Director of Hardware Engineering, PQShield
+ Share option scheme
Quantum-resistant cryptography
Open for applications
Quantum-resistant cryptography
21-100 employees
Open for applications
+ Share option scheme
21-100 employees
Company mission
To create the global standards and core technologies that power the security layer for 500 of the world's leading organisations.
Role
Who you are
- The ideal candidate will have a strong background in hardware design, cryptography, and semiconductor development, with a focus on delivering secure, high-performance, and power-efficient products
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronic/Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field with a focus on cryptography or cybersecurity
- 10+ years of hardware design experience, with 5+ years in a leadership role
- Strong experience in hardware security, cryptographic hardware implementations (e.g., RSA, ECC, AES), and knowledge of post-quantum cryptography
- Experience in ASIC/FPGA design and validation, including knowledge of SystemVerilog, Verilog or VHDL
- Proven experience in bringing secure hardware products from concept to production
- Hardware Design : Hands-on experience with hardware development tools and EDA software (e.g., Cadence, Synopsys, Mentor Graphics)
- Advanced Cryptography: Understanding of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and key management systems. Familiarity with PQC standards and protocols (e.g., NIST PQC)
- Security Architecture: Expertise in designing and implementing secure architectures for hardware, software, and cloud environments
- Embedded Systems: Knowledge of secure embedded systems and IoT security
- Hardware Security: Experience with hardware-based security solutions such as HSMs, TPMs, and secure enclaves
- Understanding of hardware security features such as secure boot, trusted execution environments (TEEs), and hardware-based key management
- Secure Implementation: Understanding of the secure implementation of cryptography and systems which use cryptography
- Knowledge of Implementation attacks such as Side Channel and Fault injection and implementation countermeasures
What the job involves
- Reports to: VP of Engineering
- PQShield is looking for a Director of Hardware Engineering to lead the development of next-generation hardware products and architectures tailored for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)
- In this leadership role, you will oversee the design, development, and optimisation of hardware solutions that secure and accelerate PQC algorithms, providing scalable and efficient cryptographic IP for semiconductor companies and secure communications
- As part of the Engineering leadership team, you will work closely with cross-functional groups, including cryptographers, software engineers, product managers, and external partners, to bring innovative PQC hardware solutions to market
- Define and execute the hardware engineering strategy, aligning with the company’s overall PQC product roadmap
- Lead and mentor a team of hardware engineers, ASIC/FPGA designers, and hardware security experts, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence
- Stay informed about trends in post-quantum cryptography and its hardware implementations to ensure competitive positioning and forward-thinking solutions
- Oversee the design and implementation of cryptographic hardware accelerators, processors, and secure IP blocks optimised for PQC algorithms
- Drive the design and integration of hardware for use cases such as Root of Trust, secure boot, secure key management, and remote attestation
- Ensure the hardware architecture supports scalable and energy-efficient designs suitable for IoT, automotive, and data centre applications
- Support Project Managers during hardware development projects, ensuring timelines, budget, and quality are met
- Coordinate cross-functional teams, including cryptographers, software engineers, and external vendors to ensure seamless integration of hardware and cryptography solutions
- Implement rigorous testing and verification methodologies, including simulations and emulated real-world use case testing of hardware designs
- Work closely with the software and cryptography teams to ensure hardware-software co-design, ensuring that hardware products fully support the latest PQC algorithms
- Engage with external stakeholders, including semiconductor foundries, to manage the design and production of PQC hardware IP
- Communicate technical concepts and development progress to executives, product management, and customers in a clear and actionable way
- Ensure all hardware products meet the latest security standards and regulations for post-quantum cryptography
- Maintain and enforce robust secure hardware design principles, including side-channel attack resistance, secure key storage, and cryptographic algorithm agility
Our take
Demand for quantum-ready solutions has been on the rise as companies seek to defend against the quantum security threat. PQShield is the only algorithm-agnostic cybersecurity company that demonstrates and delivers quantum-safe cryptography on chips, in applications, and in the cloud.
Setting the global standards for post-quantum cryptography, the company’s researchers, and advisory board co-designed and led the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s six-year post-quantum standardisation project. Alongside a series of deals the company has made, including a licensing deal with Microchip Technology and a collaboration with Collins Aerospace to introduce its quantum-ready solutions to organisations across all sectors.
Previous funding has allowed PQShield to focus on continued R&D, furthering partnerships, widening its customer base, and recruiting new talent across the UK, the US, France, and the Netherlands. PQShield’s best-in-class solution has enormous market potential and has it set to remain a leader in post-quantum cryptography.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Funding (last 2 of 5 rounds)
Jun 2024
$37m
SERIES B
Jan 2023
$0.5m
GRANT
Total funding: $64.9m
Company benefits
- Remote First – Work Wherever is Best
- Private Health Cover for You and Your Immediate Family
- Pension Contribution
- 50% Reimbursed from your Gym Membership
- WFH Allowance for our Remote Working Colleagues
- High-End IT Equipment (multiple platforms)
- And More (Depending on where you're based)
Company HQ
Summertown, Oxford, UK
Articles
Leadership
Dr. Ali El Kaafarani
(CEO)Former Postdoctoral Researcher and current Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. Former Research engineer at HP. Received their Ph.D in Cryptography from the University of Bath.
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