Principal Hardware Systems Engineer

Job details

Work model

Hybrid

Salary

$195K - $285K

Location

Santa Clara

Hiring context

How this role compares at d-Matrix

d-Matrix has 40 live roles in MeritLog’s catalog across 4 job families, and 23 of them are in engineering. 31 of those listings publish a pay range, a disclosure rate of 78%.

This role's posted range of $195K - $285K sits above 55% of the 29 other d-Matrix roles quoted over the same currency and period.

Counted across the job boards MeritLog tracks, at the time this page was served. Pay comparisons use only listings that publish a complete range in the same currency and period.

What the role asks for

Parsed by MeritLog from the employer’s own posting. The full description follows below.

Job description

At d-Matrix, we are focused on unleashing the potential of generative AI to power the transformation of technology. We are at the forefront of software and hardware innovation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Our culture is one of respect and collaboration. We value humility and believe in direct communication. Our team is inclusive, and our differing perspectives allow for better solutions. We are seeking individuals passionate about tackling challenges and are driven by execution.  Ready to come find your playground? Together, we can help shape the endless possibilities of AI.  Role Overview d-Matrix is looking for a Principal Systems Hardware Engineer to own system architecture end-to-end - from concept through specification, design review, and production deployment. In this role, you'll act as the technical anchor for hardware decisions across interconnect, board, chassis, and rack-scale design, writing the specifications that partners and internal teams build against. You'll work independently against your objectives - setting technical direction without needing explicit guidance - while partnering closely with cross-functional teams and software groups to align hardware decisions with performance and workload needs. You'll review partner and vendor designs against requirements, surface misalignment and schedule risk early, and drive trade-off analysis across adjacent domains like interconnect, power, thermal, and mechanical. You'll also help establish the spec standards, review practices, and AI-assisted workflows that shape how d-Matrix builds systems at scale. What You Will Do - Own system architecture end-to-end - from concept through specification, design review, and production deployment - as the technical lead across teams and partners - Author system, board, and rack specifications, and review partner designs against them - surfacing misalignment and schedule risk early - Set direction for interconnect architecture - scale-up and scale-out fabrics, NICs, switches, optics, and topology - partnering with domain specialists to execute - Set direction for board, chassis, and system architecture - component placement, PCB design, connectors, power, and thermal - at chassis, rack, and data-hall scale, partnering with domain specialists to execute - Evaluate competing design options through trade-off analysis and "what-if" scenario planning - Define validation, bring-up, and qualification strategy for new platforms - Partner with software teams to align hardware decisions with performance and workload needs, and help establish spec standards and review practices for the org What You Will Bring - 8+ years of experience in hardware systems architecture, including deep, hands-on expertise in one core domain (interconnect, power, or thermal) for large-scale compute or networking systems - Experience owning hardware system architecture at scale (machine, rack, row, or cluster) - from specification through bring-up and high-volume production deployment - Experience reviewing partner designs and holding vendors to specification - Ability to reason about trade-offs across adjacent domains (interconnect, power, thermal, mechanical) - Track record of technical leadership - owning directional decisions and driving alignment across teams and partners - Degree in EE, CE, ME, CS, or equivalent Preferred Qualifications - Experience in hardware systems architecture for hyperscale, HPC, AI/ML, or high-end networking platforms - Experience with AI accelerator systems and their scale-up/scale-out fabrics - Chip-package-system co-design experience - Expertise in one or more of: high-speed SerDes/PCIe/CXL/optics; BMC/firmware/secure boot; 48V/HVDC power delivery/liquid cooling; fleet-scale RAS; signal and power integrity - Experience establishing new engineering functions or practices Equal Opportunity Employment Policy d-Matrix is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and empowered to do their best work. We hire the best talent for our teams, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status. Our focus is on hiring teammates with humble expertise, kindness, dedication and a willingness to embrace challenges and learn together every day. d-Matrix does not accept resumes or candidate submissions from external agencies. We appreciate the interest and effort of recruitment firms, but we kindly request that individual interested in opportunities with d-Matrix apply directly through our official channels. This approach allows us to streamline our hiring processes and maintain a consistent and fair evaluation of al applicants. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.