Senior Electrical Systems Engineer

Overview

Brief Summary:

Senior Electrical Systems Engineers work closely with optical, mechanical, software, and test engineers to develop, verify, and validate requirements for cutting-edge complex optical and electro-optical systems. In the early phases of a project or program, they work to understand the customer's needs, internal capabilities, and participate in technology readiness reviews to identify capability gaps and developmental risks. They specifically lead the analysis in relation to electrical and electronics subsystems including integration of analyses from other disciplines. Senior Electrical Systems Engineers are responsible for understanding all system interfaces and leading the development of rigorous electrical integration and test plans to ensure each system and subsystem requirement is appropriately addressed. Subsequently, they execute on those plans by utilizing their extensive hands-on assembly, integration, and testing (AI&T) skillsets for electrical components and overseeing other disciplines’ AI&T efforts.

A Senior Electrical Systems Engineer leads a wide variety of technical activities during the product realization process for systems involving a high level of complexity, with an emphasis on electro-optic assemblies. Additionally, a Senior Electrical Systems Engineer will be expected to design, build and test custom electronics for testing and/or manufacturing equipment. With an electro-optical systems focus, they are primarily tasked with hands-on integration and testing of electronic components, PCBs, and interconnects. They are charged with leading the planning and execution of activities for projects that may involve precision cleanroom assembly, specialized equipment/fixturing, and custom test bed development. They help in assessing existing Edmund Optics equipment and processes to ensure requirements for a variety of products can be effectively verified. Additionally, a Senior Electrical Systems Engineer plays an important role in training and mentoring more junior engineers.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities:

Electrical:

• Review customer provided and supplier provided electrical and electronic designs, schematics, PCB layouts, and support documentation for suitability against system requirements.
• Evaluate electrical and electronic designs for functionality, performance, reliability, manufacturability, and testability; identify risks and recommend improvements.
• Develop or oversee PCB layouts, fabrication, and assembly for custom electronic hardware.
• Design, build, and test custom electronics and interconnect subsystems and test software for development, integration, verification, and manufacturing equipment.
• Develop and modify basic microcontroller firmware, including Arduino-like applications, for sensor acquisition, device communication, and equipment control.
• Document and support electrical design review findings and coordinate resolution of technical issues with the responsible engineers.
• Develop training materials and procedures for the use and maintenance of custom electronics and test equipment.
• Improve electrical design review, requirements management, integration, and verification processes using lessons learned from project execution.

Systems:

• Translate customer needs and/or technical data package and intended operating conditions into measurable system and subsystem requirements.
• Lead cross-disciplinary development, allocation, and review of system requirements, with specific responsibility for electrical requirements.
• Reviewing, defining and documenting electrical interfaces and coordinating their compatibility with mechanical, optical, and software interfaces.
• Maintain traceability between customer needs, system requirements, subsystem requirements, and verification results.
• Lead electrical architecture development and contribute to system architecture decisions in collaboration with other engineering disciplines.
• Coordinate resolution of technical conflicts between disciplines to maintain overall system performance and compatibility.
• Assess assembly and testing capabilities and recommend equipment and tool acquisitions.
• Understand system interfaces and the impact of each subsystem on top-level system requirements.

AI&T:

• Develop electrical integration plans that define interface checks, integration sequence, prerequisites, and criteria for proceeding to the next project phase.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary integration activities, ensuring that subsystem dependencies and interface requirements are addressed.
• Perform hands-on electrical assembly, initial start-up, integration, and troubleshooting of components, PCBs, wiring, and interconnects.
• Define verification methods and acceptance criteria for electrical and system requirements in collaboration with the engineering team.

General:

• Prepare and review technical documentation, including requirements, interface definitions, design analyses, test plans, drawings and engineering reports.
• Mentor engineers and technicians in electrical troubleshooting, design review processes, systems thinking, and disciplined test practices.
• Facilitate the assembly and modification of test equipment to support short-term project-specific and long-term strategic needs.
• Work closely with cross functional engineers to develop and evaluate interfaces between electronics and existing hardware and software.
• Evaluate and ensure the safety, performance, and reliability of new product designs involving laser diodes, photodiodes, image sensors, and other electronics.

Qualifications

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Strong understanding of analog and digital electronics, circuit analysis, interconnect and cabling, and practical electrical design and construction principles.
• Proficiency with oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, laboratory power supplies, function generators, and related electrical test equipment.
• Experience developing test plans, procedures, and technical reports; strong technical writing skills for requirements, interface documents, design reviews, and test procedures.
• Experience designing analog, digital, or mixed-signal circuits for instrumentation, sensing, or control.
• Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB design tools such as KiCad.
• U.S. Citizenship or permanent residence required. 

Education/Experience:

• Undergraduate degree (graduate degree in Electrical Engineering preferred but not required) in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field and a minimum of 10 years of prior, relevant hands-on experience in lab and/or manufacturing environments (preferably optics related, but not required).

Physical Requirements:

Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time, ability to travel, work in office setting

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with known disabilities to perform the essential functions provided that such accommodations do not impose an undue hardship on EO. Any employee who believes they require reasonable accommodations should notify EO’s Human Resources department.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Think you meet some of the requirements but not all? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs for which they do not meet every qualification. If you see a role that interests you, we encourage you to apply, regardless of whether or not your experience is completely aligned with the job description. Edmund Optics is committed to becoming the most diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace within the Optics and Photonics Industry and beyond. You may be a great candidate for this role or others within Edmund Optics.

Compensation Range Transparency:

At Edmund Optics, we are committed to transparency and equity in our hiring practices. The posted salary range for this role reflects the expected base pay. The actual offer will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to relevant skills, education, work experience, business needs, and geographic location.

Salary Range:$120,000 – $128,000 per year

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life, AD&D, Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match up to 3%
• Daycare and Gym Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave and New Mother Benefits
• Training and Development Opportunities

Availability of these benefits may depend on the country and employment type.