Senior Hardware Design Engineer

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Hardware Design Engineer to join a dynamic Engineering & R&D team. This is a senior, hands-on role with a strong focus on hardware architecture and board-level design for next-generation fire and gas detection products, as well as connected IoT systems.

This is an exciting opportunity to work across the full product lifecycle, from early concept development and feasibility studies through detailed design, validation, and transition into high-volume manufacturing. You will collaborate closely with firmware, software, validation, and manufacturing teams to deliver robust, compliant, and high-quality safety-critical products.

About the Role

As a Senior Hardware Engineer, you will play a key role in shaping next-generation products, taking ownership of complex PCB designs and driving the adoption of new technologies. You will be involved in all stages of product development — from architecture definition and schematic design to layout oversight, prototype build, system bring-up, validation, and manufacturing support.

This role offers strong visibility of the full product journey, with the opportunity to see your designs successfully manufactured at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define hardware architectures and deliver board-level designs for alarm, sensor, and gateway products
• Lead hardware development from concept through schematic capture, PCB layout support, prototype build, bring-up, and full validation
• Design low-power analogue and mixed-signal circuits including power management, DC-DC converters, battery charging, and battery-powered systems
• Develop processor-based embedded hardware platforms and digital circuit designs using microcontrollers and peripheral interfaces
• Integrate wireless technologies including Zigbee, Z-Wave, WiFi, and Bluetooth, ensuring strong performance and regulatory compliance
• Apply EMC, ESD, and EMI mitigation techniques along with RF desensitisation methods to meet global compliance standards
• Work closely with firmware and software teams on driver development, system integration, and system-level debugging
• Support product certification, regulatory compliance testing, and manufacturing ramp-up activities
• Ensure designs are optimised for DFM and DFT to support cost-effective, high-volume manufacturing
• Produce accurate technical documentation and participate in design reviews
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers where appropriate

Essential Requirement: 

• Honours degree or higher in Electronic Engineering or a related discipline
• Extensive industry experience in hardware design and product development
• Strong experience in low-power circuit design, analogue, and mixed-signal electronics
• Proven experience developing embedded hardware platforms and processor-based systems
• Demonstrated experience with schematic capture and PCB design at board level
• Hands-on experience with interfaces including I2C, UART, SPI, and USB
• Strong understanding of RF fundamentals and wireless system integration
• Proven experience debugging hardware designs across full product lifecycle stages

Desirable Skills: 

• Ability to work independently and make sound engineering decisions
• Strong communication and documentation skills
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, DFM, and DFT
• Experience working with external manufacturing partners

For a confidential conversation about the role please apply for the role or contact Owen Clancy at oclancy@sterlingengineeringeu.com By applying to this job post you agree that Sterling Engineering may process your personal data for recruitment purpose