Senior Hardware Engineer

Senior Hardware Engineer

Based: Tring - hybrid working options available with a 9 day fortnight working pattern.

Full or part-time would be considered.

Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain BPSS Security Clearance.

Our team at the Ultra I&C Communications business are seeking an experienced Hardware Engineer, working in the Satcom and Troposcatter space.

At Ultra I&C, as Senior Hardware Engineer, you will operate in a dynamic environment, where there is a strong desire to invest in R&D and expand the product range.

Joining a small team, you will have a great deal of control and input, steer the product direction, with back up of the larger business.

As Senior Hardware Engineer, you will be responsible for the hardware design of satellite communications equipment from concept and architecture definition to detail design and test.

Scope of Senior Hardware Engineer:

Reporting to the Head of Engineering, the Senior Hardware Engineer will work closely within a team of up to 8 people in the UK and occasionally with the larger engineering team in Montreal.  

Projects will range from small contract related customisation projects to larger new product development activities with timescales from a few days up to 6-9 months.

Key Responsibilities of Senior Hardware Engineer:

• Designing printed circuit boards with analog and digital parts

• Writing firmware to support the hardware development

• Providing technical support to production and other engineering teams

• Facilitating and participating in electronic design reviews and providing appropriate feedback

• Developing and executing test plans on analog and digital boards

• Debugging cards with complex problems

• Performing requirements analysis, requirements derivation from system level to firmware level requirements and architecture

• Undertaking integration activities with software and hardware

• Proposing improvements in tools, processes and techniques that support quality and innovation and make the firmware development more efficient and effective

• Actively contributing to defined aspects of the project to achieve optimal balance between requirements, schedule and cost

• Contributing to customer facing meetings through document preparation, presentations and participation in meetings

• Estimating time and effort required for hardware and firmware activities and deliver to these time and effort estimates to ensure cost and schedule adherence

• Reviewing technical proposals, and assisting with providing accurate estimates for the associated effort, costs and risks, for bids and proposals, leading to contract awards

Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience of Senior Hardware Engineer:

Design of digital and Analog circuits

Analog simulation

Prior experience in embedded firmware development C/C++, assembly languages, and code development processes with debugging emulation and simulation.

Working knowledge of the processor platforms such as Microchip/Atmel, Arm, Renesas and Freescale.

VHDL for FPGA development.

Embedded PC module integration.

Developing complete designs using AMD Xilinx and Intel Altera devices and toolset.

Using up to date serial communications like Ethernet, USB, and PCIe

Working knowledge of serial communication protocols such as USB, UART (Rs232, Rs484), I2C, SPI.

Understanding of bare metal start-up of microcontroller.

Knowledge of EMC standards and design principles.

Knowledge of military standards is an important asset.

Knowledge of FCC, EN and IEC standards is an asset.

Knowledge of creation of system level power budgets

Elaboration of constraints (impedances, current, stackup, etc.) for printed circuit board design

Knowledge of the electronic design tool CADStar or equivalent PCB CAD Design tools

Experience of FPGA module design and implementation

Experience of FPGA firmware testing, test tools and design for test

Ability to read, interpret and understand hardware schematics

Experience of version control, change control and bug tracking tools and systems

Experience of/exposure to best practice firmware development processes/lifecycles

Knowledge of AC-DC and DC-DC converters

Qualifications Required:

• Degree in Electronics Engineering, a Science based subject or equivalent experience.

• Full UK Driving Licence.

• Ability to obtain SC Clearance.

Our Benefits:

Every employee is critical to our success, and as such, we offer a range of flexible employee benefits, including:

• Annual Bonus – Performance Related
• 25 days’ holiday with the option to buy an extra 5
• 4 x Life Assurance Cover
• Flexible working hours
• Early Finish on a Friday
• Pension Contribution
• Our Ultra Select Benefits package includes – subsidised gym & retail, childcare vouchers, cycle-to-work schemes, etc.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

At Ultra I&C, we are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusivity. Underpinned by our values, behaviours, and policies, we want you to feel empowered to be the best version of yourself. We also believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures will increase our diversity of thinking, ensuring we successfully deliver to our customers. We, therefore, do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We also support requests for flexible working arrangements wherever possible.