Principal Systems Architect, Communications Hardware (Remote Eligible | Relocation Assistance Available)

Role overview

The Principal Systems Architect will lead system architecture for a new line of mission-critical communications hardware used in emergency response settings. This founding-level role spans electrical, RF, mechanical, thermal, and power domains, and is responsible for defining the technical standards, integration strategy, and engineering processes that take a compact, connected device from concept through mass production. The position partners closely with cross-functional engineering leads and external manufacturing partners to deliver production-ready hardware.

Responsibilities

- Define end-to-end system architecture, block diagrams, and integration plans spanning electrical, RF, mechanical, software, and industrial design. - Translate product requirements into clear, testable system requirements with full traceability through verification and validation. - Analyze and balance power, thermal, and computational budgets against size, performance, and cost targets. - Lead cross-disciplinary design reviews, resolve competing engineering constraints, and direct EE, RF, and ME leads on technical decisions. - Own system-level verification, validation, risk analysis, and mitigation across the product lifecycle. - Drive certification strategy across U.S. and international regulatory standards and partner with ODM/JDM and manufacturing teams on DFM/DFA and production readiness.

Requirements

- 10+ years of hardware engineering experience with deep expertise in at least two of electrical, RF, or mechanical engineering, plus working knowledge of the third. - Proven ownership of system architecture and cross-disciplinary technical decisions for complex, integrated hardware products. - Track record of shipping compact, connected, battery-powered hardware from concept through EVT/DVT/PVT, certification, and mass production. - Deep experience with RF and antenna integration, power architecture, thermal management, EMI/EMC, shielding, enclosure design, and mechanical tolerances. - Hands-on experience developing system requirements, validation plans, and working with U.S. and international hardware certification standards. - Experience collaborating with ODM/JDM or contract manufacturing partners and familiarity with tools such as Altium or Cadence, SolidWorks, Creo, or NX, RF and electrical test equipment, thermal characterization tools, and PLM/BOM or requirements-management systems.

Nice to have

- Strong communication skills for translating complex engineering tradeoffs and technical risk into clear decisions for program and executive leadership.

Benefits and work setup

- Remote-eligible position with relocation assistance available.