Principal Hardware Engineer

About the role

Curtiss Wright is expanding and has multiple openings for experienced Principal Hardware Engineers to join our Defense Solutions Group. This role involves planning, leading, and designing complex electrical boards, including single board computers (SBC), FPGA, switch, and input/output cards in 3U and 6U VPX form factors; and custom form-factor systems incorporating software, firmware, and hardware security elements.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with engineering, project management, test, and operations teams in small, highly integrated, multidisciplinary teams to meet demanding, schedule-driven customer requirements.
• Lead the design and development of 3U and 6U VPX SBC, FPGA, switch, and I/O cards supporting data rates up to 400 GHz.
• Lead the design and development of custom form-factor systems that include SBC, FPGA, switch, and I/O cards, and power supplies and thermal management elements including Liquid-Flow-Through (LFT) methods.
• Support business development, program managers, and customer teams in translating requirements into practical system and functional designs.
• Assess technical and economic feasibility of new designs and act as a team/project lead.
• Provide technical leadership, introduce best practices, and improve product performance, reliability, and time-to-market (TTM).
• Direct and conduct tests to establish standards for new or modified equipment, systems, or processes.
• Develop and maintain technical procedures, documentation, and manuals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering required; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in DoD embedded systems and hardware design (SBC, FPGA, switch, and I/O cards up to 100 GHz); 20+ years preferred.
• Extensive experience designing mixed-signal, high-speed digital, analog, and low-power, high-current circuits in high-reliability environments.
• Proficient in designing high-density interconnect (HDI) PCBs with 26+ layers, Mult lamination, blind/buried vias, and uVia structures.
• Hands-on experience with Siemens Expedition DX Designer (SCH) and Siemens Expedition PCB tools.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, drive results, and work under high-pressure, schedule-driven environments.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, capable of architecting and completing complex designs with schedule-based teams.
• Excellent communication skills; proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Qualifications

• US Citizenship required; active DoD security clearance preferred.

Skills

• Experience with Siemens Expedition DX Designer (SCH) and Siemens Expedition PCB tools.
• Experience with high-density interconnect (HDI) PCBs with 26+ layers, Mult lamination, blind/buried vias, and uVia structures.
• Experience with high-speed digital, analog, and low-power, high-current circuits in high-reliability environments.
• Experience with Liquid-Flow-Through (LFT) methods in custom form-factor systems.
• Experience with 3U and 6U VPX form factors.
• Experience with single board computers (SBC), FPGA, switch, and input/output cards.
• Experience with mixed-signal, high-speed digital, analog, and low-power, high-current circuits.
• Experience with custom form-factor systems that include SBC, FPGA, switch, and I/O cards, and power supplies and thermal management elements.
• Experience with assessing technical and economic feasibility of new designs.
• Experience with providing technical leadership, introducing best practices, and improving product performance, reliability, and time-to-market (TTM).
• Experience with directing and conducting tests to establish standards for new or modified equipment, systems, or processes.
• Experience with developing and maintaining technical procedures, documentation, and manuals.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• I 401K with Employer Match and Profit Sharing
• Health and Wellness Benefits
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Referral Program
• Competitive Pay
• Recognition
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Inclusive & Supportive Culture

Schedule

• Onsite position

Pay

• $144,100.00 - $190,000.00 per year plus bonus