Principal Hardware Engineer
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Sunnyvale, CA · Posted August 30, 2026
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Where Sunnyvale, CA ranks
Where Sunnyvale, CA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #1Best cities for consumer and retail pay after cost of living$194k · of 11
- #3Best cities for data and analytics pay after cost of living$213k · of 28
- #4Best cities for pay after cost of living in California$192k · of 32
- #4Best all-round cities for AI careers95 / 100 · of 100
- #4Best all-round cities for AI careers in the West Coast88 / 100 · of 39
- #5Best cities for pay after cost of living in the West Coast$192k · of 39
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
Among computer hardware engineers, AI is already used for some of the tasks. Measured exposure for computer hardware engineers: 15% (some).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
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About the job
Principal Hardware Engineer
This role has been designed as ‘’Onsite’ with an expectation that you will primarily work from an HPE office.
Who We Are:
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud company advancing the way people live and work. We help companies connect, protect, analyze, and act on their data and applications wherever they live, from edge to cloud, so they can turn insights into outcomes at the speed required to thrive in today’s complex world. Our culture thrives on finding new and better ways to accelerate what’s next. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good. If you are looking to stretch and grow your career our culture will embrace you. Open up opportunities with HPE.
Job Description:
Designs, analyzes, develops, modifies and evaluates electrical/electronic parts, components, sub-systems, algorithms, or integrated circuitry for electrical/electronic equipment and other hardware systems. Conducts feasibility studies, design margin and validation analyses and empirical testing on new and modified designs. Assists in architecture development and assessment. Evaluates reliability of materials, properties, designs, and techniques used in production. May direct support personnel in the preparation of detailed design, design testing and prototype fabrication.
Management Level Definition:
Contributions have visible technical impact on a product or major subcomponent. Applies in-depth professional knowledge and innovative ideas to solve complex problems. Visible contributions improve time-to-market, achieve cost reductions, or satisfy current and future unmet customer needs. Recognized internal authority on key technology area applying innovative principles and ideas. Provides technical leadership for significant project/program work. Leads or participates in cross-functional initiatives and contributes to mentorship and knowledge sharing across the organization.
About the position:
Expert hardware systems engineer working with architects, product line managers, software engineers, test engineers and NPI (New Product Introduction) teams to develop cutting edge, high-end routing platforms. Will be involved with product development from concept to mass production and customer support.
Role requires 2+ days a week in Sunnyvale office
Responsibilities:
Participate in product feasibility and definition
Specifications, schematics, BOMs, prototype lab bring-up and maintenance, hardware test plans and reports
Serve as technical lead and collaborate with the following hardware engineering teams: signal integrity, power, thermal, PCB design, mechanical, DFM/DFT, lab technicians
Review/approve test reports and support the following: EDVT, MDVT, NEBs, HALT, Safety, EMC teams
Participate in defining diagnostics tests for manufacturing and development
Training and support of manufacturing, customer support and sustaining teams
Collaborate with technical publications team, software, test and diagnostics engineering
Work with program manager and engineering lead to provide project status
Work with component engineering and commodity managers on external component selection and qualification
Interface with external component suppliers on implementation and debug
Mentor and review the work of junior hardware engineers
Flexible hours to accommodate collaboration with engineering teams across geographies
Minimum Qualifications:
Role requires 2+ days a week in Sunnyvale office
10+ years of experience with board design and/or FPGA design
Expert level proficiency in electrical circuit and schematic design, including experience with embedded CPU and SoC subsystems
Deep knowledge of systems design considerations from many angles including software, firmware, BIOS, PCB layout, signal integrity, mechanical, thermal, power, EMI compliance, manufacturability, testability, MTBF and COGS
Proficient in advanced design techniques for multiple-layer, high speed printed circuit boards
Experience with design and debug of PCIe, Ethernet, I2C, clocks, high speed SerDes and high speed memory interfaces
Hands-on experience and strong debugging proficiency using lab measurement equipment such as high speed oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers and VNAs.
Experience with FPGA design and operation. Proficiency with Verilog programming, FPGA simulation and FPGA synthesis process
Experience in a Unix/Linux environment
BS, MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience designing network routers and switches to high volume quantities with outstanding production quality
Understanding of core routing, edge routing, switching, forwarding, switch fabrics, WAN interfaces, pluggable optics (QSFP-DD, OSFP), campus and data center customer network design, testing, deployment and troubleshooting
Hands-on experience testing complex L2/L3 products with Ethernet packet generators such as Ixia or Spirent
Industry experience using Cadence Allegro PCB Designer layout tool and ePD/Viewlogic schematic capture tool
Python, Perl or TCL programming skills; scripting and test automation experience
What We Can Offer You:
Health & Wellbeing
We strive to provide our team members and their loved ones with a comprehensive suite of benefits that supports their physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.
Personal & Professional Development
We also invest in your career because the better you are, the better we all are. We have specific programs catered to helping you reach any career goals you have — whether you want to become a knowledge expert in your field or apply your skills to another division.
Unconditional Inclusion
We are unconditionally inclusive in the way we work and celebrate individual uniqueness. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good.
Let's Stay Connected:
Follow @HPECareers on Instagram to see the latest on people, culture and tech at HPE.
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Job: Engineering Job Level: TCP_05
""The expected salary/wage range for this position is provided below. Actual offer may vary from this range based upon geographic location, work experience, education/training, and/or skill level. – United States of America: Annual Salary USD 153,500 - 310,500 in California The listed salary range reflects base salary. Variable incentives may also be offered."
Information about employee benefits offered in the US can be found at https://myhperewards.com/main/new-hire-enrollment.html
HPE is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or any other protected category, and all decisions we make are made on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. Our goal is to be one global team that is representative of our customers, in an inclusive environment where we can continue to innovate and grow together. Please click here: Equal Employment Opportunity .
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is EEO Protected Veteran/ Individual with Disabilities.
HPE will comply with all applicable laws related to employer use of arrest and conviction records, including laws requiring employers to consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories.
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We have become aware of an increase in fraudulent recruitment activities in which individuals impersonate our company or authorized recruitment agencies to offer fake employment opportunities. These scams may occur through false websites, emails, social media, or chat-based applications and often aim to obtain personal information or money. Please note that Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliated companies, and its authorized recruitment agencies/vendors will never charge a candidate a registration fee, hiring fee, or any other fee in connection with its recruitment and hiring process. We also never request personal information such as back account details, Social Security numbers, or national IDs via social media or chat applications.
All legitimate job opportunities will come through official company channels, and candidates are responsible for verifying the credentials of any third party claiming to represent the company. Any reliance on fraudulent communication is at the individual’s own risk, and HPE disclaims legal liability for any resulting damages. If you suspect recruitment fraud, do not share personal information or make any payments and report the incident to your local authorities immediately.