Hardware Development Engineer - 12 Months

microTECH Global Limited; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology recruitment firm is seeking a Hardware Development Engineer to analyze system requirements and design robust hardware solutions. This role involves circuit design, PCB layout support, and validation tests. Ideal candidates should have expertise in microprocessor systems, power delivery design, and must be comfortable working in collaborative environments. The position is hybrid based in Bristol, offering an exciting opportunity to support the full development cycle.

Qualifications

• Experience with microprocessor system design and debug.
• Extensive hands-on lab experience for validation and characterisation.
• Demonstrable experience in digital circuit development.

Responsibilities

• Development of production systems and test boards.
• Circuit design and requirements analysis.
• Debugging and optimisation of microcontroller hardware.

Skills

Knowledge of DC/DC voltage regulators

Processor system development

Digital circuit development

Strong communication skills

Tools

Siemens/Mentor PCB design tools

High-speed digital oscilloscopes

Logic analysers

Signal generators

Linux, Python, Bash, Excel

Job description

Job Specification: Hardware Development Engineer

Contract: Inside IR35
Duration: 12-month contract
Location: Hybrid – Bristol

Job Summary

As a Hardware Development Engineer, you will analyse system requirements and design hardware solutions in close collaboration with Silicon, Architecture, and Software teams. You will generate schematics and PCB layout constraints, working closely with the PCB CAD team to realise robust circuit designs.
In this role, you will define test and validation plans, execute test campaigns, report findings, and collaborate with firmware and system architecture teams to interpret results, debug issues, and improve system performance.

You will have expertise in microprocessor system design and debug, with a strong understanding of processor power supply, reset and clocking requirements, memory, communication interfaces, and control subsystems.

Responsibilities & Duties

Development of production systems and test boards, including:

• Circuit design, requirements analysis, functional definition, and component selection
• PCB layout constraint definition and support of the PCB CAD team
• Circuit validation and verification
• Designing and executing tests to validate circuit performance and operating margin
• Debugging and optimisation of microcontroller hardware behaviour in collaboration with the firmware team
• Prototype build support, including bring-up, evaluation, system test, and validation
• Supporting the transfer of designs into mass production

Candidate Profile

Experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Knowledge of DC/DC voltage regulators (including multi-phase), LDOs, and PCB design practices for efficient power delivery
• Processor system development (e.g., STM32) with experience in processor interfaces such as Ethernet, PCIe, DDR, Flash, USB, I²C, SPI, JTAG, etc.
• Experience with SERDES technologies (e.g., 112 Gbps, PAM4) is a strong benefit

Other Desired Experience

• Demonstrable experience in digital circuit development and validation
• Extensive hands‑on lab experience: bring-up, debugging, validation, and characterisation
• Experience using Siemens/Mentor PCB design tools for schematic capture, design constraints, and PCB layout
• A rigorous, detail‑oriented approach ensuring first-time-right design
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a small, collaborative team
• Willingness to participate across the full development cycle—from concept to delivery
• Proficiency with high-speed digital oscilloscopes, logic analysers, and signal generators
• Experience scripting tests and analysing data using Linux, Python, Bash, and Excel