Hardware Engineer in Birmingham

We are seeking an experienced Hardware Engineer to design, develop, and support reliable power transfer solutions used in critical power applications. This role focuses on the electrical and electronic hardware design of Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) systems, including power switching, sensing, protection, and control interfaces, ensuring compliance with safety and performance standards.

The ideal candidate has strong experience in power electronics, low- and medium-voltage power systems, and electromechanical control design, with hands-on involvement from concept through production. The individual will work within the Engineering department located at DSE headquarters in Hunmanby (North Yorkshire) or in Mansfield (Nottinghamshire). They will perform hardware development activities on new product developments as well as maintaining the current product portfolio.

The company products operate in the Energy Control and Automation market and are designed to provide energy throughout a wide range of forms such as generator sets, renewable, microgrid as well as off-highway machinery.

• CAD design tools
• Analogue and digital design
• EMC principles
• Used to working to high-quality standards
• Excellent team player with problem-solving and trouble-shooting capabilities
• Ability to translate requirements into a technical product specification
• Good communication skills and ability to concisely discuss product development issues within a team of engineers from many different specialities
• Enthusiastic and optimistic
• Adaptable to changing requirements
• Used to defining task breakdowns for a given piece of work and providing estimates
• Willingness to travel, role will include travel to US based parent company
• 3+ years of experience in electronics / electrical design
• Proficiency in schematic capture and PCB design tools (Altium, OrCAD, CADstar, etc.)
• Hands-on experience with oscilloscopes, power analysers, and high-power lab equipment
• Experience of analogue hardware design including signal conditioning / processing
• Working knowledge & understanding of PCB design & layout requirements particularly with respect to EMC

• Hardware Design & Development
• Design and develop ATS hardware architectures including power paths, switching elements (contactors, breakers, SCRs, or solid-state devices), and auxiliary control circuits
• Create schematics, PCB layouts, and wiring diagrams for ATS control and monitoring systems
• Design circuits for voltage, current, frequency sensing, phase detection, and power quality monitoring
• Implement protective circuits for over-current, over-voltage, short-circuit, and fault isolation
• Support integration of microcontrollers, relays, and communication interfaces (e.g., Modbus, CAN, Ethernet)
• Power Systems & Compliance
• Ensure ATS designs meet UL, IEC, BS, and relevant regional standards
• Perform fault analysis, derating calculations, creepage/clearance analysis, and thermal design
• Support short-circuit withstand and closing ratings (WCR) and coordination studies
• Collaborate with compliance teams during certification testing and audits
• Testing & Validation
• Develop and execute hardware validation plans including functional, environmental, and stress testing
• Perform lab testing with generators, utility sources, and load banks
• Analyse test data, debug hardware issues, and implement design improvements
• Manufacturing & Lifecycle Support
• Support prototype builds, design for manufacturability (DFM), and design for test (DFT)
• Work with suppliers and manufacturing teams on component selection and cost optimization
• Provide production support, failure analysis, and field issue resolution

• 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays
• New flexible holiday scheme
• Bupa Healthcare package
• Life Insurance
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity pay
• 5% Pension contributions
• Companywide performance-based annual bonus scheme