Lead Hardware Engineer in Bedford

Winsearch is currently recruiting for a Lead Hardware Engineer to join a leading defence engineering organisation delivering advanced Electronic Warfare and Defensive Aids Systems across air, land and maritime platforms. This is an exciting opportunity to work on technically challenging programmes at the forefront of defence technology, developing mission-critical hardware that supports some of the world's most advanced military platforms.

Working within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, you'll contribute throughout the entire product lifecycle, from requirements capture and architecture definition through to integration, qualification and customer acceptance.

The Role

As a Lead Hardware Engineer, you'll take a key role in the design and development of complex digital and mixed-signal electronics for high-performance defence applications. You'll work closely with systems, firmware, software and RF engineering teams to develop robust hardware solutions capable of operating in demanding environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop advanced digital and mixed-signal hardware.
• Define hardware architectures for FPGA, SoC and processor-based systems.
• Create schematics and support PCB layout activities for high-speed designs.
• Develop and verify interfaces including DDR memory, PCIe and Ethernet.
• Integrate hardware, firmware and software into complete system solutions.
• Perform simulation, verification and validation activities.
• Support board-level bring-up, debugging and fault investigation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams across the product lifecycle.
• Support environmental, EMC and qualification testing.
• Produce technical documentation and engineering evidence to support programme delivery.
• Support customer demonstrations, trials and acceptance activities.

Skills & Experience

We're keen to hear from engineers with experience in high-speed digital electronics design gained within defence, aerospace or other highly regulated industries.

Essential

• Strong background in FPGA and SoC-based hardware architectures.
• Experience designing complex multilayer PCB assemblies.
• Knowledge of high-speed serial interfaces, processors and memory subsystems.
• Experience with tools such as Altium Designer, OrCAD, Xpedition or equivalent.
• Practical hardware debugging and fault-finding experience using industry-standard test equipment.
• Understanding of signal integrity, power integrity and timing considerations.
• Experience integrating hardware, firmware and software within embedded systems.
• Ability to translate system requirements into effective hardware solutions.
• Experience supporting verification, validation and qualification activities.

Desirable

• Electronic Warfare, Radar, RF, Communications or Sensor Systems experience.
• Safety-critical or mission-critical product development.
• FPGA signal processing architectures.
• Knowledge of aerospace and defence standards including DO-254, DEF STAN or MIL-STD.
• Experience leading technical reviews and mentoring engineers.
• Design for Manufacture, Design for Test and Design for Reliability methodologies.

Requirements

• Active SC Clearance.
• Sole British National status due to programme security requirements.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

What's on Offer?

• £65 per hour (Inside IR35)
• Initial 12-month contract
• Hybrid working with four days per week onsite in Luton
• Work on cutting-edge Electronic Warfare and Defence programmes
• Exposure to advanced technologies and complex engineering challenges
• Collaborative environment with experienced engineering specialists

If you're looking for a contract opportunity where you can contribute to the development of next-generation defence technology, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today or contact Winsearch for a confidential discussion.