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Hardware Engineering Manager

Palitronica

Palitronica

Other Engineering
Waterloo, ON, Canada · Canada · Ontario, Canada · Waterloo, ON, Canada
Posted on Sep 6, 2025
The role

We’re hiring a Hardware Engineering Manager to lead our RF, PCB, and mechanical efforts. You’ll own roadmap execution from concept through EVT/DVT/PVT, raise the bar on verification & validation, and partner closely with Firmware and QA to deliver resilient, field-ready hardware.

What You’ll Do

  • Lead day-to-day execution across RF, PCB, and mechanical work; unblock, coach, and drive decisions.
  • Stand up and enforce rigorous V&V (bench, subsystem, system, environmental/EMC) with clear phase-exit gates.
  • Run design reviews (EMC/EMI, SI/PI, thermal, ESD, reliability) and own ECO discipline and sustaining engineering (FA/FRACAS).
  • Guide NPI with CMs/EMS: DFM/DFT reviews, pilot builds, yield targets, and production test stations/fixtures.
  • Navigate regulatory pathways (FCC/ISED/CE) with a strong pre-compliance strategy.
  • Manage mechanical designers/engineers and external partners: enclosure design, tolerance stacks, GD&T, materials/finishes, seals/gaskets, thermal/mechanical validation, and DFM/DFA with vendors.
  • Coordinate ID ↔ ME ↔ EE integration (packaging, connectors, shielding, assembly) and own drawing/control documents.
  • Close the loop with System Integration/Field Ops on data captures and deployments; turn findings into durable fixes.
  • Track and improve hardware KPIs: first-pass yield, DPPM, test coverage, ECO cycle time, and post-deployment issue rate.

What You Bring

  • 8+ years building/shipping embedded hardware; 2–4+ years leading engineers or teams.
  • Ownership of EVT/DVT/PVT and production test for complex products.
  • Fluency with PCB design flows, SI/PI fundamentals, and lab bring-up/instrumentation.
  • Practical knowledge of RF concepts (or strong adjacent experience and appetite to dive in).
  • Experience with EMC/EMI-conscious design and regulatory certification.
  • Proven management of mechanical designers/engineers (in-house and/or vendors) and familiarity with enclosure design, GD&T, tolerance analysis, materials/processes (plastics, sheet metal, die cast), sealing/IP ratings, shock/vibe/thermal validation, and manufacturing documentation.
  • Strong collaboration with firmware/software and contract manufacturers.

Nice to have

  • Reliability engineering (HALT/HASS)
  • Python for lab automation, production programming/calibration
  • Experience with UL/IEC safety
  • Supplier management for tooling/fixtures