Principal Hardware Engineer

Alstom is the UK & Ireland’s leading supplier of new trains and train services, and a leading signalling and rail infrastructure provider. Alstom have built, or are building, just under 40% of the UK mainline train fleet; as well as the entire fleets in service with London Underground and Dublin Luas. We provide the widest range of smart solutions in the rail market, from innovative high-speed rolling stock, metros and trams to maintenance, modernisation, infrastructure and signalling. Employing 6000 people, we design and build trains at Derby, the UK’s largest train factory; and operate major sites at Widnes, Crewe, Ilford and Plymouth, and 30 train services depots across the UK and Ireland.

Overview

To lead the design and development/improvement of control centre hardware products, tools and adherence to process. Ensure activities are delivered on time and to budget including work package management. Provide mentorship to other team members. Lead the management of product obsolescence activities (re-design of multiple boards, including support for firmware migration from obsolete to new devices). Supporting and documenting industrial PC configurations, migration of NPI documentation into new PLM tool. Support of product approval, software integration and project delivery, ensuring that the products, tools and processes remain fit for purpose. You'll help to improve quality and product robustness through better design methodology. Day-to-day, you’ll work closely with teams across the business such as software, supply chain and component engineering. You will also work towards improving requirements capture and much more.

Responsibilities:

• You’ll specifically take care of digital hardware design, but also interfacing and power management.
• Design, development and implementation of digital hardware (at component level and above) and firmware for railway signalling control systems on bespoke and COTS platforms.
• Preparation of hardware/firmware development plans.
• Interfacing with software team including specifying the hardware/software interface requirements.
• Debugging and trouble shooting.
• Technical documentation.

We value passion and attitude over experience. That’s why we don’t expect you to have every single skill. Instead, we’ve listed some that we think will help you succeed and grow in this role:

• Master’s Degree in Electronics Engineering or Computer Science, or Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering with experience in the domain.
• Experience or understanding of:

• Digital hardware and firmware.
• FPGA and CPLDs.
• RTOS.
• Housekeeping with Intel processors.
• Carrier boards for SoM and CoM.
• Bus translation e.g. PCIe to local buses.
• Serial and parallel buses.
• Communication protocols: UARTs, USB, SPI, I2C etc.
• Working to process.
• Working from and creating requirements/test specifications.
• Development plans.
• Design and code reviews.
• Configuration/version control.
• Design analysis – timing diagrams etc.

• Memory technologies.
• Spartan and Virtex FPGA families or similar.
• Ability to read schematics/datasheets.
• BSPs.
• PCB design/specification.
• Knowledge of embedded software and operating systems.

• DFM/DFT.
• Setting up test environments.
• Set-up and configuration of development tools.
• V&V.
• Characterisation of HW.
• Obsolescence management.

Things you’ll enjoy:

Join us on a life-long transformative journey – the rail industry is here to stay, so you can grow and develop new skills and experiences throughout your career. You’ll also:

• Enjoy stability, challenges and a long-term career free from boring daily routines.
• Collaborate with transverse teams and helpful colleagues.
• Contribute to innovative projects.
• Steer your career in whatever direction you choose across functions and countries.
• Benefit from our investment in your development, through award-winning learning.
• Benefit from a fair and dynamic reward package that recognises your performance and potential, plus comprehensive and competitive social coverage (life, medical, pension).

You don’t need to be a train enthusiast to thrive with us. We guarantee that when you step onto one of our trains with your friends or family, you’ll be proud. If you’re up for the challenge, we’d love to hear from you.