Senior Research And Development Engineer

Texcel - Environmental Monitoring Made Easy; City of Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Texcel develops environmental monitoring systems and data solutions. The Senior R&D Engineer leads design, development and field validation across hardware, firmware, software and AI for connected monitoring products.

The role emphasizes turning customer problems into reliable products, framing questions, prototyping, verification, field trials and product release while managing risk and cost. Brisbane-based with field work possible.

Qualifications

• Degree in electrical, electronic, mechatronic, computer systems or related field.
• 7+ years product development experience in engineering or applied research.
• Experience taking complex systems from concept to prototype, verification and operation.
• Strong systems thinking with hardware, firmware and software expertise.
• Experience using modern AI tools in engineering or data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer needs into research questions, requirements and testable criteria.
• Plan feasibility studies, prototypes and trials.
• Assess options using evidence, lifecycle cost, risk and value.
• Maintain an R&D backlog and communicate priorities to leadership.
• Document design decisions, results and recommendations for knowledge reuse.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

Python

AI tools

Data analysis

Systems thinking

Education

Electrical/Electronic/Mechatronic/Computer systems or Software Engineering degree

Tools

PCB design

Schematic capture

Version control

Data analysis tools

Job description

Purpose of the role

The Senior Research and Development Engineer leads the design, development and field validation of connected monitoring products and data solutions. The role combines sound systems engineering with practical capability across hardware, firmware, software and artificial intelligence.

Purpose of the role

This role turns customer problems and emerging technologies into reliable products, tools and operating improvements. The engineer will frame technical questions, test options, build prototypes and guide solutions through verification, field trials and product release. They will work across disciplines, identify technical risks early and help the wider team make decisions based on evidence.

Position context

Texcel develops and supports environmental monitoring systems used in mining, quarrying, construction and infrastructure. Our work spans sensing hardware, embedded firmware, communications, cloud software, data analysis and managed services. The role supports Texcel's focus on independent technical advice, trusted data and practical decisions that balance risk and cost.

Key responsibilities

• Convert customer, operational and market needs into clear research questions, engineering requirements and testable acceptance criteria.
• Plan and lead feasibility studies, proof of concepts, prototypes and controlled trials.
• Assess technical options using evidence, whole-of-life cost, implementation risk, maintainability and customer value.
• Maintain a practical R and D backlog and communicate priorities, dependencies, risks and results to senior leaders.
• Document design decisions, experiments, results and recommendations so that knowledge is retained and reusable.

Integrated product engineering

• Develop and review system architectures that connect sensors, electronics, embedded firmware, communications, cloud services and user-facing software.
• Contribute hands-on engineering in areas such as sensor interfaces, data acquisition, power management, communications, enclosure integration and design for manufacture.
• Work with embedded platforms and firmware to improve sampling, timing, storage, device health, remote communications, diagnostics and upgrade processes.
• Build or guide software used for data processing, integration, automation, testing, reporting and internal engineering workflows.
• Define interfaces and data contracts between devices, services and customer systems, with attention to reliability, cybersecurity and supportability.

Artificial intelligence and data capability

• Use AI-assisted engineering tools to accelerate research, coding, testing, documentation and analysis while applying appropriate human review.
• Evaluate practical uses of machine learning, large language models and specialised agents for signal interpretation, anomaly detection, workflow automation and decision support.
• Design AI experiments with measurable success criteria, traceable source data and clear limits on where human judgement remains required.
• Apply sound controls for privacy, intellectual property, security, bias, reliability and model performance.
• Help establish reusable data sets, evaluation methods and engineering workflows that improve data confidence over time.

Verification and field validation

• Develop verification and validation plans covering function, performance, environmental conditions, failure modes and field use.
• Create automated and manual test methods, maintain traceable test records and investigate failures to root cause.
• Plan and support laboratory tests, site trials and controlled product releases with customers and field teams.
• Confirm that designs meet applicable regulatory, safety, calibration, quality and technical standard requirements.
• Use field evidence and support data to improve product reliability, usability and serviceability.

Product delivery and technical leadership

• Work closely with engineering, software, operations, sales and customer teams from discovery through release and support.
• Guide design reviews and technical decisions, making trade-offs visible and escalating material risks early.
• Support productisation through documentation, configuration control, supplier engagement, production readiness and support planning.
• Mentor engineers and technicians, promote disciplined problem solving and strengthen cross-disciplinary capability.
• Protect Texcel's intellectual property and contribute to patents, research partnerships or grant activities when appropriate.

Qualifications and experience

Essential requirements

• A degree in electrical, electronic, mechatronic, computer systems, software engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated capability.
• Substantial product development experience, typically gained over seven or more years in engineering, technology or applied research roles.
• Experience taking complex products or technical systems from problem definition through prototype, verification and operational use.
• Strong systems thinking and a working understanding of hardware, firmware and software, with deep expertise in at least one of these areas.
• Practical experience with engineering documentation, requirements, version control, test methods and structured design review.
• Ability to analyse incomplete information, design useful experiments and explain technical findings to both technical and commercial audiences.
• Experience using modern AI tools responsibly in engineering, research, data analysis or workflow automation.

Desirable experience

• Connected instruments, environmental monitoring, vibration, noise, dust, geotechnical sensing or industrial Internet of Things products.
• Embedded C or C plus plus, Python, cloud services, application programming interfaces, databases or web application development.
• Electronics design, schematic and printed circuit board review, sensor integration, communications, low-power systems or design for manufacture.
• Signal processing, time-series analysis, anomaly detection, machine learning evaluation or retrieval-augmented AI systems.
• Mining, quarrying, construction, infrastructure or other safety-critical field environments.
• Quality systems, calibration, regulatory compliance, technical standards, cybersecurity or formal risk analysis.
• Leading technical projects, supervising external partners or mentoring multidisciplinary teams.

Working conditions

• The role is primarily based in Brisbane and includes work in laboratories, workshops, offices and customer locations.
• Travel within Australia and occasional international travel may be required.
• Site work may include mining, quarrying, construction, industrial and underground environments. All work must follow site access, fitness for work, safety and personal protective equipment requirements.
• A current driver's licence and the ability to meet reasonable customer site access requirements are expected.

Role scope

The Senior Research and Development Engineer is expected to work independently on complex problems while involving the right people at the right time. The role does not require expert-level depth in every technical discipline. It requires enough breadth to connect the disciplines, sound judgement about technical risk, and demonstrated depth in one or more areas that matter to Texcel's product and data strategy.

Equal opportunity

Texcel values capability, integrity and diverse perspectives. We welcome applications from people with transferable experience who can demonstrate the practical judgement and learning ability required for the role, even if their background does not match every desirable item.