Principal Electronics Engineer

VoCoVo; Chipping Norton; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading communication solutions provider in Chipping Norton is seeking a Principal Electronics Engineer to lead the development of innovative retail communication devices. You will manage the design team's efforts from concept to production, ensuring that technical and regulatory requirements are met. Suitable candidates should possess strong leadership skills, hands-on electronics design expertise, and experience with PCB tools. The company offers a competitive salary package and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Benefits

25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays

Sick Pay - 8 weeks full pay, 4 weeks half pay

Life Assurance - 4 times basic pay

Private Medical Insurance

Employee Assistance Programmes

Cycle2Work Scheme

Electric car green salary sacrifice scheme

Enhanced Maternity & Paternity package

Child Care Scheme

Training & development opportunities

Company organised events

Pension with 5% employer contribution

Apple equipment provided

Qualifications

• Demonstrable electronics design experience with recent leadership role.
• Proven track record of leading development from concept to production.
• Experience in compliance requirements for electronic products.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of electronic devices for retail.
• Evaluate and select components and technologies for products.
• Ensure products meet all regulatory requirements.
• Guide and mentor engineering teams.

Skills

Hands-on electronics design experience

Leadership in electronic product development

Experience with PCB design tools

Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements

Experience with IoT device development

Strong communication skills

Problem-solving mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering

Master’s degree in a related field

Tools

Altium

KiCad

Job description

Overview

VoCoVo specialises in innovative communication solutions tailored for businesses, particularly within the retail sector. Our flagship products are designed to create a connected store experience, facilitating seamless communication among retail staff to enhance efficiency and elevate customer service. We empower teams to collaborate effortlessly and achieve their retail goals. You’ve probably already seen us in action - we’re trusted by Tesco, Asda, Dunelm and Iceland, just to name a few.

With over 250,000 users across more than 10,000 locations in 21+ countries, and recognition as one of the top 100 best small-to-medium size businesses to work for, join us on our journey!

Please note, to apply for this position you must be based in the UK and have the legal right to work in the UK.

Role

Role Overview

As Principal Electronics Engineer you will lead the development of on-premise devices for our retail communication systems. This role involves defining, developing and leading VoCoVo’s new on-premise device engineering team, and coordinating with suppliers and external specialists to design the electronic devices that deliver our communication solutions. You will work closely with Product Management, Project Management and Quality to ensure that the devices developed meet the needs of our customers and our business goals.

An ideal candidate will enjoy being hands-on with electronics design work, as well as working with external technology providers and design consultants on larger projects when necessary. You'll be able to balance innovation with practical design, manufacturing and compliance considerations in order to make evidence-based technical decisions.

Due to the need to work with our QA team in our test lab, this person would be expected to attend our Oxfordshire (Shipton-under-Wychwood) office 3 days per week on average, depending on the needs of project work. Alternatively, candidates may propose using their own local test facilities in combination with our lab, and this can be discussed during the recruitment process.

What we're looking for

We’re looking for a highly experienced electronics engineer who combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership and a passion for delivering high-quality products. You’ll ideally bring:

• Demonstrable hands-on electronics design experience, with recent experience of operating in a Lead/Principal Engineer role.
• A proven track record of leading electronic product development end to end, from concept through to production.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field. A Master’s degree is highly desirable.
• Hands-on experience with PCB design tools such as Altium, KiCad or similar electronic design software.
• Experience working with Product Data Management (PDM) systems to ensure accuracy, traceability and efficient collaboration across teams.
• Strong knowledge of testing methodologies and an understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements for electronic products.
• Prior exposure to IoT device development, wireless communication systems/protocols or consumer electronics is highly desirable.
• Excellent experience with EMC/EMI design principles, including practical mitigation techniques used in real-world products.
• Confidence working with contract manufacturers and external design partners to deliver products at scale.
• Experience with (or a strong interest in) audio electronics, speech recognition or voice processing systems would be highly beneficial.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with experience of guiding, mentoring, inspiring and developing engineering teams.
• Strong communication skills, you'll be able to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary technical teams and stakeholders.
• A structured, problem-solving mindset, with a systematic approach to tackling complex technical challenges.
• Experience with simulation and analysis tools for circuit and RF design.
• An understanding of mechanical design principles in the context of electronic products.

What you'll do

• Lead the design and development of electronic devices for retail communication systems, taking products from concept through to production.
• Evaluate and select components, technologies and design approaches that best meet product requirements.
• Deliver designs that balance technical excellence with performance, cost, reliability and manufacturability targets.
• Partner closely with the Quality team to ensure products meet all regulatory requirements.
• Review, approve and maintain high-quality design documentation, including schematics, PCB layouts and test plans.
• Define, build, recruit and scale our in-house device engineering capability.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship, including close collaboration with mechanical engineering disciplines.
• Coordinate effectively with external specialist partners, such as wireless technology providers.
• Act as the primary technical liaison between internal stakeholders and external development partners.
• Contribute to product roadmap planning and long-term technology strategy, aligning engineering decisions with business goals.
• Stay informed on emerging technologies and assess their relevance and potential impact on future retail communication solutions.

Salary

Salary range: £80,000 - £100,000

Benefits

• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays (increases with years of service)
• Option to buy or sell 5 days holiday each year
• Sick Pay - 8 weeks full pay, 4 weeks half pay
• Life Assurance - (4 times basic pay)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP)
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Electric car green salary sacrifice scheme
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity package
• Child Care Scheme
• Training & development opportunities
• Company organised events
• Pension (Royal London Group) 5% employer contribution matched
• Apple MacBook, Wireless Magic Mouse and Keyboard, monitor and headphones

Diversity and Inclusion

At VoCoVo, we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. Our commitment is to create an environment that champions equity, innovation, and collaboration, ensuring all team members can flourish. Join us in shaping the future together.

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process, so please let us know if you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage.

Company Values

Embracing VoCoVo's VOICE Values is important to us, shaping our collaborative and innovative culture.

VALUED
Our Colleagues, Customers, and Stakeholders are valued; treated with respect, empathy, and operate with honesty and integrity
ONE TEAM
Collaboration of all for VoCoVo’s happiness and success
INNOVATION
Our products are constantly evolving to tackle the pain points of retailers across the globe
CUSTOMER FOCUSED
Our customers love VoCoVo at every level, every interaction with us is frictionless, and we are integral to their operations
EMPOWERED
Our people are empowered to do the right thing and make decisions without loads of red tape

If you feel this could be the right fit, apply now!