Sustaining Hardware Engineer

Location: Colchester – Primarily Office/Lab Based (Occasional Hybrid Working)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Sustaining Hardware Engineer to join a growing technology organisation developing and manufacturing high-performance embedded computing solutions for the defence, aerospace, telecommunications, and other high-reliability industries.

The company has been delivering high-end computer systems and associated hardware for over four decades and continues to experience strong year-on-year growth. With continued investment in new product development, existing product lifecycles, and engineering facilities, the business is expanding its Sustaining Engineering team.

This is a technically varied role focused on maintaining, improving, and extending the lifecycle of complex electronic products already in production. The successful candidate will work across high-speed digital electronics, microprocessors, complex PCBs, memory, Ethernet, and computer architectures, supporting component obsolescence, customer-specific modifications, troubleshooting, and design verification.

This role would suit a technically strong hardware or electronics engineer with experience in high-speed digital circuit design who enjoys solving complex technical problems and working across multiple areas of electronic engineering. Defence experience is beneficial but not essential, with candidates from sectors such as medical, automotive, and other high-reliability electronics environments also considered.

Main Responsibilities of the Sustaining Hardware Engineer (Colchester)

• Support and maintain existing high-end computer systems and associated electronic hardware
• Manage component obsolescence and identify suitable replacement or equivalent components
• Develop re-spins and modifications to legacy products to extend their operational lifecycle
• Investigate and resolve faults and technical issues within existing hardware designs
• Carry out small-scale hardware and schematic modifications to existing products
• Support customer-specific product modifications and customisation requirements
• Identify technical requirements and ensure appropriate analysis and development activities are completed
• Work closely with the CAD team on PCB layout and verify completed designs
• Conduct schematic and PCB design reviews
• Perform design verification and testing following hardware modifications
• Use laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, analysers, and thermal chambers
• Support products through testing and verification to ensure reliability and performance
• Report technical issues, development activity, and project progress
• Prepare and submit technical work for review as part of obsolescence management activities
• Work collaboratively with design engineering, technical support, and other internal teams
• Provide technical input and feedback to improve engineering processes and methodologies