Hardware Design Engineer (x86/Xeon)

Orchard • Colorado Springs, CO

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Our Engineering team is seeking a self-motivated Contract Hardware Design Engineer with deep expertise in x86 architecture to drive the bring-up, debugging, and ongoing hardware validation of complex, multicore Intel Xeon processor boards. In this hands-on role, you will lead early-stage board bring-up, configure and debug AMI BIOS boot flows, and collaborate closely with software engineers to write targeted test utilities and assess system-level application needs. Working within a lean, agile team at our Colorado Springs facility, you will take ownership of board-level verification, signal integrity/bus testing, and overall hardware maintenance across our high-performance compute platforms.

Requirements

• Must be a US Citizen (due to compliance and program security mandates).
• Proven hands-on experience bringing up and debugging high-density multicore Intel Xeon (or modern x86) enterprise compute boards.
• Practical experience working directly with AMI BIOS, including early execution phases (PEI/DXE), UEFI setup, and debugging hardware-to-firmware handoffs.
• Thorough understanding of x86 hardware startup sequences, power sequencing, low-level bus topologies (PCIe, UPI/QPI, I2C/SMBus, LPC/eSPI), and DDR memory training.
• Demonstrated ability to isolate hardware defects, perform board modification/rework, and apply lab instruments (scopes, logic analyzers, bus sniffers) to resolve hardware bugs.
• Ability to write low-level scripts or functional test applications in C, Python, or assembly to validate hardware subsystems and interface components.
• Self-directed, highly motivated engineering professional who thrives in a fast-moving, small-team environment under minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing high-reliability, ruggedized, or defense-grade hardware systems.
• Background working with Baseboard Management Controllers (BMCs) and IPMI interfaces.
• Knowledge of thermal, power-delivery, and high-speed PCB design layout considerations for x86 processor architectures.

Responsibilities

• Lead the physical and functional bring-up of custom x86 boards featuring Intel Xeon processors, from first power-on through full operational stability.
• Configure, debug, and troubleshoot AMI BIOS during initial boot phases; isolate issues spanning hardware interfaces, memory initialization, PCIe training, and boot sequence execution.
• Leverage deep knowledge of modern x86 power-on sequences, reset logic, clock distribution, and memory controller behavior to identify and resolve complex system bring-up blocks.
• Work alongside software and embedded systems engineers to define, create, and execute custom test programs to stress board peripherals, validate interfaces, and ensure hardware aligns with end-application requirements.
• Use lab tools (logic analyzers, high-speed oscilloscopes, JTAG debuggers, in-circuit emulators) to conduct board-level rework, signal integrity checks, and root-cause failure analysis.
• Take full accountability for assigned bring-up tasks with light guidance, serving as a reliable technical point-of-contact within a close-knit engineering unit.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed