Hardware Design Engineer

Field: Electronic hardware development, analog and digital circuit design, mixed-signal systems, and PCB design.

About the Role

We are looking for a Hardware Design Engineer to develop electronic devices combining analog and digital circuitry. The successful candidate will be involved in the full hardware development cycle, from analyzing technical requirements, defining system architecture, and designing schematics to PCB design and layout, prototype debugging, and preparation of manufacturing documentation.

We are looking for an engineer with hands-on experience in analog and digital circuit design, a solid understanding of how these domains interact, and the ability to independently design PCBs while meeting signal quality, electromagnetic compatibility, and reliability requirements.
 

Location

This is a full-time, hybrid role based in Germany.
 

Responsibilities

• Design schematics for analog, digital, and mixed-signal electronic devices.
• Independently design and layout printed circuit boards (PCB layout), including component placement, signal routing, multilayer PCB design, and stack-up definition.
• Design analog signal chains, including amplifiers, filters, measurement circuits, sensor interfaces, and signal conditioning circuits.
• Design digital signal chains based on microcontrollers, FPGAs, logic components, ADCs/DACs, and digital interfaces, including interfacing, clocking, and data transfer between analog and digital subsystems.
• Ensure proper interaction between analog and digital signal chains and minimize crosstalk, interference, and signal degradation.
• Design power supply, voltage regulation, filtering, protection, and decoupling circuits for analog and digital components.
• Ensure signal integrity (SI), power integrity (PI), and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC/EMI).
• Apply best practices for component placement, grounding, return current paths, differential pair routing, and impedance matching.
• Select electronic components based on electrical characteristics, accuracy, noise performance, temperature stability, availability, and cost.
• Perform circuit calculations, simulations, and analysis of analog and digital circuits.
• Verify PCB designs before manufacturing, perform design rule checks (DRC), and prepare manufacturing files, including Gerber/ODB++, NC Drill, bill of materials (BOM), and assembly documentation.
• Bring up and debug prototypes, perform laboratory measurements, diagnose hardware issues, and implement corrective actions.
• Prepare technical and engineering documentation.
• Collaborate with embedded software developers, manufacturing teams, and other engineering specialists.

Requirements

• Degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Radio Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Hands-on experience in schematic design and independent PCB layout.
• Strong knowledge of analog and digital circuit design, including the principles of analogand digital signal chain architecture and their interaction.
• Understanding of analog signal chain characteristics, including gain, bandwidth, noise, offset, linearity, input/output impedance, filtering, and stability.
• Understanding of digital signal chain design, logic levels, timing requirements, clocking, and data transmission.
• Knowledge of ADC/DAC operating principles and the requirements for integrating them into mixed-signal systems.
• Understanding of interfacing analog input/output stages with data converters, including filtering, reference voltages, clocking, and noise performance.
• Solid knowledge of PCB layout principles, including component placement, routing, multilayer PCB design, stack-up, copper pours, grounding, power decoupling, and return current management.
• Understanding of parasitic capacitance and inductance, crosstalk, impedance matching, signal integrity, and electromagnetic compatibility.
• Experience with electronic design automation (EDA) tools such as Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro/OrCAD, KiCad, or equivalent.
• Ability to read and interpret component datasheets, reference designs, and application notes.
• Hands-on laboratory experience using oscilloscopes, multimeters, signal generators, and other electronic measurement equipment.
• Ability to troubleshoot hardware issues, identify root causes, and justify technical decisions.
• A systematic engineering mindset, attention to detail, and the ability to independently take a design from schematic to a working prototype.

Nice to Have

• Experience designing high-speed digital interfaces such as USB, Ethernet, PCIe, DDR, and similar technologies.
• Experience working with high-speed ADCs/DACs and data transmission interfaces.
• Experience designing low-noise analog signal chains, precision measurement systems, and data acquisition devices.
• Experience designing switching power supplies and circuits with demanding accuracy and stability requirements.
• Familiarity with SPICE simulation and signal integrity/power integrity analysis tools.
• Experience with EMC/EMI testing and troubleshooting compliance issues.
• Experience preparing electronic products for volume production and working with contract PCB and PCBA manufacturers.

About Sky Spy

Sky Spy is a fast-growing dual-use startup developing next-generation RF intelligence solutions for contested environments. We are backed by leading European VCs, combat veterans, and technologists. Our mission is to deliver intelligence that saves lives and empowers allied forces worldwide.

What We Offer

• Above-market salary.
• Company equity package.
• Dynamic and flexible work schedule.
• The opportunity to contribute directly to meaningful technology that protects lives.