# Head of Hardware Design

**Company:** [Flux Auto](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/flux-auto)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Skills:** Altium, Cadence Allegro, Orcad, Mentor Xpedition, Kicad, Zuken, Spice, Hyperlynx, Siwave, Hfss, Pcie, Usb4, Ddr, Mipi, Ethernet
**Posted:** 2026-01-21

> Leads hardware design practices for AI-powered ECAD platform, builds and manages team, partners with AI/ML on design best practices, develops prototypes, and drives ECAD features from user needs. Requires deep EE expertise in RF, high-speed digital, PCB, SI/PI, and leadership in shipping complex electronics.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Drive ECAD feature design & specs across placement/routing, constraints management, stackup, impedance control, DRC/DFM, manufacturing outputs, and prototyping workflows. Co-author specs, validate via dogfooding, beta programs, and user feedback.
- Partner with AI/ML team: define best practices, guardrails, evaluation harnesses; curate datasets; review AI-generated designs.
- Build out Hardware Design function: manage team, produce reference designs, demos, product specs, training, and feedback loops.
- Develop real hardware prototypes from schematic to bring-up; instrument for SI/PI, power/thermal validation.
- Amplify user insight: improve feedback loops, champion user voice, partner with software engineering.

## Requirements
**Technical Expertise:**
- **RF & wireless:** sub-GHz to mmWave, matching, filtering, antenna layout.
- **EMI/EMC & ESD:** design-for-compliance, grounding, shielding.
- **Power electronics:** DC-DC converters, PMICs, PoE, motor control, sequencing.
- **Analog & mixed-signal:** sensor interfaces, data converters, low-noise design.
- **High-speed digital:** DDRx, PCIe/SerDes, USB-C/USB4, MIPI, Ethernet; timing, skew, equalization.
- **SI/PI:** signal/power integrity, decoupling, return-path control.
- **PCB/stackup:** material selection, impedance control, differential pairs, vias, HDI, panelization.
- **DFM/DFT & manufacturing:** bring-up, debug, test coverage, CM/ODM collaboration.
- **Tooling:** ECAD (Altium, Cadence Allegro/OrCAD, Mentor Xpedition, KiCad, Zuken); simulation (SPICE, ADS/HyperLynx/SIwave, HFSS); lab tools (oscilloscope, VNA, logic analyzer).

**Soft Skills:** Product sense, communication (specs, diagrams, presentations), leadership (hands-on engineering + management), hire/mentor/scale processes.

## Preferred
- Experience in large technical org, shipping at scale, factory/test/mass production.
- Customer-facing roles turning feedback into products.
- Hands-on across ECAD platforms, AI/ML exposure (prompting, data curation).

## Benefits
Competitive salary, equity, comprehensive benefits. Title/level matches experience.

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