Senior High-Speed Digital Hardware Engineer

Unlock the power of Safety and Mission Critical Engineering with QDSS. We are seeking exceptional individuals to join our elite team- where your expertise will make an impact that matters. Elevate your career in a company dedicated to excellence and the pursuit of safety and mission success. 

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions is seeking a Senior High-Speed Digital Hardware Engineer to design complex circuit cards for advanced aerospace and defense systems. You’ll work with high-speed serial interfaces, multi-lane architectures, Ethernet, fiber and copper interfaces, multiple FPGAs and SoCs, and advanced DDR5/DDR6 memory.

As an early senior member of the team, you’ll help establish the technical direction and drive designs from architecture and schematic capture through PCB layout, integration, and first-pass hardware success. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on engineer who enjoys solving challenging signal-integrity problems and taking meaningful ownership of critical hardware designs.

This position is based in Cedar Rapids, IA. Relocation assistance is available.

U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Secret clearance are required. Active Secret clearance is preferred.

What You’ll Do

• Architect and design complex high-speed digital circuit cards for aerospace and defense applications.
• Develop schematics, select components, and define board-level interfaces and design requirements.
• Design high-speed serial interfaces with multiple data lanes, including Ethernet, fiber, and copper connectivity.
• Integrate multiple FPGAs, complex SoCs, and DDR5/DDR6 or comparable high-performance memory.
• Analyze and resolve signal-integrity, timing, crosstalk, and electrical-interference challenges.
• Partner closely with ECAD and PCB layout engineers to define stackups, routing constraints, placement, and layout requirements.
• Lead technical reviews, design trade studies, risk assessments, and hardware troubleshooting activities.
• Support board bring-up, integration, testing, debugging, and validation in the lab.
• Collaborate with FPGA, software, systems, mechanical, and test engineers to deliver cohesive system solutions.
• Create and maintain schematics, design documentation, bills of materials, analysis results, and test procedures.
• Drive first-pass hardware success while meeting demanding technical and program schedules.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience designing complex digital hardware or circuit-card assemblies.
• Hands-on experience with high-speed digital board design, from schematic capture through hardware bring-up and validation.
• Experience designing high-speed serial interfaces with multiple lanes per card.
• Experience integrating multiple FPGAs, complex SoCs, and high-performance memory such as DDR5 or DDR6.
• Strong understanding of signal integrity, timing, crosstalk, electrical interference, and board-level design constraints.
• Experience collaborating closely with ECAD and PCB layout engineers.
• Ability to lead technical decisions, resolve complex hardware issues, and deliver under demanding schedules.
• Ability to work onsite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Active Secret security clearance.
• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Previous experience developing hardware for aerospace or defense applications.
• Experience with schematic and PCB design tools such as Cadence, Mentor Graphics, or Altium.
• Experience with Ethernet and fiber and copper communication interfaces.
• Familiarity with signal- and power-integrity analysis tools and techniques.
• Hands-on experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other high-speed debugging equipment.
• Knowledge of DO-160, MIL-STD, EMI/EMC, or environmental qualification requirements.
• Experience serving as a technical lead for complex circuit-card development.
• Experience adopting and/or integrating emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI, automation platforms, digital assistants) into day-to-day operations for continuous improvement.

The QDSS Advantage:  

At QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You’ll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future. 

What You’ll Find Here 

• Work That Matters – Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact. 
• Growth That’s Supported – Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement. 
• A Culture That Works – A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued. 

Benefits Include 

• Competitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/life and disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace.