Hardware Development Engineer

Location: Denton

Location:

Hertfordshire On-site 45 days per week Salary: £50,000 £ 60,000 per annum (depending on experience) Full-time, Permanent About the Opportunity We are recruiting on behalf of a fast-growing UK-based consumer technology business developing battery-powered products for international retail and e-commerce markets. The company designs and launches innovative electrical consumer devices, working with established manufacturing partners in Asia for detailed PCB design and tooling.

The UK team focuses on concept creation, performance leadership, technical validation and product improvement. This hire is part of a planned strengthening of in-house hardware capability.

Role Overview This is a practical, hands-on Hardware Development Engineer position focused on consumer electronics and battery-powered devices. The role centres on reviewing and validating supplier hardware designs, benchmarking competitor products and ensuring robust electrical performance. It is not a robotics or PLC position. You will act as the technical bridge between concept and production.

Key Responsibilities Supplier Hardware Review Review supplier schematics and PCB layouts for battery-powered products. Evaluate LED driver topology and current regulation approaches. Assess Li-ion charging circuits and protection implementation. Identify potential risks such as under-specification, thermal margin issues or poor layout practices. Provide structured feedback and improvement recommendations. Testing and Validation Develop structured electrical test plans. Use bench equipment including oscilloscopes, programmable power supplies, multimeters and thermal tools.

Measure current draw, voltage behaviour and thermal performance. Validate design robustness across battery discharge conditions. Support external compliance and safety testing processes. Competitive Benchmarking Disassemble competitor products and analyse electrical architecture. Measure real-world performance versus claimed specifications. Identify opportunities for performance improvement or cost optimisation. Product Development & CAD Support Create functional 3D CAD models for concept development, internal layout and 3D printed prototyping.

Model silicone housings and internal integration concepts to communicate clearly with overseas suppliers. Produce space-claim models and integration assemblies around PCBs and internal components. Export clean STEP/STL files suitable for 3D printing and supplier refinement. Required Skills & Experience Degree in Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering or similar. 36 years experience in consumer electronics or battery-powered product development. Strong understanding of low-voltage power electronics.

Experience working with Li-ion battery systems and charging circuits. Ability to read and interpret schematics confidently. Comfortable using oscilloscopes and bench test equipment. Comfortable using 3D CAD (e.g. Solid Works, Fusion or similar) for concept modelling and internal integration. Practical, structured approach to problem solving. Strong communication skills when working with overseas suppliers.

Desirable Experience

Experience with LED driver circuits. Experience reviewing or improving supplier hardware designs. Understanding of CE / EMC fundamentals. Experience in small consumer appliances or similar consumer products. Additional Information This is an on-site role based in Hertfordshire. The position offers significant ownership and exposure within a fast-moving product development environment.