Hands-on senior hardware design engineer responsible for schematic capture and PCB layout in Altium, high-speed SI/PI simulation, prototype bring-up, debugging, verification, and production release of mixed-signal and high-speed digital video/ networking/fiber products. Lead design reviews, mentor junior staff, coordinate cross-functional teams, and support compliance and reliability testing for mission-critical and medical-grade products.
Senior Hardware Design Engineer
Broadata Communications, Inc. (BCI) – Torrance, CA
On-site
Company Overview
Broadata Communications, Inc. (BCI) is a privately held California-based corporation. BCI is a leading and innovative company specializing in the development of market-driven products for the transmission of digital multimedia (video, audio, and data) over fiber. Our clients are world leaders in their industries, spanning entertainment, broadcast, medical, professional audio/video, house of worship, education, government, military, and transportation sectors. We are ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certified, with a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Summary
We are seeking a hands-on Senior Hardware Design Engineer to design, simulate, bring up, and validate complex mixed-signal and high-speed digital hardware for BCI multimedia, video-over-IP, fiber optic, medical, enterprise, and mission-critical products. This role focuses on schematic design, PCB layout, high-speed circuit simulation, signal integrity, power integrity, DFM/DFT review, board-level troubleshooting, and production release. Strong Altium Designer experience is required. Experience using Ansys HFSS for high-speed interconnect, via, connector, launch, transition, and channel simulation is a plus.
This is a hands-on role based in Torrance, CA, and is not a remote or hybrid position. We offer a fast-paced, high impact and stimulating environment with opportunities for professional growth within BCI. Veterans welcome!
Key Responsibilities
- Own board-level hardware design from requirements review, architecture definition, component selection, schematic capture, PCB layout support, prototype bring-up, DFM/DFT review, verification, and production release.
- Create and maintain complex multi-sheet schematics in Altium Designer for video, high-speed digital, embedded processor, FPGA/CPLD, power, analog, isolation, protection, and fiber optic interface circuits.
- Own or directly support PCB layout in Altium Designer, including component placement, stack-up definition, controlled impedance, design rules, routing constraints, length matching, differential-pair tuning, return-path control, via strategy, and manufacturability review.
- Define and review high-speed layout requirements for HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C/USB 3.x, DVI, 3G/12G SDI, SFP/SFP+, 1G/10G Ethernet, PCIe, DDR2/DDR3/DDR4, LVDS, MIPI, and similar multi-Gbps interfaces.
- Perform pre-layout and post-layout high-speed circuit simulation and SI/PI analysis to reduce jitter, crosstalk, insertion loss, return loss, reflections, via stubs, impedance discontinuities, EMI risk, and power noise.
- Use Ansys HFSS or similar 3D EM tools when applicable to analyze connectors, high-speed launches, vias, back-drill structures, transitions, stubs, and other critical discontinuities. HFSS experience is a plus.
- Use simulation and layout review to guide connector selection, cable interface design, ESD/EMI protection, common-mode choke usage, reference-plane continuity, grounding, shielding, and high-speed routing strategy.
- Design and review power architecture, switching and linear power supplies, sequencing, protection circuits, thermal considerations, and power-distribution networks for reliable embedded products.
- Lead board bring-up, debug, and root-cause failure analysis for prototypes, pilot builds, sustaining engineering changes, EOL redesigns, and customer RMA issues.
- Use oscilloscopes, TDR/VNA, protocol analyzers, BERT/eye-diagram tools, logic analyzers, thermal tools, and standard lab equipment to validate high-speed, power, and embedded hardware performance.
- Support verification and validation testing, including HDMI/DP/SDI/Ethernet interface checks, EMC/ESD testing, environmental stress screening, reliability testing, and compliance-related testing for medical or mission-critical products.
- Prepare and review ECO/ECN packages, BOMs, manufacturing release packages, layout notes, simulation summaries, design review materials, test notes, and corrective-action documentation.
- Work closely with product management, mechanical, firmware, FPGA, software, test, manufacturing, vendors, and ODM partners to deliver manufacturable and reliable products.
- Lead and participate in schematic, layout, SI/PI, DFM, and design verification reviews, while mentoring junior engineers and PCB designers on high-speed layout and troubleshooting best practices.
Education & Experience
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering or a related field. M.S. in Electrical Engineering is a plus.
- 8+ years of hands-on hardware design experience with high-speed analog/digital, embedded, video, networking, or mission-critical electronic products.
- Strong hands-on experience with Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB layout is required. Candidates must be comfortable working with multi-sheet schematics, design rules, libraries, variants, BOMs, output jobs, and manufacturing release packages in Altium.
- Demonstrated experience designing complex multi-layer PCBs with controlled impedance, differential pairs, high-speed connectors, high-density components, power distribution, grounding, shielding, EMI/ESD protection, and manufacturability constraints.
- Practical experience with high-speed simulation, stack-up planning, signal integrity, power integrity, and root-cause analysis for multi-Gbps interfaces.
- Working knowledge of digital video and data interfaces, especially HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C/USB 3.x, SMPTE SDI, DVI, Ethernet, 10G Ethernet, SFP/SFP+, and related standards.
- Experience interfacing with microcontrollers, application processors, FPGAs/CPLDs, video scalers, video receivers/transmitters, Ethernet PHYs/switches, high-speed memory, and common communication interfaces such as I2C, SPI, UART, RS-232, RS-485, USB, SDIO, Ethernet, and PCIe.
- Strong hardware debugging skills with the ability to isolate failures to schematic, layout, component, firmware interaction, signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/ESD, or manufacturing causes.
- Experience with analog and digital video products, video transmission over copper and fiber, AV-over-IP, SDVoE, video processing, capture, display, and interface conversion is preferred.
- Hands-on Ansys HFSS experience for 3D EM extraction and analysis of high-speed channels, connectors, vias, launches, back-drill structures, stubs, and board transitions is preferred.
- Experience with other SI/PI tools such as Ansys SIwave, Keysight ADS, HyperLynx, Sigrity, or similar tools is a plus.
- Experience developing hardware for medical, military, industrial, or other high-reliability products and supporting standards such as IEC 60601, IEC 60601-1-2, ISO 13485, MIL-STD, or equivalent is a plus.
- Solid Electrical Engineering background with the ability to read, understand, create, edit, and review multimedia PCB schematics and high-speed layouts.
- Strong understanding of FPGA/SoC/processors, memory systems, video interfaces, power subsystems including linear and switching topologies, ESD/EMI protection, and serial interfaces.
- Strong team player who can work collaboratively with a diverse team to identify root cause of complex system problems, for both internally reported failures and customer RMAs, using structured methods such as Ishikawa/fishbone analysis.
- Detail-oriented effective communicator with excellent customer-ready documentation and communication skills.
- Ability to provide completion time estimates for a given set of design, simulation, bring-up, and validation requirements.
- Ability to be hands-on with soldering, rework, assembly, board modification, and lab testing.
- Ability to work with very little supervision, prioritize between multiple tasks, meet aggressive deadlines, and work extended hours as needed.
- Highly responsible and committed to thrive in an energetic, fast-paced, evolving, high growth environment while coordinating cross-functional teams.
- Strong self-motivation and attitude for personal career growth, willingness to self-learn, and ability to work in new technology domains.
The employee in the position will be required to occasionally move throughout the facilities, including climbing stairs, when necessary. Occasional bending and reaching in an office environment, including opening and closing file cabinets drawers with light grasping. Type on a standard keyboard (laptop or desktop). Use standard computer display screens. Use standard push-button phones and must speak clearly and be understood by others. Sit or stand in a standard upright position for a minimum of one hour, but up to 12 hours a day. Be able to lift and carry weight unassisted not exceeding 50 lbs.
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary Range: $130,000 - $180,000 (based on experience and qualifications)
- Medical, vision and dental insurance
- 401(k) with company match (100% of the first 4% in eligible compensation)
- Flexible Spending Account
- 2 weeks paid vacation
- 1 Week sick pay
- 10 company holidays
- Group life insurance
Broadata Communications, Inc. Torrance, California, USA Office
2545 W. 237th St., Suite K, Torrance, California, United States, 90505
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