Hardware Security Architect

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Hardware Security Architect – Cryptographic Keys. Location: Santa Clara, California, USA

This role focuses on enhancing security throughout the hardware lifecycle by setting best practices and working across teams to ensure scalable, secure key and certificate management.

Responsibilities:

• Work with multiple business units to enable secure key and certificate provisioning across products.
• Design and enhance secure manufacturing flows for key and certificate provisioning;
• Review security aspects of firmware, hardware, and protocols using cryptographic components.
• Recommend secure development practices and help teams apply them in production;
• Mentor teams, create training materials, and build frameworks for secure implementations.
• Define micro-architectural features that boost both security and manufacturability.
• Drive implementation and testing of hardware security features.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Electrical Engineering.
• At least 5 years of software or hardware development experience, with a focus on security or cryptography.
• Strong knowledge of cryptographic principles and digital certificates.
• Proficiency in programming/scripting: Python, C, Perl, Rust, and Make.
• Familiarity with Linux/Terminal environments;
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Understanding of manufacturing security in global semiconductor environments.

Preferred:

• Hardware-level cryptographic applications: secure boot, key management, device identity.
• Working with HSMs, certificate issuance (X.509), and chip ATE test systems.
• Familiarity with post-quantum cryptographic algorithms and standards;
• Experience with threat modeling for dynamic manufacturing setups.

Bonus Skills:

• Experience in security testing (fuzzing, negative testing), test planning, and system-level testing.
• Hands-on experience with hardware architecture, microarchitecture, Verilog RTL design, and verification in a security context.

Benefits:

• Base salary range: $148,000 – $287,500 (based on experience and location)
• Eligibility for equity and full benefits package;
• Work in a highly creative and innovative environment
• Equal opportunity employer that values diversity