Senior Systems Engineer — Material Characterization
PerkinElmer | High Wycombe, UK
Reports to: Systems Engineering Leader, Material Characterization
Scope: System design, requirements definition and design verification for high-performance Material Characterization instruments — Fourier transform infrared spectrometers, UV-Visible spectrometers and differential scanning calorimeters — from concept through launch and manufacturing support.
Provide senior systems engineering leadership within a multidisciplinary R&D team developing complex, high-precision optical and thermal analysis instrumentation. The role owns system-level design and specification for assigned programmes — developing a deep understanding of how the products are used, the underlying technology and the drivers of performance, reliability and cost — and leads design verification from planning through execution. The emphasis is on quality by design and up-front analysis rather than design evolution; the Senior Systems Engineer is expected to guide less experienced engineers and drive technical problem-solving to conclusion.
1. System design and architecture
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Lead concept development and system-level design for new products and major platform changes.
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Contribute design calculations and modelling across optical, mechanical, electronic, thermal or algorithmic aspects of the system, depending on project needs.
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Understand product performance parameters at system and sub-system level, and how design choices affect performance, reliability and cost.
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Reduce technical risk early through analysis, prototyping and structured experimentation.
2. Requirements and specification
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Develop and document high-level functional and performance requirements from customer and business needs.
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Decompose system requirements into detailed, testable sub-system specifications.
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Maintain requirements traceability from customer need through to verification evidence.
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Specify the software, fixtures and test equipment required for verification activities.
3. Design verification
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Define the verification strategy and author test plans for prototype evaluation and design-verification builds.
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Design and conduct experiments to test product performance and the performance of manufacturing fixtures; work with external test houses where required.
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Use knowledge of potential failure modes to design experiments that verify design assumptions as well as system performance.
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Analyse experimental data and produce clear summary reports that support design decisions and gate reviews.
4. Product quality and root cause analysis
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Generally and proactively promote product quality.
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Lead root cause investigation of selected manufacturing and field failures and drive remedial actions to conclusion.
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Liaise with Manufacturing and Service to understand quality issues; identify and specify manufacturing test and QA fixtures and processes.
5. Collaboration and mentoring
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Work within multifunctional project teams, directing troubleshooting internally and with consultants and suppliers.
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Actively participate in design reviews across engineering disciplines.
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Guide and mentor junior engineers in test planning, execution and interpretation of results.
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Build a working understanding of the product range, key performance parameters and current development programmes.
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Establish relationships across the R&D team, Manufacturing and Service.
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Take ownership of requirements definition and verification planning for an assigned programme.
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Review current verification practices and identify opportunities to strengthen quality by design.
Qualifications and experience
Essential
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Degree in Physics or an engineering discipline.
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Substantial experience in the design, verification and troubleshooting of high-precision electro-mechanical or scientific instrumentation.
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Experience working within a structured product-development programme, with a quality-by-design approach.
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Proven ability to assess technical risk, recognise failure modes, and design and conduct experiments to verify performance.
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Strong data analysis and report-writing skills; proficient with software for data collection and analysis.
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Proven ability to plan a programme of work and drive it to completion.
Preferred
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Postgraduate qualification in an engineering or physical science discipline.
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Experience with thermal analysis instrumentation (DSC, TGA), FT-IR or UV-Visible spectroscopy, including infrared detectors and associated pre-amplifier design.
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Knowledge of optics, control system modelling or signal processing.
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Formal training in FMEA and familiarity with structured product design methodologies.
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Experience mentoring or technically leading small teams.
PerkinElmer is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.
