Hardware Engineer IV Spectraforce Technologies United States, California, Sunnyvale Oct 24, 2026

Job Title:

Hardware Engineer IV Duration:

12 months

Location:

Onsite, Sunnyvale, CA Role Summary We are seeking an experienced EE Validation Engineer to support hardware validation of next-generation smart glasses, working closely with the validation lead. In this role, your primary focus will be monitoring validation progress, reviewing CM test reports, analyzing failures, and coordinating with EE design partners to drive issues to closure. You will also guide CM engineers on measurement procedures and perform hands-on PI/SI debug when needed. While you must possess strong hands-on measurement skills, the majority of your time will be spent interpreting data, tracking issues, and ensuring problems are resolved efficiently. You will not own final validation decisions, but you are expected to be technically strong enough to flag risks, recommend actions, and keep execution on track under the lead's direction. Responsibilities Issue Tracking & Closure (Primary Focus ~60%)

Review CM-generated validation reports: verify data quality, flag anomalies, confirm pass/fail criteria are correctly applied

Analyze validation failures; determine whether issues are measurement errors, design defects, or assembly quality problems

Coordinate with EE design partners to present data, propose root cause hypotheses, and support corrective action decisions

Track open issues through resolution; ensure fixes are validated and closed in a timely manner

Facilitate communication between CM, EE design, layout, and firmware teams to keep issues moving

Maintain issue tracker and provide regular status updates to the FTE validation lead

Monitor overall validation progress against milestones; escalate risks and blockers early

CM Guidance (~20%)

Develop clear, repeatable test procedures (SOPs) that CM technicians can execute independently

Train and guide CM engineers/technicians on proper measurement techniques, probe placement, fixture usage, and data collection

Define probe points and measurement access strategy; communicate to CM with annotated layout markups

Provide real-time technical guidance to CM when measurements yield unexpected results

Establish clear acceptance criteria and escalation paths for CM to follow, in alignment with the FTE validation lead

Hands-On Measurement & Debug (~20%)

Perform PI/SI measurements that require senior-level judgment (e.g., first article bring-up, intermittent failures, subtle noise sources)

Validate CM measurement setups by performing correlation measurements

Debug escalated issues that CM cannot resolve independently

Develop new measurement methodologies and fixtures for novel circuits or challenging probe access

Support prototype bring-up and characterization during build phases Technical Knowledge Required Power Integrity (PI)

DC-DC converter characterization: line/load regulation, efficiency, transient response, output ripple/noise

Power sequencing validation and timing verification against IC specifications

Power rail stability under varying load conditions; current profiling

Battery charging circuit validation: charge profiles, protection, thermal limits

PDN concepts: ground bounce, decoupling strategy, voltage droop analysis

Signal Integrity (SI)

High-speed interface measurement:

MIPI CSI, SPI, I2C, I2S/PDM, USB, UART

Signal quality assessment: rise/fall times, overshoot/undershoot, ringing, eye diagrams

Crosstalk, reflections, and impedance discontinuities on flex/rigid-flex assemblies

Clock signal quality and jitter characterization

Protocol-level correlation with physical-layer signal issues

Schematic & Layout Competency

Read and interpret multi-page schematics to understand circuit topology, power trees, and signal routing

Review PCB layout (rigid and flex) to identify optimal probe locations and debug access points

Assess layout for SI/PI risk: trace routing, return path continuity, impedance control, via transitions

Provide layout feedback to design team for improved testability Required Qualifications BS/MS in Electrical Engineering

4+ years of EE hardware validation experience with strong emphasis on power integrity and signal integrity

Proven ability to analyze test data, identify root causes, and drive issues to closure with cross-functional teams

Experience reviewing test reports for correctness, identifying gaps, and driving follow-up actions

Ability to develop test procedures that others execute

• clear technical writing, structured SOPs, annotated diagrams
  Strong schematic reading skills
• trace signal paths, understand power distribution, map circuit function from schematics and datasheets
  PCB layout review experience
• assess probe access, SI/PI risk, debug strategy
  Expert-level knowledge of lab instruments: high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, power rail probes, active/differential probes, current probes, spectrum analyzers
  Experience with DC-DC converter characterization and high-speed digital signal measurements
  Solid understanding of transmission line theory, impedance matching, and flex PCB signal integrity challenges
  Strong communication skills•ability to explain complex EE issues clearly to CM teams and design partners Must-Have Skills 4+ years of EE hardware validation experience with strong emphasis on power integrity and signal integrity
  Ability to develop test procedures that others execute•clear technical writing, structured SOPs, annotated diagrams.

Strong schematic reading skills

• trace signal paths, understand power distribution, map circuit function from schematics and datasheets
  PCB layout review experience
• assess probe access, SI/PI risk, debug strategy, power regulation circuits.

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Expert-level knowledge of lab instruments: high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, power rail probes, active/differential probes, current probes, spectrum analyzers Nice-to-have Skills Experience with wearable, mobile, or IoT hardware (space-constrained, low-power designs)

Familiarity with proto/EVT/DVT/PVT build cycles and NPI environments

Experience with issue tracking systems and cross-functional coordination in hardware programs Preferred Qualifications Experience working with CMs or ODMs in a validation support capacity

Experience with wearable, mobile, or IoT hardware (space-constrained, low-power designs)

Familiarity with RF measurement (BLE/WiFi TX power, sensitivity, antenna return loss)

Familiarity with proto/EVT/DVT/PVT build cycles and NPI environments

Experience with issue tracking systems and cross-functional coordination in hardware programs

Tools & Environment Instruments:

Keysight/Tektronix oscilloscopes (1 GHz), power rail probes, active probes, SMUs, VNAs, protocol analyzers

Software:

scripting, schematic/layout viewers (Allegro, Altium, or equivalent), data analysis tools

Documentation:

Google Workspace, Tasks/JIRA for issue tracking

Collaboration:

Daily interaction with validation lead, CM engineers (remote and on-site), EE design team, and FW Notify me of jobs like this