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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Hardware Design Engineers - **Company:** TP-Link Systems Inc. - **Location:** Irvine, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $150,000.0 - $185,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Board Bringup, Adobe Flash, Gigabit Ethernet, Adobe InDesign, Altium Designer, Analog Electronics, Databases, Computer Engineering, Extract Transform Load (ETL), Software Debugging, Distributed File Systems, Ethernet, Design of User Interfaces, Hardware Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Joint Test Action (IEEE Standards), Network Architecture, OrCAD, PCI Express, Performance Tuning, Reliability Engineering, Software Reliability Testing, Requirements Management, Signal Integrity, Systems Architecture, System on a Chip, Systems Integration, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter, Wireless Access Point, Wi-Fi Technology, Network Routers, Computer Networking Systems, Serial Peripheral Interface, IEEE 802.11ax, Hardware Testing, Wireless Devices, Home Networking, Ripple (payment Protocol), Pcb Layout, EMMC, Hardware Debugging - **Published:** July 31, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/senior-hardware-engineer-irvine-ca--a457e385-3efb-4bff-a9b9-203e0cf838f4 ## About the Role * 7+ years of hands-on hardware design experience, including at least 3 years in a senior engineer or technical lead role. * Experience in consumer networking, wireless router, gateway, mesh Wi-Fi, IoT hub, access point, or similar connected device development. * Strong hardware system design experience, including SoC/CPU platforms, DDR, Flash/eMMC, Ethernet PHY/switch, Wi-Fi RF modules/chipsets, power architecture, thermal design, and peripheral interfaces. * Solid knowledge of analog and digital circuit design, including power, reset, clock, protection, interface, and board-level signal conditioning circuits. * Proficient in schematic design, schematic review, PCB layout review, and design documentation using Cadence OrCAD/Allegro, Altium, or similar tools. * Strong experience with DC/DC converters, LDOs, power sequencing, power integrity, ripple/noise control, efficiency optimization, and thermal considerations. * Hands-on experience with digital interfaces such as PCIe, USB, RGMII/SGMII, Ethernet PHY interfaces, SPI, I2C, UART, GPIO, and JTAG. * Strong hands-on experience in board bring-up, debugging, validation, and failure analysis using standard lab equipment. * Familiarity with FCC, CE/RED, ISED, UL/ETL, ESD, EMI/EMC, DFS, and reliability testing requirements. * Experience supporting full product development from architecture, schematic, layout, EVT/DVT/PVT, pilot run, mass production, to post-launch issue resolution. * Ability to lead technical reviews, drive issue closure, mentor junior engineers, and manage multiple tasks effectively., * Experience with Ethernet hardware design, including 1G/2.5G/10G Ethernet interfaces, PHY/switch integration, magnetics, RJ45 circuits, ESD protection, and high-speed PCB layout considerations. * Experience with Wi-Fi hardware system integration, including Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 platforms, RF front-end modules, antenna interfaces, RF coexistence, RF calibration, and wireless performance optimization. * Familiarity with RF front-end and antenna-related design, including PA/LNA/FEM selection, RF switches, filters, impedance matching, antenna matching, antenna isolation, and OTA performance tuning. * Familiarity with mechanical and thermal design constraints, including enclosure impact on RF performance, thermal management, connector placement, antenna placement, and assembly feasibility. * Experience working with ODM/JDM partners, certification labs, RF labs, antenna vendors, and key component suppliers. * Experience with signal integrity, power integrity, or thermal simulation is a plus., 10-Gigabit Ethernet, Adobe Flash, Analog Circuit Design, Antenna, Antenna Design, Bill of Materials (BOM), Boundary Scan, CPU (Central Processing Unit), Cadence Allegro, Calibration, Chipset, Component Selection, Computer Engineering, Consumer Networking, Cost Control, Cross-Functional, Customer Support/Service, DFT (Design for Test), Database Extract Transform and Load (ETL), Debugging Skills, Design Services, Design Verification, Digital Circuit Design, Distribution Control, Diversity, Documentation, ESD Protection, Electromagnetic Compatibility, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), Electronics, Entrepreneurship, Ethernet, Ethernet Switching, FCC (Federal Communications Commission), Failure Analysis, Feasibility Analysis, Functional Testing, Hardware Administration, Hardware Architecture, Hardware Architecture Design, Hardware Debugging, Hardware Design, Home Networking, I2C, Identify Issues, Impedance Matching, Internet of Things, Laboratory Equipment, Leadership, Mass Production, Mechanical Design, Memory Hardware, Mentoring, Multitasking, Needs Assessment, Network Architecture/Engineering, Network Routers, Network System Hardware, Network Systems, OrCAD, Original Design Manufacturer (ODM), PCI Express (PCI-E), PHY, Performance Management, Performance Tuning/Optimization, Printed Circuit Board (PCB), Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Layout, Printed Circuit Board Design, Problem Solving Skills, Process Engineering, Process Improvement, Product Design, Product Development, Product Planning, Product Support, Product Testing, Product/Service Launch, Production Support, Radio Frequency, Radio Frequency Selection, Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), Regulatory Compliance, Reliability Engineering, Reliability Testing, Requirements Management, Root Cause Analysis, Schematics, Second Sourcing, Signal Integrity, Simulation, Smart Homes, System Architecture, System Integration (SI), System-on-a-Chip (SoC), Technical Leadership, Technical/Engineering Design, Test Design, Test Requirements, Thermal Management, Trade-Off Analysis, USB, Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART), User Interface/Experience (UI/UX), Validation Plan, Validation Testing, Wi-Fi, Wireless Communications, Wireless Hardware ## Description TP-Link Systems Inc. is seeking experienced board-level Senior Hardware Design Engineers to join our home networking engineering team. These roles will serve as senior hardware technical owners for consumer network products, conduct needs analysis & design feasibility assessments, be responsible for hardware architecture, schematic design, PCB layout review, board bring-up, validation, issue debugging, and mass production support. In addition, seniors will mentor junior engineers and contribute to the product direction of our hardware projects. These positions require deep technical expertise in electronics and a proven track record of successful product launches, * Participate in early-stage product planning and project initiation by evaluating product requirements, technical feasibility, schedule risks, cost targets, and manufacturability. * Define hardware system architecture for network products, including SoC/CPU platform, memory, Ethernet PHY/switch, Wi-Fi chipset/module, RF front-end, antenna interface, power architecture, thermal design, and key peripheral interfaces. * Conduct technical solution evaluations and trade-off analysis across performance, cost, reliability, supply availability, manufacturability, and regulatory compliance. * Lead key component selection and evaluation, including SoC/CPU, Wi-Fi chipset or module, Ethernet PHY/switch, DDR, Flash/eMMC, DC/DC converters, LDOs, clocks, connectors, RF front-end components, and protection devices. * Own detailed hardware design, including schematic design, schematic review, PCB layout guidance, BOM preparation, design documentation, and design release. * Work closely with PCB layout engineers or design partners to guide component placement, stack-up, impedance control, power distribution, high-speed routing, RF layout, antenna placement, and DFM/DFT considerations. * Lead board bring-up, hardware debugging, and system-level issue analysis for power, clocks, reset, DDR, Ethernet, Wi-Fi RF interfaces, high-speed interfaces, thermal behavior, and overall platform functionality. * Define and execute hardware validation plans, including functional testing, power validation, signal integrity checks, thermal testing, RF-related validation, reliability testing, and design verification. * Support EVT, DVT, PVT, pilot run, and mass production by resolving hardware issues, supporting factory builds, providing technical guidance, and preparing production-related documentation. * Support regulatory and compliance activities, including FCC, CE/RED, ISED, ESD, EMI/EMC, DFS, RoHS, and reliability requirements. * Drive product optimization throughout the lifecycle, including cost reduction, performance improvement, reliability enhancement, manufacturability improvement, and component second-source qualification. * Maintain and support existing products after launch by troubleshooting field issues, analyzing root causes, implementing design changes, and supporting hardware revisions. * Participate in design reviews and cross-functional technical discussions, providing recommendations to improve product design, development process, and engineering quality. * Mentor junior engineers, provide technical guidance, and contribute to hardware team training, design standards, checklists, and best practices. ## Related Videos - [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips) - [The Gashlycrumb Tinies of AI Networking You Must Know (or Languish!)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2067-the-gashlycrumb-tinies-of-ai-networking-you-must-know-or-languish) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Smart, Connected, Unexpected: The Wild Side of IoT and AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1113-smart-connected-unexpected-the-wild-side-of-iot-and-ai) - [Docker network without Docker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1418-docker-network-without-docker) - [Breaking the Hardware Mindset: Overcoming Barriers to System-Level Innovation](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1635-breaking-the-hardware-mindset-overcoming-barriers-to-system-level-innovation) ## Related Articles - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [Dev Digest 134 - Where pixels sing?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/477-dev-digest-134-where-pixels-sing) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Dev Digest 129 - Now that's what I call private data!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/468-dev-digest-129-now-that-s-what-i-call-private-data) - [Top Characteristics of a Software Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/166-top-characteristics-of-a-software-engineer)