Lead Hardware Design Engineer

We re supporting a growing engineering business near Colchester that is looking for a Lead Hardware Design Engineer to take full ownership of new product development. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on design, technical leadership, and driving projects from concept through to completion. As the team expands, this position is expected to progress into a Team Lead role.

What you ll be doing

• Leading hardware development projects from requirements capture through to production release
• Designing detailed schematics for electronic and embedded systems
• Completing PCB layouts, including multi-layer and high-speed designs
• Collaborating with firmware, mechanical, and production teams to ensure seamless integration
• Managing documentation, design reviews, testing, and validation activities
• Acting as the technical authority for hardware decisions and project direction
• Contributing to the growth and structure of the hardware function, with a clear path to future team leadership

Strong background in hardware design for electronic products

• Proficiency in schematic capture and PCB layout using industry-standard tools
• Experience leading projects and delivering high-quality designs on time
• Solid understanding of EMC, signal integrity, DFM/DFT, and full product lifecycle
• A proactive, hands-on approach with strong communication and leadership potential

Why join?

• High level of ownership and influence over hardware design
• Clear progression into a Team Lead position as the department grows
• Supportive engineering culture with room to innovate
• Stable, growing business with long-term opportunities
• On-site role in Colchester within a collaborative team