Staff System Hardware Architect

Piper Companies is seeking a Staff System Hardware Architect to support advanced hardware development within the high‑performance computing and electronics manufacturing industry onsite near San Jose, CA. The ideal Staff System Hardware Architect role is ideal for a staff‑caliber board‑level designer who thrives in hands‑on system integration, board bring‑up, and high‑speed interface validation while influencing overall system architecture.

Responsibilities of the Staff System Hardware Architect:

• Lead system‑level PCB board design efforts with a focus on high‑speed interfaces and overall board behavior.
• Own board bring‑up, debugging, and lab‑based hardware validation activities.
• Execute characterization, performance testing, and signal integrity validation; provide structured feedback to internal design teams.
• Drive product qualification, including compliance testing and reliability validation.
• Work closely with contract manufacturers and manufacturing partners to support build, test, and production readiness.
• Evaluate, select, and integrate chips, modules, and critical components; collaborate directly with component vendors.
• Guide overall system design direction, acting as a lead/architect within the hardware organization.

Qualifications of the Staff System Hardware Architect:

• 10+ years of electrical engineering experience with multiple full product lifecycle completions (design through production).
• Must be eligible to work in the United States and obtain and maintain an Active U.S. Government Secret Clearance.
• Demonstrated expertise in board bring‑up and hardware debugging (must‑have).
• Strong high‑speed board design experience, including PCI Express Gen 5 (or newer) and 10G+ Ethernet.
• Deep understanding of signal integrity and system‑level PCB behavior.
• Hands‑on experience with SI tools, with strong preference for HyperLynx; Ansys SI tools are a plus.
• Ownership mindset with the ability to influence technical direction without formal people management responsibility.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.

Compensation for the Staff System Hardware Architect:

• Salary range: $210,000 - $260,000 depending on experience
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and paid time off

This job opens for applications on 05/22/2026. Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date.

Keywords: Senior Electrical Engineer, Staff Electrical Engineer, Board-Level Design, PCB Systems Design, High-Speed Interfaces, PCIe Gen5, PCI Express Gen 6, Ethernet, Signal Integrity, SI Engineering, Board Bring-Up, Hardware Debug, Lab Validation, Compliance Testing, Reliability Testing, Product Qualification, System Architecture, Hardware Architect, HyperLynx, Ansys SI, High-Speed PCB, Systems Engineering

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