Senior High-Speed Digital Hardware Engineer

The posting, as Quest Defense Systems & Solutions, Inc. wrote it

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

[…]
ulture 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.

Full compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications

Pay Ranges
$120,000 — $145,000 USD

At Quest Defense Systems and Solutions , we don’t just build technology — we engineer the future. From next-generation aerospace solutions to cutting-edge defense systems, we tackle the toughest, mission-critical challenges that keep people safe and push the boundaries of innovation. This is where problem-solvers, innovators, and visionary thinkers come together to shape the future. With over 25 years of aerospace and defense engineering expertise, our commitment to delivering high-quality, transformative solutions sets us apart — not just as an industry leader, but as a driving force for impactful change. Together, we’re not just leading the industry — we’re revolutionizing it.

Quest Defense provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.