Hardware Engineering Manager

3dB Labs is seeking an experienced and technically grounded Hardware Engineering Manager to lead a multidisciplinary team of Electrical, Mechanical, and Systems Engineers. In this role, you will drive the design, development, and delivery of cutting‑edge hardware systems from concept through fielded deployment. You will partner closely with Systems Engineers, Software Engineering, and Program Management to define and execute hardware development roadmaps across a portfolio of complex, mission‑critical programs.

Our environment is fast‑paced and mission‑driven, requiring a leader who can balance deep technical engagement with effective team management. Our products are deployed globally and must meet the highest standards of performance, reliability, and operational relevance.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of Electrical, Mechanical, and Systems Engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Own hardware development outcomes across the full lifecycle — from requirements and design through integration, verification, and transition to production.
• Drive best practices in hardware design, documentation, testing, and configuration management.
• Support and lead formal program milestones including System Requirements Reviews (SRR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), and Test Readiness Reviews (TRR).
• Coordinate cross‑discipline technical efforts, ensuring that electrical, mechanical, and RF subsystems are designed to meet system‑level requirements and interface compatibly with one another.
• Enable team execution by removing blockers, improving development processes, and supporting resource and capacity planning.
• Represent hardware engineering in cross‑functional discussions with software, systems, and program leadership.
• Mentor engineers at all levels and actively support career development and technical growth across the team.
• Support proposal efforts with hardware design inputs, estimates, and technical assessments.

Core Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of professional hardware engineering experience with at least 2 years in a team lead or management role.
• Experience developing and maintaining hardware documentation including schematics, BOMs, ICDs, and design description documents.
• Familiarity with government‑format deliverable documentation (CDRLs, SOWs, etc.).
• Strong communication skills with the ability to articulate technical trade‑offs to both engineers and program stakeholders.
• Active TS/SCI clearance preferred; minimum Secret required.

Leadership & Experience

• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary hardware engineering teams in a defense, government, or adjacent fast‑paced environment.
• Strong background as an individual contributor in one or more hardware disciplines:
  • Electrical and/or RF hardware design
  • Mechanical design and packaging for fielded systems
  • RF systems design, simulation, and integration
• Demonstrated ability to balance technical depth with people leadership and delivery ownership.
• Experience managing hardware development programs through formal government milestone reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.).

Technical Expertise (Preferred)

• RF system design and signal chain analysis, including link budgets, component selection, and RF front‑end hardware.
• Analog and digital circuit design, PCB development, and hardware bring‑up.
• Mechanical design for ruggedized or field‑deployed systems, including thermal management and packaging.
• Hardware/software integration and familiarity with software‑defined radio (SDR) platforms.
• Familiarity with MIL‑Standards and industry standards relevant to quality, EMC, and environmental requirements (e.g. IPC‑610, ISO‑9001, MIL‑STD‑461, MIL‑STD‑810).

Benefits

• 100% coverage of employee and dependent medical, vision, and dental
• Coverage of co‑pays and deductibles
• 401k with profit sharing of up to 25% of salary
• Flexible hours
• Bank of holiday and PTO hours

US citizenship and ability to be cleared is required. Travel up to 25%.

3dB Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

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