Senior Electrical Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

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Senior Electronics Design Engineer

Are you a senior electronics design engineer who enjoys leading a highly technical team while 

remaining hands-on in the lab?

Do you want to design custom mixed-signal controls and data-acquisition electronics used at the 

leading edge of applied science?

Physical Electronics USA (PHI) is seeking a Senior Electronics Design Engineer to provide technical 

leadership to a small design group of five to seven engineers and technicians. This role combines 

hands-on design and prototyping with technical supervision, resource planning, project leadership, 

and cross-functional system integration.

PHI is a global leader in analytical instrumentation for the surface analysis market. Our products 

integrate advanced digital and analog electronics, embedded systems, instrument-control software, 

precision mechanical and electromechanical systems, high-voltage electron and ion optics, and 

automation. PHI instruments are used by leading research institutes, universities, and industrial 

laboratories worldwide.

What You Will Do

Technical Leadership and Engineering Planning

• Provide technical leadership and supervisory oversight for a group of mixed-signal electronics 

design engineers and technicians.

• Translate system-level requirements into unit-level engineering specifications, development 

plans, cost estimates, schedules, and resource requirements.

• Provide project-planning input, manage technical risk, and work with PHI R&D leadership and 

ULVAC-PHI in Japan to develop the annual engineering plan.

• Maintain PHI’s state-of-the-art electronics design capability through technical study, continuing 

education, and practical application of emerging technologies.

Design, Prototype, Test, and Support

• Design, prototype, procure, build, test, document, and support custom mixed-signal electronic 

controls and data-acquisition systems.

• Develop low-noise, medium- to high-speed analog circuits and medium- to high-voltage analog 

circuits ranging from approximately 200 V to 30 kV.

• Design embedded control systems using microcontrollers and FPGAs; contribute to firmware 

development using technologies such as Raspberry Pi, Python, and Verilog.

• Design and integrate digital communications including USB, Ethernet, SPI, and related interfaces.

• Lead complex hardware/software system-level integration, test, troubleshooting, and debug 

activities.

Manufacturing and Cross-Functional Partnership

• Create and manage strategic partnerships with contract electronics manufacturers.

• Apply current PCB- and chassis-level electronics manufacturing methods and 

design-for-manufacturability best practices.

• Partner with software, systems, mechanical, manufacturing, and service teams on system design, 

integration testing, documentation, and product support.

• Provide guidance for continuing engineering, reliability improvements, obsolescence management, 

and support of PHI’s current electronics suite.

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a closely related field; 

an advanced degree is preferred.

• More than 10 years of experience designing chassis-level mixed-signal control electronics for 

highly integrated hardware/software products; 15 or more years is preferred.

• Demonstrated expertise in mixed-signal electronics design, test, and integration; control and 

data acquisition/processing ; digital communications; and low-noise analog design.

• Experience with medium- to high-voltage analog electronics and appropriate high-voltage design 

and safety

practices.

PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS USA | CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Physical Electronics USA • Chanhassen, Minnesota

• Hands-on experience with microcontrollers, FPGAs, embedded firmware, PCB design, circuit 

simulation, prototyping, and laboratory test equipment.

• Competency with modern electronic design CAD tools such as Altium, OrCAD, and PSpice.

• Working knowledge of PCB and chassis-level manufacturing technologies, contract manufacturing, 

and design for manufacturability.

• Demonstrated project leadership in estimating, planning, risk mitigation, resource coordination, 

and execution management.

• Ability and desire to lead a small, highly technical engineering team while remaining actively 

involved in design and problem-solving.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing capital equipment for scientific research, semiconductor, advanced 

materials, or advanced manufacturing applications.

• Experience working with international engineering or manufacturing partners, particularly in a 

global product-development environment.

• Experience supporting products through design transfer, manufacturing, field service, reliability 

improvement, and lifecycle management.

• Ability to travel occasionally to business-partner and customer locations, including 

internationally, generally fewer than 10 days per year.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated starting salary range for this position is $135,000 to $165,000 annually. The 

actual starting salary will be determined based on the selected candidate’s relevant experience, 

qualifications, skills, and internal equity.

Physical Electronics USA offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and 

vision insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; paid time off; paid holidays; disability and life 

insurance; and other company-sponsored benefits and programs. This position may also be eligible 

for company profit sharing or other incentive compensation in accordance with applicable company 

plans.

Why Join Physical Electronics?

Physical Electronics develops advanced scientific instrumentation used by organizations working in 

semiconductors, energy storage, advanced materials, coatings, and other innovative technologies. In 

this role, you will:

• Lead a small, experienced technical team while continuing to design, prototype, and solve 

challenging engineering problems.

• Shape the next generation of custom electronics for sophisticated scientific instrumentation.

• Work across electronics, software, systems, manufacturing, service, and global engineering teams.

• Make a visible impact on product performance, reliability, manufacturability, and long-term 

technology direction. We are looking for a hands-on technical leader who enjoys developing people, 

solving difficult system-level problems, and turning complex requirements into dependable, 

manufacturable electronics. Apply today to help advance the technology behind PHI’s world-class 

surface analysis instruments.

Physical Electronics USA is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without 

regard to race, color, religion, sex,

national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.