What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal Hardware Engineer - DC Hardware position at ALKU?
Principal Hardware Engineer - DC Hardware
Background:
We are seeking a Principal Hardware Engineer to join our DC Hardware team. In this role, you will design, develop, and validate high-current, high-power sourcing and switching hardware used in semiconductor automated test equipment (ATE).
You will play a key role in advancing power delivery architecture, focusing on fast transient response, load regulation, protection systems, thermal management, and system-level integration. This position provides the opportunity to own power-delivery modules from concept through production release, supporting advanced SoCs, high-power devices, and complex test conditions. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across hardware, firmware, mechanical, and test engineering to deliver robust, high-performance solutions.
Project:
We are looking for a highly collaborative engineer with deep expertise in power electronics and high-current hardware design.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
- 8 years of experience in power electronics, high-current power delivery, or instrumentation hardware design
- Proven experience architecting and designing high-current power delivery modules (mA to 100 A)
- Strong expertise in switching power supplies, multiphase regulators, linear regulators, and advanced power-stage topologies
- Experience designing fast-response voltage/current sourcing circuits optimized for transient performance and dynamic load conditions
- Deep understanding of power integrity and PDN optimization across full signal paths (instrumentation, cabling, loadboard, and DUT)
- Experience modeling and mitigating droop, overshoot, ringing, and ground bounce under fast load conditions
- Proficiency in simulation and analysis of loop stability, compensation networks, and transient response
- Experience designing protection systems including OCP, OVP, OTP, short-circuit protection, and fault isolation
- Knowledge of reliability engineering, derating techniques, and thermal modeling for long-term system stability
- Experience with high-current routing, low-impedance path design, and system-level thermal considerations
- Proven ability to lead hardware bring-up, debug complex analog/mixed-signal systems, and drive root-cause analysis
- Hands-on experience with lab equipment including oscilloscopes, power analyzers, current probes, and electronic loads
- Proficiency with SPICE simulation, PDN modeling tools, and PCB design tools
- Experience collaborating with firmware teams on control loops, telemetry, calibration, and system integration
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing power-delivery modules specifically for semiconductor ATE systems
- Knowledge of dynamic voltage scaling, digital power control, and telemetry systems
- Familiarity with high-current connectors, cabling, and low-impedance mechanical design principles
- Experience with thermal modeling, heatsink design, and airflow optimization
- Understanding of HALT/HASS, stress testing, and failure-mode analysis
- Experience supporting system-level integration including loadboards, probecards, and DUT environments
- Track record of contributing to design standards, best practices, or technical mentorship
Salary : $200,000 - $240,000