Principal Hardware Test Engineer

ImagineX is a tech company that deploys AI-assisted teams to build and secure mission-critical enterprise solutions with our clients – spanning software, data, and AI. Structured like a software company, not a traditional consultancy, we blend deep technical expertise with authentic values, achieving world-class satisfaction (NPS 91). Our dedicated teams specialize in software, data, and AI across the U.S. and LATAM, bridging the gap between boutique agility and enterprise scale.

We are seeking a Principal Hardware Test Engineer to bring true engineering rigor to a hardware ecosystem that directly impacts product performance and customer experience. This role is ideal for someone with an electrical engineering or embedded systems background who can diagnose hardware failures, evaluate device options, and guide the organization in asking the right technical questions. You will be the hands-on expert ensuring that Android-based devices, peripherals, cases, hubs, and payment hardware operate reliably in real-world conditions.

This is not a procurement or rollout role — it is a deep technical, testing, validation, and problem‑solving position.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate, test, and validate Android-based tablets, payment pucks, cases, hubs, and peripherals to ensure hardware reliability and compatibility with our software.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot hardware issues including over-voltage failures, charging problems, water ingress, WiFi performance issues, and peripheral connectivity problems.
• Develop and execute structured test plans for hardware components, accessories, and environmental conditions.
• Identify root causes of hardware failures and recommend corrective actions, design improvements, or alternative hardware options.
• Build a systematic approach for hardware evaluation, including test matrices, acceptance criteria, and repeatable validation processes.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Infrastructure teams to ensure hardware decisions align with product requirements and field realities.
• Assess and compare multiple hardware options (tablets, cases, hubs, peripherals) and provide data-driven recommendations.
• Create documentation, runbooks, and evaluation frameworks to scale hardware testing and reduce reliance on external vendors.
• Support field teams by analyzing real-world failure data and replicating issues in controlled environments.
• Serve as the internal subject-matter expert for hardware reliability, electrical behavior, and device-level performance.

Required Skills & Experience

• Background in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems, or similar.
• 10+ years of experience testing, validating, or troubleshooting hardware devices.
• Strong understanding of power systems, voltage behavior, charging circuits, and electrical failure modes.
• Experience diagnosing connectivity issues (WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, serial, etc.).
• Ability to design and execute structured hardware test plans.
• Comfort working with Android-based devices and their hardware interfaces.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a bias toward hands-on investigation.
• Ability to translate ambiguous hardware symptoms into clear engineering actions.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Experience with payment hardware, POS devices, or ruggedized tablets.
• Familiarity with environmental testing (temperature, humidity, water resistance, drop testing).
• Experience with hardware certification, compliance, or reliability engineering frameworks.
• Exposure to embedded firmware, device drivers, or Android hardware abstraction layers.
• Experience working with vendors or OEMs to resolve hardware defects.

Who Thrives Here

• Engineers who love getting hands-on with devices and uncovering root causes.
• Problem-solvers who can bring clarity to ambiguous hardware failures.
• People who can bridge the gap between software teams and hardware realities.
• Builders who want to create a repeatable, scalable hardware evaluation function from the ground up.