic safety principles
• Background in safety-critical or regulated industries
• Exposure to wireless technologies (BLE, Wi-Fi, LoRa)

Please send across your CV to explore the opportunity further. The client are able to interview as soon as this week for an asap start and are paying a high rate - the client are preferring four days onsite with one remote but can flex this for the right person.