Sr Electroacoustic Engineer I

Bring your electroacoustic engineering expertise to Starkey and help design the next generation of innovative hearing technology—from concept and prototyping through verification and production. This role offers the opportunity to work across acoustics, electronics, and signal integrity while solving complex product challenges and directly shaping the performance and reliability of advanced hearing devices and accessories.

Starkey is a world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of advanced hearing technologies. We are in the business of connecting people and changing lives. Our teams come to work each day focused on ensuring people everywhere have the products and services they need to hear better and live better.

Founded in 1967 by Bill Austin, Starkey is known for our cutting-edge hearing health innovations, industry-leading research and development, and not being afraid to push the edge of what’s possible.

We are headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, have over 5,000 employees in 29 facilities across the globe, and do business in more than 100 markets worldwide.

Watch this video to see more of what sets Starkey apart:

JOB SUMMARY DESCRIPTION / PRIMARY PURPOSE OF JOB

This position is responsible for planning, concepting, prototyping, component selection, designing, verifying, and documenting hearing aid electroacoustic hardware (PCBAs) and other electroacoustic elements in Starkey products, including RIC, BTE, ITC, ITE, CIC, IIC, hearing protection devices, and accessories. Working closely with Acoustic, Electrical, and Signal Integrity engineers, this position is responsible for fulfilling product requirements, adhering to industry standards, implementing design guidelines, creating design specifications, and maintaining design processes/procedures. Finally, this position is responsible for leading design, research, and/or operation groups in problem-solving for product-related issues to ensure successful design transfer to production and sustained production.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES/RESULTS

• Concept design, prototype evaluation, component selection
  • Plan and create novel designs for integrating new platforms/transducers to meet product requirements
  • Plan and run simulation, and rapid prototype evaluation of new concepts for early risk reduction
  • Plan and create decision analysis and documentation of component selection
  • Execute business initiatives throughout all design and release phases
• Electroacoustic design and verification
  • Plan and create parameters and model design, verification, review, and release
  • Plan and execute electroacoustic product performance specification creation and release
  • Lead troubleshooting issues throughout the design and release phases
  • Document and knowledge sharing of novel findings as training for the rest of the EE teams
• Product requirements verification and design transfer
  • Decompose product-level electroacoustic requirement and verify at the subsystem and component level
  • Perform formal product life cycle management (PLM) releases of electroacoustic designs to production and homologation reporting for governmental registration/contacts
  • Enforce electroacoustic specifications and fabrication configurations (internal/external)
  • Execute failure analysis of product design, testing, processes, and field issues
• Continuous improvement
  • Create design and verification processes, procedures, and improvement updates
  • Enhance competence of available tools and stay abreast of industry trends
  • Stay abreast of new standards, requirements, and contracts for homologation into new/existing products
  • Support seeking and maturing hearing aid artifact reduction technologies/evaluation methods for implementation

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education

• • Bachelor of Science (BS) in Electrical Engineering, Acoustic Engineering, or related field

OR

• Master of Science (MS) in Electrical Engineering, Acoustic Engineering, or related field

OR

• Doctorate of Science (PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Acoustic Engineering, or related field

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of relevant design, testing, and transfer experience in a product development environment with BS
• Minimum 5 years of relevant design, testing, and transfer experience in a product development environment with MS
• Minimum 2 years of relevant design, testing, and transfer experience in a product development environment with PhD
• Relevant experience should include:
  • Acoustic equalizer/stability design
  • Transducer selection
  • ANSI/IEC standards conformance
  • Design life cycle documentation and design transfer
  • Electroacoustic lab correlation measurement
  • Leading junior engineers and technicians on projects

Knowledge / Technical Requirements

• Advanced proficiency with prototyping and component selection
• Advanced to expert knowledge of relevant industry standards and requirements (e.g. ANSI, IEC, ETSI, Nordic, VA)
• Intermediate proficiency with acoustic simulation tools (e.g. Comsol, Ansys, ABARUS, LTspice)
• Advanced working knowledge of DSP technology and hearing aid signal processing
• Advanced working knowledge of analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog circuits
• Advanced knowledge of acoustic calculations and measurements
• Advanced knowledge of product development best practices (e.g. DFM, DOE, DFMEA, Lean PD, EMC)
• Intermediate knowledge of electrical circuits and printed circuit board (PCB) design

Competencies, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and precision
• Excellent design, troubleshooting, and documentation skills
• Strong ability to perform complex engineering analyses and calculations
• Strong proficiency with electronic measurement equipment (e.g. audio analyzer, speakers, amplifiers, function generators)
• Excellent ability to collaborate effectively and work well in team environments
• Demonstrated leadership role in projects, including the ability to provide guidance and direction on the project to less experienced technical personnel

Salary and Other Compensation:

The target pay rate for this position is between $94,000 - $131,000 annually. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include: geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is eligible for a bonus based upon performance results. There is no guarantee of payout.

The following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements, include medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, company-paid life and short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, employee assistance plan, hearing aid benefits, Paid Time Off, paid holidays, paid floating holidays, paid volunteer service day, paid paternity and maternity leave and tuition reimbursement.

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