Principal Hardware Engineer, SSD

Quick Facts

• Role: SSD Hardware Engineer

• Focus: Next-generation SSD hardware development and validation with high-speed interfaces

Description

Join a team building next-generation Solid State Drive (SSD) products, requiring expertise in hardware architecture, high-speed digital composition, and system-level integration. Work includes strong experience with PCIe, DDR, ONFI, high-speed interface implementation, and hands-on laboratory debugging and validation.

AI & Intelligent Systems: Engineers are encouraged to bring and continuously develop AI-enabled software development and intelligent automation skills. Preferred areas include practical AI/ML integration (LLMs/inference), agentic architectures, RAG/tool chaining/task orchestration, responsible AI (evaluation, observability, governance, secure deployment), and identifying automation opportunities to improve productivity and debug effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure hardware builds meet firmware, system, performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements.

• Participate in system architecture definition, build reviews, requirements development, and product planning for SSD solutions.

• Conduct signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) analysis, simulation, validation, and characterization.

• Document, communicate, and present build results and recommendations.

• Evaluate/analyze build proposals, perform engineering tradeoff studies, and recommend efficient build solutions.

• Build hardware for high-volume manufacturing with Design for Excellence (DFx), cost optimization, reliability, and quality considerations.

• Own SSD hardware development across the full lifecycle: schematic capture, simulations, worst-case analysis, component derating, validation, and production support.

• Define PCB stack-up specifications, signal transmission methods, component arrangement, routing limitations, and board-level SI/PI considerations.

• Work with firmware, validation, manufacturing, reliability, and customer support teams during development, qualification, and RMA investigations.

• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to early-career engineers and peers.

• Use AI-based tools and automation technologies to accelerate build, validation, debug, and engineering workflows.

Requirements

• Self-motivated, diligent, and meticulous; strong desire to solve complex technical challenges.

• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills.

• Strong understanding of transmission line theory and high-speed signal propagation fundamentals.

• Solid knowledge of time-domain and frequency-domain analysis techniques.

• Extensive experience with high-speed PCB builds, routing reviews, power distribution networks, and EMI/ESD mitigation.

• Experience crafting SI/PI solutions for high-performance systems.

• Analog circuit build and simulation experience using SPICE or equivalent modeling tools.

• Familiarity with automated test methodologies and test automation frameworks (preferred).

• Hands-on SI lab experience measuring high-bandwidth signals (20–35 GHz).

• Experience using PCIe compliance equipment and validation methodologies.

• Proficiency with schematic capture tools, PCB layout constraints, and board-level build verification.

• Ability to mentor engineers and contribute to technical development.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (or related field) or equivalent experience.

• Master's degree or equivalent experience preferred.

• 5+ years of hardware build experience in SSD, storage, or high-performance computing systems.

• Experience with board bring-up, soldering, hardware debugging, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and schematic/layout review.

• Experience in semiconductor, storage, or related technology industries.

• Proven ability to lead engineering projects and drive execution through completion.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• SSD controller, NAND flash, or storage system architecture experience.

• Expertise in PCIe Gen4/Gen5/Gen6 technologies.

• Familiarity with DDR memory subsystems and ONFI interfaces.

• Experience applying AI-assisted engineering tools to product development, validation, and debugging workflows.

Additional Job Description

• Performs design and development engineering assignments related to hardware products and systems, including new product development or updates.

• Work may include one or more engineering areas (e.g., electronic design, mechanical design) and may encompass research, evaluation, and application of new processes/methods into products.

• May establish and conduct testing routines, develop or execute project plans/budgets/schedules, and document work and results.