Distinguished Hardware Architect (Defense Systems | FPGA | High-Speed Digital)

Distinguished Hardware Architect (Defense Systems | FPGA | High-Speed Digital)

Location: Canonsburg, PA (100% Onsite)
Relocation: Available for top talent
Clearance: Secret (or ability to obtain)
Compensation: $180K–$200K Base

Build What Others Can't. Lead What Others Won't.

This is not a typical engineering role.

We're partnered with a top-tier defense technology innovator working at the forefront of undersea systems, advanced electronics, and next-generation mission platforms. Their work directly supports national security across some of the most complex and classified environments in existence.

They are seeking a Distinguished Engineer-level Hardware Architect to lead the design and evolution of advanced systems where performance, precision, and reliability are non-negotiable.

If you've ever wanted to operate at the highest level of engineering influence, this is that role.

What You'll Own:

• Architect complex hardware systems across digital, analog, and power domains
• Lead FPGA-based system design and high-speed digital architectures
• Drive board-level design, integration, and system optimization
• Conduct trade studies and define next-gen platform strategies
• Guide cross-functional teams across electrical, mechanical, firmware, and systems engineering
• Solve problems where failure is not an option

Core Technical Environment:

You'll be working deep in:

• FPGA / CPLD / SoC architectures
• High-speed digital design (5 Gbps, DDR4, PCIe, etc.)
• Power electronics (DC/DC, AC/DC)
• OpenVPX / high-density embedded systems
• Signal integrity, modeling & simulation
• Advanced circuit design (schematic layout BOM)

What We're Looking For:

• 10 years in electrical or hardware engineering
• Proven experience architecting complex embedded or defense systems
• Deep expertise in:
  • FPGA high-speed digital systems
  • Board-level circuit design
  • Power electronics
• Experience in defense, aerospace, or mission-critical systems
• Ability to lead technically without needing a formal management title

What Sets This Opportunity Apart:

• Architect-level ownership not execution, but direction
• Mission-critical impact your work directly supports national security
• Advanced tech stack work on systems most engineers never touch
• Elite engineering environment collaborate with some of the best minds in defense
• Relocation supported access a highly specialized program environment

Why This Role is Different (AI Systems Future)

This organization is actively integrating:

• AI-enabled system optimization
• Advanced modeling & simulation
• Next-gen compute architectures within embedded systems

You won't just build hardware—you'll shape how intelligent systems operate at the edge.

Let's Talk

If you're operating at the Principal / Distinguished Engineer level and want to work on high-impact, highly complex systems, this is a rare opportunity to step into a role with real technical authority.

Keywords for Fit (self-check)

FPGA | OpenVPX | DDR4 | High-Speed Digital | Board Design | Power Electronics | Defense Systems | Embedded Hardware | Signal Integrity

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