Embedded Hardware / Ethernet Switch Engineer

Colorado Springs, CO (100% On-Site, 5 days/week)

Contract

US Citizenship Required

@Orchard LLC has an immediate need to fulfill a long-term contract role as an Embedded Hardware Engineer with Ethernet Switch experience. The role is in support of a client that builds secure, resilient, micro-edge infrastructure designed to protect critical communications and data against modern threats. Our client combines advanced hardware, embedded systems, and software-defined networking to deliver high-performance technology for defense, critical infrastructure, and national security environments.

Role Overview

The Engineering team is seeking a hands-on Contract Engineer specializing in embedded board bring-up and Microsemi Ethernet switch architectures. In this role, you will diagnose, debug, and resolve hardware and configuration issues on Microsemi Ethernet switches deployed within embedded edge hardware systems.

You will work closely with hardware and software engineering teams on-site at our Colorado Springs facility, performing hardware fixes, configuring switch fabrics using vendor toolsets, and writing low-level C code to ensure robust communication across our hardware platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Board-Level Systems Bring-Up: Lead and execute low-level hardware bring-up and functional verification for embedded boards featuring Microsemi Ethernet switches.
• Microsemi Switch Debug & Configuration: Configure, test, and troubleshoot Microsemi Ethernet switch chips using specialized vendor software/GUI tools and register-level configuration.
• Hardware Troubleshooting & Remediation: Identify hardware-level defects, signal integrity or layout issues, and perform board modifications or hardware fixes on Ethernet switch silicon and supporting circuitry.
• Embedded C Development: Write, modify, and integrate firmware and driver code in C to interface with Ethernet switch registers, PHYs, and system controllers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner on-site with hardware design engineers and systems teams to trace packet routing issues, diagnose bus/interface bottlenecks, and validate system reliability.

Requirements & Qualifications

Mandatory Prerequisites

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen (due to compliance and defense program requirements).

• Microsemi Ethernet Switches: Proven experience configuring and debugging Microsemi (Microchip) Ethernet switch platforms (e.g., SparX, VSC series) in embedded implementations.
• Board Bring-Up: Demonstrated track record of bringing up complex, custom embedded hardware boards from first power-on to fully stable operation.
• Software/Firmware Capabilities: Hands-on experience developing low-level software/drivers in C for embedded environments.
• Hardware Debugging Tools: Hands-on experience with hardware lab equipment (logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, JTAG debuggers, packet sniffers) to isolate signal, timing, and protocol issues.
• Ethernet Protocols: Strong understanding of Layer 2/Layer 3 networking fundamentals, VLANs, QoS, MAC/PHY interfaces (SGMII, RGMII, QSGMII), and packet switching concepts.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Microsemi’s IStaax / MESA / MEBA software API frameworks.
• Background in high-reliability, ruggedized, or defense electronics.
• Familiarity with hardware design principles (schematic review, layout considerations for high-speed signals).

Established in 2010, @Orchard LLC has an exceptional reputation, providing staffing solutions to time-sensitive talent scarcity issues to deliver better talent management ROI.  Our specialty lies in the critical area of program talent acquisition and resource management, not in one narrow skill set, but across many areas of technical and functional delivery. To learn more about our other exciting opportunities, visit our Jobs Page at www.atOrchard.com.