Digital Design Engineer
Digital Design EngineerThe Digital Design Engineer will design a small, microcontroller-based control board of moderate complexity and own the full hardware design lifecycle from concept through release to production. The role focuses on schematic capture, component selection, low-power switch-mode power supply design, point-of-load power supply design, and close collaboration with the PCB layout team. This position supports advanced tactical radio products used in secure communications and signals intelligence applications.ResponsibilitiesDesign microcontroller-based control boards of moderate complexity, focusing on robust and reliable digital hardware solutions.Perform schematic capture and create complete, accurate schematics for digital and power circuitry using professional electronic design tools.Select appropriate electronic components to meet performance, reliability, cost, and manufacturability requirements.Design low-power switch-mode power supplies (approximately 5–10 watts) with 12–48 volt input and 3.3/5 volt outputs.Develop point-of-load power supply solutions, including low drop-out (LDO) regulators, to support various digital loads on the board.Create digital hardware designs incorporating STM32 or PSoC5 microcontrollers, focusing on hardware-only design aspects.Design small FPGA-based hardware solutions (such as Lattice devices), ensuring proper integration with microcontrollers and supporting circuitry.Implement RS-422 hardware interfaces and gigabit Ethernet hardware interfaces using appropriate adapter chips.Interface closely with the PCB layout team, providing guidance on component placement, routing constraints, power distribution, and signal integrity.Lead board bring-up activities, including initial power-on, hardware debugging, and validation of digital and power subsystems.Drive the design through to release for production, including documentation, design reviews, and support for manufacturing introduction.Collaborate with a team of digital hardware engineers to support secure communications and SIGINT radio product lines.Contribute examples and documentation of prior microcontroller-based designs to support design reviews and knowledge sharing.Ensure designs meet the requirements of a heavy engineering design and manufacturing environment, including reliability and producibility considerations.Essential Skills10+ years of digital hardware design experience, including FPGA-based hardware design.Strong proficiency in schematic capture and digital circuit design.Hands-on experience with microcontroller-based hardware design, particularly STM32 or PSoC5 (hardware design only).Experience designing small FPGA-based hardware solutions (for example, using Lattice devices), without requiring VHDL or Verilog development.Proven capability in switch-mode power supply design in the 5–10 watt range, with 12–48 volt inputs and 3.3/5 volt outputs.Experience designing point-of-load power supplies, including low drop-out (LDO) regulators.RS-422 hardware interface design experience.Gigabit Ethernet hardware interface design experience using simple adapter chips.Proficiency with Altium for schematic capture and PCB-related design tasks.Mid-level overall experience (approximately 10–15 years) with demonstrated examples of simple microcontroller-based hardware designs.Solid understanding of digital electronics, hardware design, and digital circuits in a product development context.Experience in electrical engineering or closely related discipline, with strong practical design skills.Additional Skills & QualificationsExperience working on secure communications and SIGINT (signals intelligence) radio hardware is beneficial.Familiarity with low-speed serial interfaces, including stereo RS ports and related digital interfaces.Experience collaborating with PCB layout engineers in a tightly integrated design and manufacturing environment.Exposure to designing products for mission-critical or safety-critical applications is an advantage.Ability to document designs clearly and participate effectively in design reviews.Strong problem-solving skills and a methodical approach to debugging and board bring-up.Comfort working on multiple projects or design iterations in a dynamic engineering environment.Work EnvironmentThis role operates in a heavy engineering design and manufacturing environment where products are designed and manufactured entirely in-house. The position is fully onsite and involves working closely with a team of approximately seven digital hardware engineers. The group focuses on digital hardware design for secure communications and SIGINT radio product lines, supporting advanced tactical radio systems used in demanding field applications. The environment emphasizes hands-on hardware design, collaboration with manufacturing and layout teams, and direct involvement in the full product lifecycle from design through production.Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Germantown, MD.Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $72.00 - $96.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)Workplace TypeThis is a fully remote position.Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Aug 14, 2026.