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Principal hardware engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Robert Saunders P.E.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical principal hardware engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for principal hardware engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.6% of principal hardware engineer resumes contained rf as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a principal hardware engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 principal hardware engineer skills for your resume and career

1. RF

Here's how principal hardware engineers use rf:

Introduced RF Systems Design Course to teach younger/less experienced engineers how to approach the design of DREX from a systems prospective.
Performed antenna evaluation and qualification by creating a complex algorithm that utilized data from the antennas' RF patterns.

2. Architecture

Here's how principal hardware engineers use architecture:

Led project from early architecture and design requirements through all stages resulting in successful release to General Availability.
Proposed and implemented overall system switch fabric architecture.

3. C++

C++ is a general-purpose programming language that is used to create high-performing applications. It was invented as an extension to the C language. C++ lets the programmer have a high level of domination over memory and system resources. C++ is an object-oriented language that helps you implement real-time issues based on different data functions

Here's how principal hardware engineers use c++:

Developed, initiated and supported test methodologies in C++ codes for SPARC processors and Memory BufferASICs.
Developed SW in C++ to facilitate set-up, running, and capturing of waveform data.

4. FPGA

Here's how principal hardware engineers use fpga:

Leveraged experience with SoC/ASIC physical design to optimize operating frequency of projects utilizing XilinxUltrascale FPGA parts.
Developed/designed/supported FPGA Lattice technology for several DAE platforms.

5. GPS

GPS stands from Global Positioning System. It is a navigation system comprising of satellites that helps in determining the location, velocity, and synchronize time data for different modes of travel like air, sea, or land.

Here's how principal hardware engineers use gps:

Performed mixed signal circuit design for GPS receivers and relate avionics.
Performed environmental compliance testing for GPS sensors.

6. Design Reviews

A dеѕіgn review іѕ a mіlеѕtоnе wіthіn a рrоduсt dеvеlорmеnt рrосеѕѕ іn whісh a design іѕ evaluated bаѕеd on іtѕ rеԛuіrеmеntѕ. Thе рurроѕе of dеѕіgn rеvіеwѕ іѕ tо examine thе overall design or a ѕресіfіс аѕресt оf a dеѕіgn аt еасh ѕtаgе of the development оf a nеw оr еxіѕtіng рrоduсt.

Here's how principal hardware engineers use design reviews:

Collaborated in design reviews on the Customer Evaluation boards used both internally and externally.
Served as SME and leader for technical design reviews for Patriot Missile and Ground systems and Space Fence receiver.

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7. PCB

The PCB (Printed Circuit Board) refers to the hardware part housing all of the device's electrical connections.

Here's how principal hardware engineers use pcb:

Assumed responsibility for completion of a DS3 (45 Mb/s) Physical Layer (PHY) PCB design.
Accelerated PCB design process and evaluation by providing SI team with Perl scripts for quick Allegro data parsing.

8. DSP

Digital signal processing, DSP, is the use of digital processing to perform a variety of signal processing operations, primarily audio signals. It is about developing algorithms that can improve a signal in a certain way or extract useful information. It is mainly found in audio signals, voice processing, RADAR, seismology, audio, SONAR, voice recognition, and some financial signals.

Here's how principal hardware engineers use dsp:

Worked with software developers to bring up the DSP emulator and debug code.
Designed and developed a DSP subsystem based on TI TCI64xx DSP family.

9. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how principal hardware engineers use windows:

Performed verification testing of hardware platforms utilizing Linux and Windows Operating Systems.
Developed tools in Microsoft C (DOS and Windows), Assembly Language, and DOS Batch Files.

10. Linux

Linux is a Unix-like operating system. Just like Windows, Mac OS, and IOS, Linux is an operating system used by millions across the globe. Android itself is powered by the Linux operating system. Linux manages all the hardware resources that are associated with your computer. The software is famous because of the protection it grants from viruses, malware, and crashes. The Linux operating system is entirely free and is an open-source software meaning it can be altered by those equipped with the knowledge to code.

Here's how principal hardware engineers use linux:

Collaborated with software platform group to develop Linux kernel and operating system for Centera product.
Performed analysis of Centera system performance through network traffic analysis and Linux oprofile.

11. Verification Testing

Here's how principal hardware engineers use verification testing:

Conducted design verification testing to demonstrate Air Cooled and Conduction Cooled boards complying with PDD requirements.
Performed design verification testing of the [ ] based controller.

12. Hardware Development

Here's how principal hardware engineers use hardware development:

Designed a test board used for software and hardware development of USB and video controller IP.
Set up PC Design Tools for new Hardware Development Team.

13. CAD

Here's how principal hardware engineers use cad:

Introduced the concept of high-speed constraint driven routing to the CAD department for increased throughput.
Developed engineering CAD standards and design tools, engineering data management systems.

14. Ethernet

Ethernet refers to a system that connects a series of computers in a local area network (LAN). This is often done through ethernet cables, which plug into a router or other port in the modem in addition to the computer port. As ethernet connects only a local network, there are more protocols regarding how information is transmitted.

Here's how principal hardware engineers use ethernet:

Design consisted of PCI-based 10/100 Ethernet controllers, AAL5 SAR, and Motorola PowerPC-based MPC8240 processor.
Implemented a 100BaseT fiber optics Ethernet interface board for ARINC 664 and Ethernet frame capture.

15. HW

Here's how principal hardware engineers use hw:

Executed HW engineering support and testing required for mainframe data library product development in support of v1.0 and v2.0 product releases.
Provided schedule for HW development major tasks.

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What skills help Principal Hardware Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What principal hardware engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Robert Saunders P.E.

Assistant Department Head, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Project management and/or leadership training, either at the university they graduated from, or a good online source. Either or both of these would demonstrate the proactive attitude of the student. And get involved in something; community service groups, design a project, anything that shows you are pushing forward professionally and personally, not just sitting at home.

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List of principal hardware engineer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a principal hardware engineer resume and required skills for a principal hardware engineer to have include:

RF
Architecture
C++
FPGA
GPS
Design Reviews
PCB
DSP
Windows
Linux
Verification Testing
Hardware Development
CAD
Ethernet
HW
Signal Integrity

System Design
VHDL
Embedded Systems
SOC
ASIC
Board Layout
Verilog
Design Verification
Xilinx
EMC
CPU
EMI
Test Procedures
DVT
RTL
I/O

Debugging
SPI
SAS
Component Selection
USB
Mentor Graphics
I2C
PCI
Lead Design
Microcontrollers
AC
DDR
UART
DAC
Altera
Power Management

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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