Department: Research and Development (R&D)
Who You’ll Report To: Electronics/Mechanical Manager
Role Purpose:
As the Principal Engineer, you'll be responsible for planning, analyzing, designing, testing, and documenting new products, as well as maintaining our existing product portfolio. You'll collaborate closely with the HW/MECH and Software management team.
In this role, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to the development of products that make a tangible, positive impact in the real world. Your responsibilities will span both sustaining engineering, where you'll optimize existing products, and new product development (NPD), where you'll play a pivotal role in guiding a product from inception to completion. For NPD, your duties will encompass product architecture, design expertise, cost-consciousness, and meticulous documentation to ensure the efficient transition of our designs to our manufacturing locations.
The successful candidate will collaborate closely with our diverse and multidisciplinary R&D team while also demonstrating the capability to work independently when necessary.
Detail of Role:
Your responsibilities will include but not be limited to the following:
- Architectural Leadership: Serve as the Lead Architect / Principal Engineer, responsible for planning, analyzing, designing, testing, and documenting changes while actively contributing to system architecture discussions.
- Process Champion: Champion and utilize internal processes and tools to facilitate product development in collaboration with department management.
- Design Expertise: Apply expertise in both analog and digital design at system, product, and circuit levels.
- Qualification and Reliability: Oversee hardware qualification testing, including EMC, Environmental and Reliability testing.
- Mentorship: Act as a mentor to junior engineers, providing guidance in project planning, execution, and offering technical insights beyond the R&D department.
- Knowledge Sharing: Share your extensive knowledge in electronics and EN54 & UL864 domain with colleagues, ensuring that our products not only meet but exceed these requirements.
- Prototyping: Develop prototypes for designs as needed to facilitate product development.
- Design Maintenance: Maintain and update existing product designs and design documentation as required.
- Sustaining Engineering: Make critical decisions regarding the need for testing samples, PCB changes, or component replacements. Conduct component-level troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
- Impactful Decision-Making: Make decisions that may affect cost, schedule, and technical performance.
- Cost Estimation: Generate engineering estimates for complex hardware designs and assist in tracking and monitoring costs associated with product development.
- Product Roadmap: Play a pivotal role in shaping technical product roadmaps and act as a product specialist.
- Continuous Improvement: Identify and recommend new tools and techniques to drive continuous improvements in the hardware development process.
Personal Specification
Qualifications:
We are looking for individuals with considerable practical experience in electronic and electronic component/technologies from a life safety background. In addition to this, you will possess the following:
Desirable: Degree in Engineering, preferably with an Electronics focus
Experience:
Essential: Considerable proven hands-on experience in an electronics hardware design & development role ideally with some experience in the life safety industry.
Knowledge:
- New Product Development (NPD): Proven end-to-end experience in the New Product Development cycle (NPD).
- Analytical Thinking: Demonstrates the ability to provide a logical, in-depth analysis of problems or situations.
- Documentation Expertise: Proficient in reviewing and creating clear product design documents that comprehensively describe the design and the product functions.
- Certification: Experience in designing products for CE/UKCA, EN54, UL868, NFP72, and other global certification markets related to the life safety industry.
- Design: Expert in electronic hardware architecture design, schematic capture, PCB layout (including high-speed, EMC, and Signal Integrity best practices) using Altium 365, as well as BOM preparation and EMC compliance.
- Microcontrollers/Embedded Systems: Familiarity with popular microcontrollers and embedded systems, including Microchip, STM32, 8/16/32-bit architectures, and ARM Core.
- Communication Protocols: Knowledge of popular communication technologies such as SPI, I2C, Ethernet, I2S, USB, and UART.
- Mixed-Signal Design: Experience in designing mixed-signal circuits with an emphasis on very low power, low voltage, and low noise characteristics.
- Embedded Control: Proficient in designing embedded digital control circuitry and real-time microcontroller solutions.
- Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to produce detailed and informative reports that are clear and concise.
Personal Qualities:
- Critical Thinking and Active Listening: Proficient in critical thinking and actively listens to understand and solve complex issues.
- Effective Time Management: Demonstrates strong time management skills to prioritize tasks efficiently.
- Commitment to Continuous Learning: Enthusiastic about continuous learning and staying updated with evolving industry practices.
- Attention to Detail: Ensures that all information conveyed to others is accurate and presented clearly.
- Self-Motivated: A self-starter with the ability to quickly adapt to and learn new processes.
- Empathetic Problem Solver: Recognizes the importance of maintaining compassion and empathy when dealing with challenging situations and solving problems.
- Positive Energy and Persistence: Exhibits high energy, persistence, and a positive attitude in all endeavors.
- Team Player and Initiative: Excels both as a team player and in working independently, taking the initiative to drive tasks to completion.
