Principal Electronics Engineer

OpenSourced - Search & Selection; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

28 days annual leave

Group pension plan

Income protection

Life assurance

Employee assistance programme

EV salary sacrifice

Health cash plan

Learning & development

Free onsite car parking

Job summary

OpenSourced - Search & Selection is seeking a Principal Electronics Engineer to lead electronics design within a 15-engineer team in the defence technology sector. You will mentor engineers, drive R&D on meaningful projects, and set high engineering standards across the board.

The role encompasses both Electronics and Electrical engineering responsibilities, with heavy emphasis on architecture, performance, and collaboration with senior management, directors, and key customers.

Qualifications

• A strong degree in electronics or related field; chartered status preferred.
• 10+ years in electronics design with leadership experience.
• Experience with EMC, power management, and motor drives.
• Proven track record of delivering complex hardware projects.
• Security clearance eligibility is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead electronics design within a 15-person team and mentor engineers.
• Define architectures for rugged military-grade electronics.
• Support bids, proposals, and customer engagements.
• Review engineering processes and push for continuous improvement.

Job description

Lead electronics design within a 15-strong engineering team at a defence technology business, shaping the standards, mentoring the next generation of engineers, and driving R&D on projects that matter.

About the role

We’re looking for a Principal Electronics Engineer to help lead electronics design within a team of 15 engineers. You’ll bring significant experience and insight to project development, act as a role model for less experienced engineers, and drive substantial R&D and analytical research.

This is a dual Electrical/Electronic function:

• Electronics Engineer — circuit design, components and PCB technology, working across EMC, power management, servo control, processor interfacing and communications.
• Electrical Engineer — power and signal transmission over wired medium, with the ability to define and objectively review overall architecture, including power management, system wiring and production processes.

You’ll often lead headline projects, set the standard for good engineering practice, and be seen as an expert in your field — proactively reviewing and enhancing engineering processes with genuine drive and passion. You’ll also be in regular contact with senior management, directors and key customers, and will help support bids, proposals and new business development.

What we’re looking for

• Strong degree in a related discipline accredited by the IET; typically 10 years' relevant experience.
• Significant experience leading and supervising projects or people.
• Solid all-round theoretical and practical understanding of electronics design.
• Ability to complete analysis-based activities (circuit emulation, performance, power budgets).
• Ability to highlight key project risks, schedules, mitigations and identify critical design activities.
• Overall awareness of the full project lifecycle, from bids through to ongoing customer support.
• A proven track record of innovation-based approaches to engineering and leadership.
• Ability to investigate and fault-find technical problems at PCB or system level, identifying root cause or procedural reforms.
• Likely to be a Chartered Engineer.
• Experience leading, managing or mentoring engineers.
• Experience of EMC to military standards, managing issues at architecture and embedded level.
• Knowledge of motors and drive technology, with the ability to calculate motor performance.
• Awareness of control systems analysis and performance techniques.
• Familiarity with JIRA, Confluence, and MS Project.
• Practised in PCB design tools such as Altium and Cadence OrCAD.
• Familiarity with Failure Mode Effects Analysis and Lightning Direct/Indirect Effects.
• Experience designing electronics for harsh environments typical of military equipment.

What you’ll bring

• Excellent verbal and written communication, with a practised ability to build relationships with customers, colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• Highly organised and methodical, with an eye for detail.
• A track record of tackling unique design challenges with diligence, endurance and nerve.
• Integrity — a track record of delivering on what you say, when you say it.
• Willingness to travel to customer/supplier sites on occasion, including internationally.
• A resilient, adaptable approach.

Work-life balance & benefits

• 37.5-hour week with lunchtime finishes on a Friday.
• Hybrid / flexible working arrangements.
• 28 days annual leave, plus Christmas closure and a holiday purchasing scheme.
• Group pension plan — matched contributions up to 5%.
• Income protection scheme and life assurance policy, including bereavement counselling and probate helpline.
• Employee Assistance Programme (GP service, second opinion, mental health pathway, physiotherapy).
• Company shares incentive plan and save-as-you-earn scheme.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.
• Health cash plan and a reward platform with high street discounts.
• Wellbeing, sports and social activities.
• Excellent learning & development opportunities.
• Free onsite car parking.

Security clearance: due to the nature of the business, staff need to be able to obtain UK Security Clearance. You’ll need to provide proof of identity, employment history, right to work in the UK, and proof of UK residency for at least five years.