Hardware Engineer

Job Summary

Role summary

Component Engineers (CEs) own the technical qualification and supply-risk management of electrical, electromechanical, and optoelectronic components across RL hardware products. The CE is the bridge between EE design, GSM/Strategic Sourcing, contract manufacturers, and component suppliers -- ensuring every part on the EE BOM is qualified, multi-sourced where possible, and free of supply, cost, or quality risk from NPI through sustaining.

Key responsibilities

Review, qualify, and approve electrical / electromechanical / optoelectronic components (resistors, capacitors, ICs, connectors, discretes, inductors, filters, timing devices, PCB/FPC, camera/optics/display/battery modules) for production use.

Execute second-sourcing and multi-sourcing activities (paper vs. build qualification) in alignment with sourcing strategy and guidance, to de-risk supply, mitigate EOL / allocation / lead-time / PCN-driven shortages, and reduce cost.

Determine component criticality (Class A/B/C) and define the qual path with EE reviewers; manage New Part Requests and feed qualified MPNs into the AVL, PLM (Teamcenter), and CBOM.

Execute ECNs and track PCNs across NPI and sustaining products; perform up-screening, derating, and component-level failure analysis.

Own advanced BOM risk reviews -- catching component issues upfront and maintaining EE BOM integrity across the portfolio.

Partner with GSM (commercial/allocation) and PCE (cost) as the technical counterpart on Category A/B parts; support CM component inquiries and shortage escalations.

Minimum qualifications

AI related experiences

BS in Electrical Engineering, Materials, or related field.

5+ years in component/hardware engineering, supplier quality, or supply-chain engineering.

Working knowledge of passive/active components, datasheets, and qualification/reliability methods (up-screening, derating, FA).

Experience with PLM (Agile/Teamcenter), AVL/BOM management, and ECN/PCN processes.

Preferred qualifications

Consumer electronics / high-volume hardware NPI experience.

Electrical Engineering experience

Track record introducing alternate sources at scale and driving cost savings.

Direct experience with contract manufacturers and component suppliers across regions.

Strong proficiency in leveraging AI tools and CE expertise to develop data-mining solutions and design guidelines that enable GSM and EE teams to make data-driven decisions.

Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants will be considered for assignment with arrest and conviction records. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, meet client expectations, standards, and accompanying requirements, and safeguard business operations and company reputation.