Hardware Engineer

Job Title: Hardware Touch Engineer

Job Description

The Hardware Touch Engineer designs, integrates, and validates advanced touch and display subsystems for innovative consumer electronic products. This role works closely with cross‑disciplinary internal teams and external partners to define requirements, architect solutions, and guide components from early concept through mass production. The position requires a hands-on engineer who thrives in a collaborative environment and can independently drive technical decisions, testing strategies, and vendor engagement for touch, stylus, and gesture technologies.

Responsibilities

• Conceive, design, and validate touch and display subsystems for next-generation consumer products in collaboration with cross‑disciplinary teams.
• Perform hands-on bring-up, testing, and troubleshooting of touch subsystems, display assemblies, and associated control electronics.
• Serve as the technical architect and lead for display and touch components throughout the entire product life cycle, from roadmap definition and design-in through mass-production support.
• Define technical requirements and specifications for touch and display components in alignment with product performance, reliability, and user-experience goals.
• Manage the technical relationship with display and touch vendors to ensure components meet required specifications, quality standards, and delivery schedules.
• Develop and apply test methods to stress test touch performance under realistic field-use scenarios, ensuring robust performance as experienced by customers.
• Implement automation for touch performance validation and stress testing, including scripting and test framework development.
• Use touch and display test equipment and methods to characterize performance, identify issues, and drive corrective actions.
• Contribute to product integration activities, ensuring seamless interaction between touch/display subsystems and the overall hardware system.
• Function as a subject matter expert on touch, stylus, and gesture technologies, providing up-to-date technical guidance to colleagues and leadership.
• Collaborate with international, cross-functional teams including electrical, mechanical, firmware, software, and manufacturing engineering.
• Communicate technical findings, risks, and recommendations clearly through verbal updates and written documentation.
• Travel to supplier and contract manufacturer sites worldwide (approximately 10%–20% travel) to support product development, integration, and ramp to mass production.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Professional experience as a hardware engineer in the consumer electronics or touch/display industry.
• Hands-on experience with capacitive touch development, including sensor design, tuning, and validation.
• Experience with active stylus development and gesture recognition technologies.
• Background in electrical engineering with strong understanding of electronic circuits and control electronics.
• Experience in product integration, bringing touch and display subsystems into complete hardware products.
• Proficiency with touch and display test equipment and methods for characterization, validation, and troubleshooting.
• Experience with hardware testing, board bring-up, and integration testing for complex electronic systems.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment and manage technical aspects of vendor relationships.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to convey complex technical information clearly.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
• Experience with Python for test automation, data analysis, and touch performance validation.
• Experience with C or C programming, particularly in a GNU/Linux development environment.
• Working knowledge of optics and optical assemblies as they relate to displays and touch modules.
• Familiarity with cameras and their integration with display and touch systems.
• Experience using AutoCAD or similar tools for reviewing or contributing to mechanical and system-level designs.
• Experience working with international, cross-functional teams across engineering and manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to be responsive, flexible, and successful in an open, collaborative peer environment.

This is a Contract position based out of Sunnyvale, CA.

The pay range for this position is $80.00 - $90.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Sunnyvale,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 19, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $80 - $90