Senior Electrical Hardware Engineer – Altium, PCB Design & Embedded Systems — Los Angeles, CA

Senior Electrical Hardware Engineer – Altium, PCB Design & Embedded Systems

Location: Inglewood, CA | Onsite | Optional Domestic Travel (Approximately 1–2 Times per Year)

Salary: $150,000–$180,000 base, with flexibility up to $200,000 for exceptional candidates

Position Summary

We are looking for a Senior Electrical Engineer to lead hardware development for our next generation of commercial and industrial access control products, including video entry systems. You will own the electronics from the first schematic through prototype, testing, and release to production. You will also keep our existing product line up to date. This role works closely with vendors, manufacturing, sales, and customer-facing teams, and represents engineering at industry trade shows.

Approximately 90% of the role focuses on new product development, with the remaining 10% dedicated to sustaining engineering.

Key Responsibilities

New Product Development

Lead hardware design for new access control platforms: schematic capture, multi-layer PCB layout (up to 12 layers), board bring-up, testing, and final system integration.

Design power systems including DC/DC conversion, power source priority selection, PoE+, inrush and surge protection, smart battery charging, and thermal recovery.

Design and integrate interfaces such as USB, Ethernet, video, audio codecs, LoRa wireless, and RS-485 around embedded processor platforms (for example, i.MX 8M Mini System-on-Module).

Deliver prototypes and production designs on schedule, including working units for trade shows.

Sustaining Engineering

Support the company's existing access control products: update designs when requirements change, handle component end-of-life, and verify changes.

Investigate field and production issues and put fixes in place.

Vendors & Components

Select key components and work with vendors to customize them as needed, including SOMs, displays, antennas, heatsinks, speakers, power supplies, and batteries.

Propose design improvements based on feedback from customer representatives, sales, and new technology.

Manufacturing Support

Design and build test fixtures to automate PCBA testing.

Support in-house production and PCBA manufacturing teams with troubleshooting, failed-board debug, and design-for-manufacturability improvements.

Compliance & Documentation

Design for EMC and ESD performance and support product certification testing with outside labs.

Create and maintain schematics, layout files, assembly drawings, bills of materials, and design documentation.

Required Qualifications

B.S. in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.

Minimum 5 years of hands-on electrical/hardware engineering experience, including leading designs from concept to production. Experience of 8–10+ years is preferred.

Expert-level skill with Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB layout (2 to 12 layers), including personally performing both schematic design and physical PCB layout.

Strong analog and digital circuit design, with familiarity in power conversion and battery charging technologies, including integrating existing solutions.

Experience with common communication protocols and interfaces (Ethernet, USB, RS-485, MODBUS, wireless).

Proven experience with PCBA bring-up, debugging, and test fixture development.

Working knowledge of EMC/ESD design practices and certification testing.

Experience supporting production lines and contract manufacturers.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with access control, security, gate/door automation, or other commercial/industrial products.

Experience designing around embedded Linux SOMs such as the NXP i.MX 8 family.

Motor control experience (including BLDC).

Background in regulated industries (for example, medical devices under IEC 60601-1) or EMC standards such as EN 61000.

Coursework or certification in embedded systems or RF design.

OrCAD experience in addition to Altium.

Skills That Help You Succeed

You own your designs and deliver on time.

You communicate clearly with vendors, manufacturing staff, and non-engineers.

You enjoy solving hard problems on the bench as much as on the screen.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary of $150,000–$180,000, with flexibility up to $200,000 for exceptional candidates.

Standard year-end bonus.

ABOUT KORE1

Specializing in professional and technical recruiting, KORE1 is committed to supporting top IT, engineering, creative, scientific, accounting and finance professionals in their career paths. We build deep relationships with our candidates and clients, allowing us to deliver an unmatched level of service and a true partnership.

KORE1 is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.