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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Hardware Engineer - **Company:** AEROSPACE/DEFENSE, INC. - **Location:** North Reading, MA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $111,300.0 - $178,200.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Board Bringup, Systems Engineering, Automation of Tests, C++ (Programming Language), Computer Engineering, Software Debugging, High-Level Architecture, Requirements Management, Schematic Capture, Signal Integrity, Software Engineering, Test Data, Pcb Layout - **Published:** September 10, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/hardware-engineer-defense-aerospace-north-reading-ma-north-reading-ma--b453b383-489f-4629-9970-124b5224493f ## About the Role We seek individuals who share our passion and determination. Our commitment to customer success drives us to go the extra mile. If you're ready to join us on this mission, take a closer look at the minimum criteria for the position. * BSEE or MSEE * 5-12 years PCBA design and simulation experience - with a focus on schematic/circuit design * Experience designing complex, high-speed, multi-layer PCB assemblies and reviewing artwork designs * Strong circuit characterization, verification, and debug skills * Experience working with multi-disciplinary engineering teams communicating requirements and highlighting potential risks to project management * Experience working directly with customers presenting design work, highlighting design risks/challenges, and collaborating to find solutions. * Minimal PCBA rework capabilities * C/C++ experience preferred * We are only considering candidates local to position location and are unable to provide relocation for this position. * This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Due to ITAR compliance, this position requires candidates to be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents., Aerospace and Defense, Analysis Skills, Circuit Design, Component Selection, Computer Engineering, Cross-Functional, Debugging Skills, Design Verification, Diversity, Documentation Review, Electrical Engineering, High Level Architecture (HLA), Illustrating Ability, Instrumentation, Laboratory Equipment, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, Military, Oscilloscope, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Layout, Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA), Printed Circuit Board Design, Problem Solving Skills, Product Lifecycle, Product Planning, Product Support, Project/Program Management, Prototyping, Quality Assurance Methodology, Quality Engineering, Requirements Management, Risk Management, Sales Closing Skills, Schematic Capture, Schematics, Signal Integrity, Simulation, Software Engineering, Sustainability, Systems Engineering, Technical Support, Test Automation, Test Data, Test Fixtures, Testability, Testing, Traceability, United States Citizen, Use Cases ## Description The Hardware Engineering team plays an integral role in the design and development of digital, analog, and optical automated test instrumentation and fixtures that meet the challenging needs of our critical Defense and Aerospace customers. This role is a highly technical engineering position that blends circuit design, PCB architecture, component selection, signal/power integrity analysis, and hardware bring-up and debug. It defines design strategies, applies rigorous engineering standards, and supports informed product release decisions. The person in this role partners closely with mechanical, applications, systems, software, and quality engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle to translate requirements into robust designs, act as the technical owner of the hardware, uncover integration and reliability risks early, and improve product manufacturability, testability, and long-term sustainability. By combining schematic capture, PCB layout guidance, prototype bring-up, root-cause debugging, tolerance and worst-case analysis, and design-for-manufacturing/test practices, this role helps deliver high-confidence, mission-ready hardware and drive high-quality outcomes across the development process. Responsibilities include: * Implement PCB design processes using tools, methodologies, and design frameworks, with emphasis on fundamentally sound high-level architecture, component selection, schematic capture, and artwork generation for digital, analog, and optical instrumentation. * Design, build, and maintain comprehensive prototyping plans for new products, ensuring thorough initial bring-up, debug, and validation of both expected and edge-case circuit behavior. * Be proficient in debugging analog, digital, and bus-based hardware using benchtop lab equipment, oscilloscopes, and other test instrumentation. Collect, analyze, and interpret design verification data; summarize test data and reporting findings; and contribute to documentation review, design traceability, and release status reporting. * Communicate design status, verification results and technical risks clearly, providing factual, measurable input that supports engineering and management decision-making. * Interact closely with product managers, software/mechanical/systems engineers, and cross-functional hardware colleagues to understand project objectives, review requirements and design concepts early, and provide design input focused on manufacturability, testability, and customer impact. * Work closely with operations and new product integration teams to ensure that designs are not only highly functional but also highly manufacturable. * Execute verification strategies that go beyond nominal operating conditions, including worst-case, tolerance, and environmental stress analysis to validate real-world customer use cases. * Support design reviews that provide feedback to fellow hardware engineers to reduce design risk and prevent respin rate ## Related Videos - [Dirty Tests And How To Clean Them](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/515-dirty-tests-and-how-to-clean-them) - [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips) - [Stop Guessing, Start Measuring: Evaluating RAG Systems with Synthetic Test Data](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1982-stop-guessing-start-measuring-evaluating-rag-systems-with-synthetic-test-data) - [Your next 10x engineer isn't in your city. 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