Mixed-Signal Hardware Engineer
The job description
Tech stack. Mixed-signal PCB design, ADC/DAC integration, clock distribution, power supply noise control, grounding and partitioning, SPICE simulation, near-field probing, jitter analysis, PSRR validation
About the role
You will design boards where sensitive analog circuits share space with noisy digital logic, the domain where layout decisions make or break measured performance. Mixed-signal hardware engineers own the partitioning, grounding, and power strategies that let precision analog coexist with high-speed digital on the same board. You will measure noise floors, chase down coupling paths with probes and experiments, and deliver boards where the analog performance matches the simulation and the datasheet promises. This specialty rewards patience, systematic thinking, and a genuine love of the lab. You will also develop the near-field probing playbook the team uses to localize coupling paths, turning noise hunts from art into repeatable engineering.
What you will achieve
- Design mixed-signal boards achieving target analog performance for noise floor, SNR, and distortion alongside full digital functionality with margin to spare
- Deliver clean power architectures with proper partitioning, filtering, and grounding that isolate sensitive analog circuits from digital switching noise
- Validate clock distribution for jitter-sensitive converters through direct measurement and disciplined layout practices
- Debug mixed-signal issues systematically: identifying coupling paths with near-field probes and carefully designed targeted experiments
- Create mixed-signal design guidelines covering partitioning, grounding, and decoupling that become adopted team standards for future products
What you will bring
Must-haves
- 2 to 5 years designing mixed-signal hardware with shipped products containing both sensitive analog and digital sections
- Strong understanding of grounding strategies: single-point versus multipoint grounding, split planes versus moats, and knowing when each applies
- Experience with high-resolution ADCs and DACs: physical layout, clocking design, reference circuits, and measured performance validation
- Knowledge of power supply design for mixed-signal systems: LDO versus switching trade-offs, filtering networks, and PSRR requirements
- Familiarity with clock distribution fundamentals: jitter budgets, crystal versus oscillator selection, and PLL loop filter design basics
- Lab skills for mixed-signal debug: spectrum analyzers, near-field probes, and low-noise measurement techniques that reveal real coupling paths
- BS in Electrical Engineering or equivalent demonstrated experience
Nice-to-haves
- Experience with RF-adjacent mixed-signal circuits: PLLs, frequency synthesizers, or high-speed data converter applications
- Knowledge of electromagnetic simulation for analyzing critical mixed-signal structures before fabrication
- Familiarity with precision timing hardware such as IEEE 1588 timestamping implementations
- Experience with audio hardware design: codecs, amplifiers, and acoustic performance validation in finished products
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