Principal Electrical Engineer

About Oxford Instruments: 

Our purpose is to accelerate the breakthroughs that create a brighter future for our world.

Our technology and scientific expertise enable our customers to discover and bring to market exciting new advances that drive human progress. We aim to be the scientific instrumentation partner in every significant lab and production facility across the world. 
 

Oxford Instruments Asylum Research is a technology leader in Atomic Force Microscopy.

We specialize in making the best atomic force microscopes (AFMs) for academic research and industrial R&D. Our passion for innovating AFM technology is our driving force, and since then, we have continuously worked to develop higher performance AFMs. 

 
We are part of the wider Oxford Instruments Group that also includes Andor Technology, Plasma Technology and X-Ray Technology. With a sixty-year history, and fourteen Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, our world-class products and technologies are helping our customers to address the greatest challenges of the 21st century. 
 
We want to empower our employees so that they innovate, support our growth and improve our productivity. We support them to make the right decisions and reach their full potential as they develop their careers at Oxford Instruments. Our ways of working are lived every day and are as follows: 
 

• We start with the customer 

• We succeed by being focused 

• We make and keep our promises 

• We work together as one team 

• We help and trust each other to succeed 
   

About the Opportunity: 

We are looking for a senior level Electrical Engineer to join us as a key member of our highly technical product development team.  At Oxford Instruments Asylum Research, we design and manufacture atomic force microscopes which are used in a wide range of materials science applications. These complex instruments enable cutting edge research discoveries for our customers around the world, while simultaneously providing our team with an endless stream of unique and interesting engineering challenges to be solved.

If you are a curious, collaborative problem solver looking to have a big impact in a hands-on role which touches all parts of the product life cycle, this could be the perfect opportunity for your next career move. You’ll be part of a small but robust engineering team working out of our Santa Barbara facility where we design, sell, manufacture and support a complete product suite of research instruments used in industry and academia.

Key Job Responsibilities include, but not limited to: 

• Provide electrical engineering expertise and support throughout the entire product lifecycle, from system level concept design and prototype builds through to volume production implementation and sustaining engineering for new and existing products.
• Thoroughly document design requirements, calculations, power budgets, validation results, and build instructions. Use engineering change control and product lifecycle management systems and help improve existing processes.
• Establish productive professional relationships with outside vendors, consultants, and contractors as needed to support new and existing products.
• Collaborate as part of a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software engineers, R&D scientists, and product managers to design and support complex electrical and opto-mechanical systems.
• Contribute as a senior member of the engineering team, driving innovation to improve capabilities and reliability while minimizing cost and schedule. Provide insight and support wherever needed, including but not limited to project management, budget estimations, mentoring of peers and less experienced colleagues.
• Other duties as assigned to ensure departmental excellence and teamwork. Ability and willingness to go where demands are most urgent.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• BS in Electrical Engineering, or equivalent degree/experience combination.
• 15+ years of circuit design experience with emphasis on analog circuit design including amplifiers, filters, Low noise - high speed ADC signal chains and optical detector transimpedance preamplifiers. A track record of designing low noise circuits for scientific instrumentation. Also mixed signal and embedded system design (including ARM-based controllers, FPGA, DSP, power management, switching power supply design, electrical signal characterization, and interfacing environmental sensors.
• Experience designing multi-PCB systems and architecting entire instruments from the specification level to the finished product.
• Experience with Multigigabit digital serial communications design and troubleshooting.
• Experience with Altium and/or CAD schematic capture and PCB layout with emphasis in designing for manufacturability and both Multilayer High-density PCB and Rigid flex design.
• Familiarity with high-speed, high-resolution ADC and DAC data converter design circuits.
• Experience with analog and digital behavioural modelling.
• Lab or work experience with EMI/EMC compliance challenges, design for reliability, and design for manufacturability and service are a plus.
• Excellent problem solving and analytical capabilities. Experience with theoretical modelling and simulation at the design stage and finding root causes during troubleshooting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to colleagues across a wide range of backgrounds and abilities.
• Curiosity, passion and drive for new technology and innovation. Keen on keeping up with literature, conferences, and technology roadmaps. Ability to stay organized and follow/improve engineering processes.

Salary:

In accordance with California law, the expected salary for this full-time, benefited position is between $ 143,888 - $199,000. The actual compensation will be determined considering factors such as relevant skills and experience and other factors permitted by law.

Oxford Instruments Perks and Benefits: 
 

Generous benefit packages - We offer our employees competitive health insurance options, including Medical, Dental, and Vision plans.  

• Our 401k program has options for saving both pre- and post-tax dollars for retirement. 

• Paid Time Off (PTO) Work-life balance is a key part of our company culture here at OI, and we know that our employees do their best work when they can take the time they need to rest and recharge. Employees start with 4 weeks of PTO, which is accrued each pay period.  

• Holidays - We recognize 12 holidays this year 

• In addition to all the standard PTO options, Oxford Instruments proudly offers a generous and progressive paid family leave policy. 

• Professional Development - Oxford Instruments supports you and your professional development with $5,250 available in annual tuition reimbursement after 6 months of service.  

 
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the US.  

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visa at this time for this position. 
 
Oxford Instruments is an equal opportunity employer.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Oxford Instruments is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. 

E-Verify: 

 
This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the I-9 Form. 
 
Note to recruitment agencies:  

Oxford Instruments does not accept agency CV’s. Please do not forward details to our jobs alias, Oxford Instruments employees or any other company location. Oxford Instruments is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CV’s.