Senior Compute HW Engineer

Illumina•San Diego, CA

23h•$129,400 - $194,000•Onsite

About The Position

We're seeking a Senior Compute Hardware Engineer to help design next-generation DNA sequencers. You'll own subsystem-level hardware design across compute, memory, I/O, and networking for edge-deployed systems with real-world power, thermal, size, and connectivity constraints. Working with senior engineers and partnering closely with firmware and Software teams, you'll drive subsystem ownership and contribute to platform-level decisions through hands-on technical work.

Requirements

Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 3 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent work experience.
Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science highly preferred
5+ years designing embedded/edge compute platforms, including x86 CPUs, DDR/LPDDR memory, and PCIe
Experience with edge networking hardware (Ethernet PHYs/switches, 10GbE) and networking/routing fundamentals
Strong Linux skills: device drivers, device tree, networking stack, and debug tools (perf, ftrace, ethtool, tcpdump, dmesg, sysfs/procfs)
Familiarity with bootloaders and firmware (BIOS, U-Boot, UEFI, secure boot, TPM/TEE)
Solid grounding in PCB/PCA design, high-speed signal integrity, power delivery, and thermal design
Proven contributions to board bring-up, DVT, and V&V documentation
Strong root cause analysis across hardware, firmware, and Linux stacks
Strong communication skills and a collaborative, ownership-driven mindset

Responsibilities

Define hardware requirements and specifications for assigned subsystems based on workload, power, and environmental constraints
Evaluate and validate compute technologies, components (CPUs, SoMs, memory, PHYs, switches, storage), and vendor solutions
Implement networking subsystems for edge use cases, including wired Ethernet (1/2.5/10G)
Debug hardware and hardware/software issues across the Linux kernel, drivers, device tree, firmware, and bootloaders (U-Boot, UEFI); perform root cause analysis
Lead board bring-up and contribute to DVT plans covering signal integrity, thermal, power, EMI/EMC, and environmental testing
Design for remote deployment: secure boot, OTA updates, remote diagnostics, and long product lifecycles
Collaborate with electrical, firmware, and Linux systems teams; maintain design documentation and participate in design reviews