Job Title:  Lead Hardware Design Engineer

Location: Towcester 

Type: Full-Time | Permanent | on site 

Are you ready to lead the design of cutting-edge embedded electronics built for the world’s toughest environments? 

We’re looking for a Lead Hardware Design Engineer to join our dynamic Hardware Engineering Team. In this role, you’ll take technical and project ownership of New Product Introduction (NPI) projects — from initial concept through to production release. You’ll be designing and verifying high-performance embedded products such as Single Board Computers, Graphics Cards, Sensor Processing Products, and Network Switches — all engineered to operate reliably in extreme temperatures and harsh conditions. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Define engineering requirements in collaboration with customers and product managers 
• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver integrated hardware, software, and mechanical solutions 
• Component selection and schematic capture
• Oversee and review PCB layout 
• Develop and verify FPGAs
• Conduct design reviews and produce documentation aligned with quality standards 
• Drive rigorous verification to ensure product robustness 
• Define production test strategies and support handover to manufacturing 
• Provide lifecycle support including test, customer support, and obsolescence management 
• Act as the technical authority and provide leadership across projects 

Desired Qualifications & Experience 

• Degree in Electronic Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience 
• Proven experience in complex electronic hardware design and verification 
• Strong understanding of embedded systems and computer architectures 
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills 
• Experience designing for wide temperature ranges (-40°C to +85°C) 
• Skilled in fault-finding and commissioning 
• Experience working in cross-functional teams 
• Ability to manage deadlines and adapt to evolving technical landscapes 
• Proficiency with schematic capture tools (e.g., Mentor Dx-Designer) 
• Hands-on experience with: 

• • Multi-core/multi-GHz SoC architectures 
  • DDR4 or similar high-speed memory interfaces 
  • High-speed serial interfaces (5GHz+), signal integrity, simulation 
  • Switch-mode power supply design and simulation 
  • FPGA/SoC development using VHDL or Verilog
  • Interfaces like USB, Serial, Ethernet, I2C, SPI 

Why Join Us? 

• Work on mission-critical products that make a real-world impact 
• Lead projects from concept to production in a collaborative, innovative environment 
• Be part of a team that values technical excellence, creativity, and continuous improvement 
• Enjoy opportunities for career growth, ownership, and recognition 

Ready to lead the next generation of rugged embedded design? We’d love to hear from you — apply today! 

Benefits 

You’ll receive benefits including a competitive pension scheme, 25 days annual leave, Health and Life Assurance.   You’ll also have access to additional benefits such as an employee assistance programme, Cycle2work and employee discounts. 

GDPR 

By applying for this position, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed in accordance with AMETEK/Abaco Data Protection Policy. We will use your information solely for recruitment purposes and will not share it with third parties without your consent. Your data will be stored securely and retained only as long as necessary for the recruitment process. You have the right to access, rectify, or delete your personal data at any time. For more information on how we handle your data, please refer to our Privacy Policy. 

Security clearance 

Please be aware that many roles working for Abaco Systems will be subject to security and export control restrictions. All roles are therefore subject to candidates being able to meet BPSS level pre-employment screening criteria. In some roles you may also need to have or be able to achieve full SC level security clearance without restrictions. Security and export control requirements mean that factors including your nationality, any other nationalities you have or have previously held, your place of birth and your employment and residency status may limit those roles you can perform for the organisation. For more information and guidance about security requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels