Embedded Hardware Design: Architecture to Bring-Up
System architecture, component selection, schematics, power and board bring-up
Embedded hardware design is the work of defining what goes on a product's circuit boards and why: system architecture, component selection, schematics and power design, then bringing the first boards up. Electuni leads this work for product teams with an IPC CID+ certified engineer. PCB layout-only projects are handled by our PCB division.
Design → Prototype → Production · PCB layout only? Our PCB division handles it at circuit-board-design.com.
Key Facts: Hardware Design
- Scope
- Architecture to Bring-Up
- Schematics
- Altium Designer
- Platforms
- ESP32, STM32, nRF
- Design Review
- DFM/DFT Checks
- Layout
- Via Our PCB Division
- Lead Engineer
- IPC CID+ Certified
What You Get
- System architecture and block diagram
- Component selection with the reasoning behind key parts
- Altium Designer schematics
- Bill of materials (BOM)
- DFM/DFT design review before release
- Board bring-up support with the firmware team
- Documentation package for handoff to fabrication, assembly and test
How We Approach Hardware Design
Hardware design starts with the system: what the product has to measure, control, communicate and survive, and which parts can do that within your power, size and cost limits. Architecture, component selection and risk assessment come before any schematic is drawn.
Schematics are drawn in Altium Designer and reviewed for DFM and DFT before release, so the first boards can be built and tested without avoidable respins. When the board layout is a large, separate job, it is carried out by our PCB division at circuit-board-design.com under the same lead engineer.
Because the same team also writes the firmware, board bring-up is planned from the start: test points, programming and debug access, and the order in which power rails, clocks and peripherals are checked on the first boards.
How an Electuni Engagement Works
Step 1
Discovery
Requirements analysis and feasibility study.
Step 2
Architecture
System design, component selection, and risk assessment.
Step 3
Design
Schematic, layout, firmware, and mechanical CAD.
Step 4
Review
DFM/DFT checks and design review with stakeholders.
Step 5
Prototype
Board fabrication, assembly, and firmware bring-up.
Step 6
Handoff
Production files, BOM, and full documentation package.
Tools & Technologies
- Altium Designer
- Schematic Capture
- Component Selection
- DFM Check
- 3D Viewer
Hardware Design FAQ
What does embedded hardware design include?
It covers system architecture, component selection, schematic design, power design and design review, followed by bring-up of the first boards. The output is a schematic, a bill of materials and the documentation needed for layout, fabrication and assembly. Firmware, enclosure and cloud work can be added so one team owns the whole product.
Do you also do PCB layout?
Yes. PCB layout is carried out by Electuni's PCB division at circuit-board-design.com, led by the same IPC CID+ certified engineer. If you only need layout from an existing schematic, go to the PCB division directly. If you need the product designed end to end, this service includes the layout handoff.
What is IPC CID+ and does it apply to the company or the designer?
IPC CID and CID+ are PCB designer certifications from IPC, the electronics industry association. CID+ is the advanced level of the Certified Interconnect Designer program. IPC certifies individuals, not companies. Niloy Mondal, the founder of Electuni LLC, holds both CID and CID+ and leads the hardware design work.
What is board bring-up?
Bring-up is the first power-on and test of a newly built board. Engineers check power rails, clocks and programming access, then each peripheral, usually with simple test firmware before the product firmware runs. Planning test points and debug access during schematic design makes bring-up faster and fault-finding easier.
How do you choose components for a new product?
Components are chosen against the product's functional, power, size and cost requirements, then checked for availability, lifecycle status and second sources. Microcontroller choice also depends on the firmware plan, for example ESP32 for built-in Wi-Fi and BLE or STM32 for motor control and low-power designs.
Can you take over or fix a hardware design that is already in progress?
Yes. Send the existing schematic, layout and the problem you need solved. The review starts from those files, so the scope can be set against what already exists, whether that is a design review, a fix for a failed prototype, or preparing the design for production.