Senior Systems Engineer – Detection Technologies \"M/F/D\"

agilent; Waldbronn; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Agilent Technologies in Waldbronn, Germany, seeks an experienced engineer or physicist to serve as the technical owner for our detector portfolio. You will work on optics, fluids, electronics, mechanics and signal processing to investigate complex challenges and guide released products through their lifecycle.

The role emphasizes technical ownership, product support and long‑term operation, including root‑cause analyses, cross‑functional collaboration, sustaining engineering and knowledge

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline.
• 8+ years with complex hardware, sensors, or analytical instruments.
• Deep expertise in optics, spectroscopy, photonics or detector tech.
• Experience troubleshooting via experiments and data analysis.
• Lifecycle support including escalations and sustaining engineering.
• Strong cross-disciplinary systems-thinking and collaboration.
• Professional German and English language skills; travel willingness.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical expert for detector portfolio and resolve complex issues.
• Lead investigations with experiments, measurements, and root-cause analysis.
• Drive cross-functional technical resolutions across optics, electronics, firmware, mechanics, and manufacturing.
• Support sustaining engineering activities, verifications, and obsolescence management.
• Provide guidance for supplier transitions and manufacturing improvements.
• Capture and transfer critical technical knowledge across products.
• Represent R&D in technical reviews and management discussions.

Skills

Systems thinking

Root-cause analysis

Technical leadership

German & English proficiency

Willingness to travel

Education

Master's or PhD in Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline

Job description

Job Description

About the Role

Agilent's Detection R&D organization develops and supports a portfolio of analytical detector systems used in UHPLC, GPC/SEC, and related separation technologies. Our products include absorbance, fluorescence, refractive index, light scattering, and other advanced detection technologies.

We are looking for an experienced engineer or physicist to serve as a technical expert for this portfolio. Working across optics, fluidics, electronics, mechanics, and signal processing, you will investigate complex technical challenges, lead root-cause analyses, and provide technical leadership for released products throughout their lifecycle.

Unlike a traditional development engineering role, this position focuses on technical ownership, product support, and the successful long-term operation of a critical product portfolio.

In this role, you will:

• Serve as a technical expert for Agilent's detector portfolio and support resolution of complex product issues.
• Lead investigations involving experimentation, measurements, data analysis, and root-cause analysis.
• Drive resolution of cross-functional technical challenges involving optics, electronics, firmware, mechanics, manufacturing, and applications teams.
• Support sustaining engineering activities, product improvements, verification efforts, and obsolescence management.
• Provide technical guidance for supplier transitions, component substitutions, and manufacturing improvements.
• Capture and transfer critical technical knowledge across products and technologies.
• Represent R&D in technical reviews and management discussions.

What Makes This Role Unique

• Technical ownership of a diverse portfolio of industry-leading analytical instruments.
• Exposure to multiple technologies including optics, detector systems, fluidics, electronics, mechanics, and signal processing.
• Opportunity to act as a key technical escalation point for high-impact business and customer challenges.
• Close collaboration with R&D, manufacturing, service, and leadership teams.

Qualifications

Must Have

• Master's degree or PhD in Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience working with complex hardware products, scientific instruments, sensors, optics, spectroscopy, photonics, analytical instrumentation, or related technologies.
• Deep expertise in one or more of the following areas: Optics, Spectroscopy, Photonics, Fluidics, Precision Mechanics, Electronics, Signal Processing, Detector Technologies.
• Experience troubleshooting complex technical issues through experimentation, measurement, data analysis, and root-cause investigation.
• Experience supporting products throughout their lifecycle, including technical escalations, sustaining engineering, reliability improvements, or product support activities.
• Strong systems-thinking skills and the ability to work across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Professional proficiency in German and English.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to customer, supplier, and manufacturing sites.

Nice to Have

• Experience with analytical instrumentation, chromatography systems, laboratory equipment, or scientific instruments.
• Knowledge of detector technologies such as UV/Vis absorbance, fluorescence, refractive index, or light scattering.
• Experience acting as a technical expert, subject matter expert, or escalation point for critical technical issues.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, supplier transitions, component substitutions, reliability programs, or product lifecycle activities.

Additional Details

This job has a full time weekly schedule. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. During the hiring process, a recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for a preferred location. Pay and benefit information by country are available at: https://careers.agilent.com/locationsAgilent Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.

Travel Required:

10% of the Time

Shift:

Day

Duration:

No End Date

Job Function:

R&D