A Hardware Design Engineer is a professional who plays a critical role in the development and implementation of hardware components and systems. They are responsible for designing, testing, and integrating various electronic circuits, boards, and devices. In this blog post, we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Hardware Design Engineers.

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Main Responsibilities of a Hardware Design Engineer

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Hardware Design Engineer:

Adhere to

Adhere to best practices and design guidelines.

Analyze

Analyze and resolve issues in manufacturing and production.

Assess

Assess and mitigate risks associated with hardware design.

Assist in

• Assist debugging test failures in both simulation, emulation, and silicon environments.

• Assist in defining, scoping and implementing new designs leveraging IOT concepts and technologies.

• Assist in the development of production-level tests and participate in testing as needed.

• Assist in the integration and test of ICs into the final production systems.

• Assist with designing new products and processes and improving and maintaining existing products.

Brief

Brief the company management on a regular basis on goals and achievements.

Build

Build architectural trade-offs based on features, performance requirements and system limitations.

Change

Change impact analysis for regulatory compliance.

Collaborate with

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define system requirements.

• Collaborate with firmware and software engineers for system integration.

• Collaborate with quality assurance teams for product validation.

• Collaborate with software and firmware development team.

• Collaborate with suppliers and vendors to source components.

Communicate

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with internal and external entities.

• Communicate with customer and supplier.

Conduct

• Conduct design reviews and provide recommendations for improvements.

• Conduct feasibility studies and evaluate design options.

• Conduct performance testing and analysis.

• Conduct prototype testing and verification.

• Conduct research and stay informed about industry trends.

Contribute to

• Contribute to developing optical, hardware, firmware and software integration test plans and reports.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of design processes.

• Contribute towards Company design procedures and corporate policies.

• Contribute towards continuous technology and process improvement.

Create

• Create architectural trade-offs based on features, performance requirements and system limitations.

• Create schematic diagrams and PCB layouts.

Define

• Define performance validation and characterization requirements.

• Define, simulate, and model various key IC performance parameters.

Design

• Design and develop hardware architectures for electronic systems.

• Design and develop state-of-the-art infotainment system hardware for automobile.

• Design circuits at the schematic level and work closely with CAD designers to produce board layouts.

• Design digital and analog electronic systems (including schematic entry.

• Design low noise analog circuits.

• Design new products and processes and improving and maintaining existing products.

• Design RF-focused reference boards for wireless charging components and systems.

Develop

• Develop and evaluate novel and realistic ideas to grow Intellectual Property.

• Develop and work with HW / FW architecture solutions.

• Develop hardware design standard.

• Develop new and maintain existing HW / FW implementations.

Dissect

Dissect problems to identify root cause of issue.

Document

• Document designs and support hardware design verification tests.

• Document design specifications and create technical documentation.

• Document results of testing.

• Document the technical design files.

Drive

Drive innovation to optimize the designs.

Ensure

• Ensure compliance to aerospace environmental standards such as RTCA / DO-160G..

• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Evaluate

• Evaluate and integrate third-party IP cores and modules.

• Evaluate datasheets to select appropriate components and outline firmware requirements.

• Evaluate DC / DC switcher and LDO solutions from major suppliers.

Generate

Generate integration test procedures, test specifications and design verification test plan.

Identify

Identify and understand new technologies / trends, assess the implications, opportunities and risks.

Implement

Implement the design in Verilog or System Verilog, ensuring adherence to our RTL coding guidelines.

Improve

Improve existing designs to improve performance and clock frequency, while reducing area and power.

Integrate

Integrate new P&R tools, P&R tool updates, and ASIC or FPGA design libraries into.

Lead

• Lead a team to design Controls Hardware.

• Lead design changes and reviews.

• Lead the design of several complex PCB designs.

• Lead the designs of new products and processes and improve and maintain existing products.

Main

Main technical aspects of the job are analogue and digital electronic design and VHDL programming.

Manage

• Manage engineering projects and deliver them on time.

• Manage OPG Engineering Change Control changes process.

• Manage priorities and support a host of projects simultaneously.

• Manage project timelines and deliverables.

• Manage the procurement of hardware components.

Mentor

• Mentor and guide junior hardware engineers.

• Mentor Schematic capture and board layout tool familiarity.

Optimize

Optimize hardware designs for cost, power, and size constraints.

Oversee

Oversee PCBA layout activities.

Participate in

• Participate in cross-functional design reviews.

• Participate in design and design review.

• Participate in design validation and verification activities.

• Participate in product design reviews.

Perform

• Perform circuit analysis and traceability from the requirements to validate the design.

• Perform circuit analysis for design performance optimization.

• Perform power integrity simulations.

• Perform quality and performance analysis on new and legacy electrical systems.

• Perform reverse engineering of obsolete components.

• Perform risk analysis for all hardware components.

• Perform system-level simulations and analysis.

Prepare

• Prepare and present design and analysis summary material during internal and external design reviews.

• Prepare electrical Controls Hardware design proposal and timing schedule.

Provide

• Provide and drive the platform solution by leading the related design teams.

• Provide inputs to project scheduling and budgeting estimates and track deliverable status.

• Provide reusable power solutions for multiple HW designs.

• Provide status reports, keep track of deliverables, milestones and schedules.

• Provide technical leadership to less experienced engineers.

• Provide technical support to customers and clients.

• Provide technical support to ensure a successful launch of a product.

• Provide the technical guidance to customer support team.

Report

Report on the daily activities to deliver designs and products on time and on budget.

Review

Review code coverage, and work with DV to achieve code coverage closure.

Select

• Select and integrate electronic components for optimal system performance.

• Select components to satisfy requirements for RF / Microwave / Analog circuits.

Stay updated with

Stay up-to-date with advancements in hardware technologies.

Summarize

Summarize data and report on test results.

Support

• Support development work performed by internal and external partners.

• Support exploratory design investigations.

• Support for production transfer activities.

• Support for qualification activities.

• Support post-silicon validation activities.

• Support the certification of products under electrical and operational standards.

• Support transition to production.

Take

Take an FPGA design from concept to prototype and final production-grade design.

Test

Test circuit boards to prove they function as expected, debug as required.

Troubleshoot

Troubleshoot and debug hardware issues.

Understand

• Understand and debug hardware and software interactions from prototyping through product launch.

• Understand product requirements via research and customer-engagement.

Use

• Use CAD for the design and support of PCB layouts and complex circuit board assemblies.

• Use data analysis tools to predict product reliability.

• Use of signal integrity tools such as HyperLynx a plus.

• Use of test equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and Ethernet traffic generators.

Utilize

• Utilize development boards , breadboards, analysis, and simulations to develop designs.

• Utilize simulation and modeling tools for design optimization.

Validate

Validate power delivery and integrity.

Work with

• Work closely with both internal and external PCB design and layout engineers.

• Work closely with Marketing to define the board spec.

• Work closely with Silicon team for the product definition.

• Work closely with software, mechanical, and senior RF engineers to develop overall product.

• Work with and provide support to PCB manufacturing suppliers to ensure on time delivery.

• Work with diverse technologies, projects, clients and sectors.

• Work with DV folks to define, analyze and debug various functional, performance and power features.

• Work with other team members to analyse and solve any other design issues.

• Work with Physical Design folks to resolve timing violations and determine best floorplan layout.

• Work with Physical Design folks to resolve timing violations and determine the best floorplan layout.

• Work with procurement and suppliers for analog and digital part selection.

• Work with software team on development and system bring up.

• Work with the sales department and customers to collect design inputs.

• Work with tool and library vendors to develop solutions for designers' P&R design challenges.

• Work with vehicle design team on mechanical integration.

• Work with vendors to collect feasibility information.

Write

• Write concept proposals, design specifications, test reports, and work instructions.

• Write / review test protocols and report for evidence generation to support product development.

• Write technical specifications.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Hardware Design Engineer:

1. Proficiency in electronic circuit design and analysis.

2. Expertise in schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium, Cadence).

3. Strong knowledge of digital and analog electronics.

4. Experience with FPGA and CPLD programming.

5. Familiarity with microcontroller architectures and programming languages.

6. Understanding of signal integrity and power integrity principles.

7. Knowledge of high-speed PCB design techniques.

8. Competence in simulation and modeling tools (e.g., SPICE, MATLAB).

9. Proficiency in using lab equipment for testing and characterization.

10. Understanding of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) considerations.

11. Knowledge of industry-standard communication protocols (e.g., UART, SPI, I2C).

12. Expertise in power supply design and regulation.

13. Familiarity with RF and wireless communication principles.

14. Understanding of embedded systems and firmware development.

15. Competence in hardware description languages (e.g., VHDL, Verilog).

16. Knowledge of thermal management techniques.

17. Proficiency in using hardware debugging tools (e.g., oscilloscope, logic analyzer).

18. Experience with design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for testability (DFT).

19. Understanding of reliability and failure analysis.

20. Knowledge of regulatory compliance requirements (e.g., FCC, CE).

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Hardware Design Engineer:

1. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

2. Excellent attention to detail and precision.

3. Effective communication and collaboration skills.

4. Strong documentation and technical writing skills.

5. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

6. Time management and project management skills.

7. Adaptability and willingness to learn new technologies.

8. Critical thinking and decision-making capabilities.

9. Creativity and innovation in design solutions.

10. Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a Hardware Design Engineer is responsible for designing and developing hardware components and systems. They possess a combination of technical skills related to electronic circuit design, PCB layout, simulation, and testing. Additionally, they also require soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and project management. By mastering these skills, Hardware Design Engineers can contribute to the successful development and implementation of cutting-edge hardware solutions.