Platform Hardware Architect - Validation Board - Cambridge

Job Title: Platform Hardware Architect - Validation Board
Location: Cambridge, UK (Hybrid: 3 days onsite, 2 days remote)
Contract Type: 12-month contract, inside IR35

Role

We are seeking an experienced (>10 years) Hardware Platform Architect to support the development of high-performance platform boards. You will work with SoC teams, architects, and platform leads to define, influence, and align technical requirements for implementation. Your role will involve assessing design trade-offs and delivering the most optimal solutions for customers and development partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with technical leads, product managers, and SoC development teams to translate technical requirements into platform architecture specifications for embedded compute, AI, or server/infrastructure applications.
• Evaluate architecture proposals and features, coordinating across silicon architects, hardware, software, and platform teams to align all parties to a common vision.
• Work closely with board hardware designers to drive specifications into implementation, including schematic and PCB design, in alignment with Packaging, Signal Integrity (SI), and Power Integrity (PI) engineers.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly and credibly to a range of audiences, from individual engineers to architects and technology leads.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Extensive technical experience and solid understanding of SoC architectures, memory interfaces, and platform design in embedded compute or related fields.
• Proven experience with high-speed interface standards (e.g., PCIe Gen5/6, LPDDR5/6) and associated peripherals.
• Hands on experience with embedded system board design, including complex LSI devices such as FPGAs, embedded firmware, and power management ICs.
• Competence in using EDA tools for schematic entry and PCB layout (e.g., Cadence OrCAD CIS, Allegro PCB Suite).
• Strong knowledge of PCB stack up definition, controlled impedance routing, and complex topologies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to coordinate and influence across multiple teams and geographies.
• Ability to drive progress in an ambiguous, evolving environment.

Working Pattern

• Hybrid working: 3 days onsite in Cambridge, 2 days remote per week.
• Contract duration: 12 months.
• Inside IR35.