Hardware Development Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Role Overview  

Ensurge is seeking a Hardware Development Engineer to design and execute equipment upgrades and hardware improvements across our pilot manufacturing lines. Reporting to the Head of Equipment & Facilities Engineering, this individual contributor role works hand-in-hand with equipment engineering, maintenance, and manufacturing engineering to turn recurring tool problems and process needs into designed, built, and validated hardware solutions.
This role spans the full lifecycle of a hardware improvement — from identifying an opportunity or chronic issue, through concept and CAD design, fabrication or procurement, installation, and validation on the line. 

Key Responsibilities  

Equipment Upgrade Design & Execution  

• Design, build, and install upgrades to existing production and pilot equipment — from targeted fixes to full subsystem redesigns. 

• Translate chronic equipment issues, reliability data, and process requirements into concrete hardware design solutions, in partnership with Equipment Engineering. 

• Own upgrade projects end-to-end: concept, design, fabrication/procurement, installation, and validation. 

• Design and improve custom hardware, mechanisms, and fixtures to solve problems that off-the-shelf equipment doesn't address.

Hardware & Mechanical Design  

• Create detailed CAD models and drawings for fixtures, brackets, tooling, and custom equipment hardware. 

• Apply sound mechanical design and tolerancing practices for equipment operating in vacuum, cleanroom, or precision handling environments. 

• Specify components, materials, and vendors, and manage fabrication or outside machining through to delivery. 

• Build and test prototypes before committing designs to full installation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration  

• Work daily with Equipment Engineering and Maintenance to prioritize upgrades based on uptime, MTBF/MTTR, and safety impact. 

• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure hardware changes support process requirements, throughput, and repeatability. 

• Coordinate with Technology (R&D) on tool modifications needed to support new processes or process development. 

• Align with Quality and EHS on any hardware change that affects process control, traceability, or safety. 

Testing, Validation & Documentation  

• Validate new hardware and upgrades against defined acceptance criteria before handoff to production. 

• Document designs, drawings, change history, and installation/maintenance procedures so upgrades are sustainable and repeatable. 

• Support root cause analysis on equipment issues and translate findings into design changes, not just workarounds. 

• Feed lessons learned from each upgrade into equipment standards and future tool designs. 

What We're Looking For  

• 3–10+ years of experience in mechanical or hardware design engineering, ideally supporting manufacturing or process equipment (semiconductor, battery, thin-film, electronics, or similar). 

• Strong CAD proficiency (SolidWorks or equivalent) and solid fundamentals in mechanical design, tolerancing, and materials selection. 

• Hands-on experience designing, building, and installing fixtures, tooling, or equipment hardware — not just modeling on a screen. 

• Comfortable working directly on the equipment floor, troubleshooting alongside technicians and engineers. 

• Able to move a design from concept to installed hardware quickly, without sacrificing rigor. 

Preferred Qualifications  

• Experience with vacuum systems, deposition tools, roll-to-roll/web handling, or cleanroom equipment. 

• Exposure to controls, sensors, or basic automation (PLC, motion control) as part of hardware upgrades. 

• Experience supporting pilot lines or first-of-kind manufacturing equipment. 

• Background in laser processing, precision assembly, or material handling equipment. 

• BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

Personal Attributes  

• Hands-on and resourceful — comfortable designing a solution and then helping build and install it. 

• Synergized with the team — seeks input from equipment engineers, technicians, and process owners rather than designing in isolation. 

• Ownership mentality — sees an upgrade through from idea to validated, working hardware. 

• Disciplined problem solver — fixes root causes, documents thoroughly, and builds toward repeatable standards. 

• Low ego, collaborative, and comfortable in a fast-moving, scaling environment. 

Salary Range: $121,000-$150,000. The base salary range is specific to California. The salary of the final candidate selected for this role will be determined by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.