At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop high-quality electronic products from concept to production.
- Company: Join Timebeat, a cutting-edge tech company revolutionising time synchronisation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on experience, and the chance to work on impactful projects.
- Other info: Be part of a small, dynamic team where your work has visible impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in defence, finance, and telecom with your hardware designs.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in PCB design, strong skills in Altium, and a passion for problem-solving.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Timebeat builds the infrastructure of time.
We design nanosecond-accurate synchronisation systems, hardware and software — that keep defence, finance, broadcast and 5G networks running on a shared, provable clock.
When a trading venue needs to prove the order of events to the microsecond, when a 5G network needs its radios phase-aligned, or when a defence platform needs to hold time through GNSS denial, our kit is what does it.
We're an engineering-led company with offices in London, Dallas and Ho Chi Minh City.
Our product line runs from OEM timing modules and PCIe timecards to fully resilient GNSS grandmasters — things like the Open Time Appliance Mini (a palm-sized grandmaster with battery holdover and a double-oven oscillator good to 1.5 µs over 24 hours without GNSS) and the White Rabbit Mezzanine (a sub-nanosecond OEM module hitting ~25 ps RMS jitter).
This is genuinely hard, high-precision electronics — mixed-signal design where picoseconds and clean power actually matter — and the products ship to demanding customers who notice the difference.
The role
We're looking for a hands-on Hardware Engineer to help develop high-quality electronic products from concept through to production.
You'll own real designs end-to-end — schematic through prototype bring-up, debug, and into manufacture — and see your work ship in products where timing performance is the whole point.
This is a great fit for someone who enjoys practical, real-world hardware development and wants broad ownership rather than a narrow slice of a big process.
- What you'll be doing
- Schematic capture and board-level design for new and existing products
- Mixed-signal, digital and power circuitry — where low noise and clean clocking are first-class concerns
- Prototype bring-up, testing and lab debugging
- Component selection and BOM creation
- Design for manufacture and production support
- Working closely with firmware, mechanical and product teams to get designs shipped
What we're looking for
- ~3+ years' experience in PCB or electronic hardware design
- Strong schematic capture and PCB layout in Altium Designer (or similar)
- Hands-on board bring-up, lab debug and test
- Experience designing digital and mixed-signal boards for commercial products
- Solid grasp of interfaces — SPI, I²C, UART, USB, Ethernet or CAN
- Good grounding in power design, EMC basics, grounding, decoupling and manufacturability
- A practical, problem-solving mindset — you enjoy getting hardware working
- Nice to have
- Processor-based or higher-speed digital design
- Exposure to FPGA-connected hardware
- Experience with precision timing, clocking, oscillators or low-jitter design
- Taking products through verification and into production
- EMC / compliance testing
- Work on genuinely hard problems — precision timing is a niche where the engineering actually matters, not incremental tweaks
- Real ownership — take designs from concept to shipped hardware, not a fragment of someone else's board
- Small, engineering-led team — your work has visible impact and you're close to the product and the customers
- See it ship — our hardware goes into defence, finance, broadcast and telecom networks worldwide
We're looking for someone thoughtful, hands-on, and who enjoys building reliable hardware in a fast-moving environment.
Hardware Engineer in London employer: Timebeat
Timebeat is an attractive employer due to its hands-on approach to technology and innovation. Employees benefit from a collaborative work culture that encourages professional growth and skill enhancement. The diverse responsibilities allow team members to engage in various aspects of product development and testing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Hardware Engineer in London
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Hardware Engineer role you’re after at Timebeat.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at Timebeat a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at Timebeat.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Hardware Engineer at Timebeat, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Hardware Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Hardware Engineer, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Timebeat a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Timebeat specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Timebeat
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with Timebeat, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like Timebeat want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.