Senior Electronics & Systems Engineer

ONI; Oxford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

28 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays

Onsite gym

Private healthcare and dental

Inclusive culture

Cycle to work

Health Assured

People’s Pension

Perks at Work

Specsavers Eyecare

Job summary

ONI in Oxford seeks a Senior Electronics & Systems Engineer to lead electronics design across concepts to production. You will own architectures, PCB development and debugging with cross-disciplinary teams spanning electronics, firmware, optics and software.

You will develop production firmware, integrate sensors and actuators and ensure robust interfaces (ADC/DAC, SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, USB, Ethernet). Expect a fast-paced, collaborative environment with ownership of critical hardware systems.

Qualifications

• Strong analogue and digital circuit design fundamentals.
• Schematic capture and PCB layout for multilayer boards.
• Power supply design, distribution, protection and sequencing.
• Low-noise electronics, grounding and signal integrity.
• Sensor interfacing and analogue signal conditioning.
• Microcontrollers and embedded systems development.
• Embedded C/C++, including production firmware and low-level control.
• Interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, USB, Ethernet.
• Practical board bring-up and fault-finding with test equipment.
• Design for EMC/ESD, reliability, manufacturability and test.
• Git and modern software practices; Python for test/automation.
• Working across electronics, firmware, optics, mechanics and software.

Responsibilities

• Own electronics designs from concept through architecture, PCB development, bring-up and production.
• Design robust analogue and digital electronics including power supplies and sensor interfaces.
• Select components balancing performance, cost, manufacturability and product requirements.
• Perform PCB layout with attention to signal integrity, EMC/ESD and DFM/DFT.
• Collaborate with manufacturing to ensure designs are robust in production.
• Bring up hardware and debug complex problems with standard instrumentation.
• Develop production embedded firmware for microcontrollers and related software layers.
• Interface with sensors, actuators and hardware including ADCs/DACs.
• Coordinate with optical and mechanical engineers on interfacing systems.
• Develop test and automation tools and enable CI/CD practices.

Skills

Analogue and digital circuit design

PCB design

Power supply design

Signal integrity

Sensor interfacing

Microcontrollers

Embedded C/C++

Interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, USB,

Ethernet

Debugging with test equipment

Production firmware

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Python for test/automation

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Hardware debuggers

Python

Job description

Join ONI and Explore the Boundaries of Scientific Discovery!

At ONI, we are driven by a profound mission: to propel scientific discovery and combat diseases by granting everyone the ability to visualize, comprehend, and share the intricate microscopic details of life. Our revolutionary Nanoimager and Aplo Scope stand at the forefront of advancing cellular studies on a molecular level, making substantial contributions to the evolution of scientific knowledge.

We are actively seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated Senior Electronics & Systems Engineer to join our pioneering team located in Oxford. We believe in the power of relentless curiosity and the pursuit of excellence, and we invite you to join us in shaping the future of scientific exploration and healthcare breakthroughs.

In this role you will be the go-to technical resource for electronics design, working closely with engineering, software and R&D product teams. Electronics design is at the core of the role, but we are looking for someone who enjoys working beyond the boundaries of the PCB - developing embedded firmware, integrating sensors and actuators, and understanding how electronics interact with optics, mechanics, software and the physical world.

You will have significant technical ownership across the product lifecycle, from circuit and system design through prototyping, bring-up, verification and production. You will also develop production firmware and work further up the software stack where needed to integrate, automate and test the systems you develop.

The role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys solving complex multidisciplinary problems, takes ownership of product outcomes and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Your role at ONI:

• Own electronics designs from concept through architecture, schematic design, PCB development, bring-up, verification and production.
• Design robust analogue and digital electronics, including power supplies, signal conditioning, sensor interfaces, communications and control electronics.
• Make appropriate component and architecture choices, balancing performance, cost, availability, manufacturability and product requirements.
• Undertake PCB design and layout as an integral part of electronics development, working with external PCB designers where appropriate, and considering signal integrity, grounding, noise, EMC/ESD, thermal performance and DFM/DFT.
• Work with manufacturing partners and suppliers to ensure designs are manufacturable, testable and robust through production.
• Bring up new hardware and systematically debug complex problems using oscilloscopes, logic analysers, hardware debuggers and other laboratory instrumentation.
• Develop and maintain production embedded firmware, typically for microcontrollers, alongside low-level firmware for hardware bring-up, control, test and diagnostics.
• Develop and debug interfaces to sensors, actuators and other hardware, including analogue front ends, ADCs/DACs and common digital communication interfaces.
• Work with optical and mechanical engineers on optoelectronic and physical-system interfaces, such as photodetectors, lasers and other light sources, cameras, position and temperature sensing, motors, piezos and other actuators.
• Diagnose issues whose root cause may lie in electronics, firmware, sensors, optics, mechanics, cabling, software or the interactions between them.
• Develop test and automation tools, including Python-based instrumentation, hardware testing and manufacturing QA.
• Support verification, EMC/compliance testing, production test, calibration and transfer of designs into manufacture.
• Support electronics throughout the product lifecycle, including investigation of product and manufacturing issues, root-cause analysis, component obsolescence and design changes.
• Apply modern software engineering practices including source control, automated testing and CI/CD, and make effective use of AI-assisted development tools and coding agents to extend and accelerate your capabilities beyond electronics.

We’d expect experience in many of the following:

• Strong analogue and digital circuit design fundamentals.
• Schematic capture, PCB layout and development of multilayer PCBs.
• Power supply design, power distribution, protection and power sequencing.
• Low-noise electronics, grounding, shielding and signal integrity.
• Sensor interfacing, analogue signal conditioning, amplification, filtering and data conversion.
• Microcontrollers and embedded systems.
• Embedded C/C++, including development of robust production firmware and low-level peripheral control, interrupts, timers, DMA and real-time behaviour.
• Developing from device datasheets and MCU/SoC reference manuals rather than relying solely on high-level libraries.
• Interfaces such as SPI, I²C, UART, CAN, USB and Ethernet.
• Practical board bring-up and fault-finding using oscilloscopes, logic analysers, multimeters and hardware debuggers.
• Design for EMC, ESD, reliability, manufacturability and test.
• Taking electronics through prototype, verification, certification and production.
• Git and modern software development practices, and Python or similar for test, automation and instrumentation.
• Working effectively across electronics, firmware, mechanical, optical and higher-level software disciplines.

Additional desirable experience includes:

• Scientific instrumentation, microscopy, imaging or other precision instruments.
• Optoelectronics, including photodiodes, LEDs/lasers, optical power monitoring or camera/image-sensor interfaces.
• Precision or low-noise analogue electronics.
• Motion control, motors, encoders, piezo actuators or feedback/control systems.
• High-speed data acquisition or communications.
• Production test fixtures, calibration systems and manufacturing automation.
• System-level debugging across complex multidisciplinary systems, including electronics, firmware, optics, mechanics and software.
• Using coding agents or other AI-assisted development tools to build test, automation or hardware-control applications.

At ONI, we understand that a fulfilling career involves more than just challenging work - it’s about enjoying a well-rounded experience. When you become a part of our team, you not only contribute to groundbreaking research but also enjoy a range of benefits designed to enhance your life both inside and outside the workplace.

As an equal opportunity employer, we prioritize fairness and respect, ensuring every team member thrives regardless of their background. But that’s not all - our perks include:

• Competitive Compensation: We recognize and reward your talent. Enjoy a competitive salary that reflects your expertise and contributions, ensuring your hard work is recognized.
• 28 days of annual leave plus 8 bank holidays and 4 dedicated wellbeing days.
• Onsite Gym Facilities: Stay active and energized with our convenient onsite gym, promoting your overall health.
• Private Healthcare and Dental Coverage: Your health matters to us. Access top-notch medical and dental services, ensuring your well-being is in good hands.
• Inclusive Culture: Be a valued member of our diverse, inclusive family. Your unique perspective is celebrated here, fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding.
• Cycle To Work Scheme: Embrace a sustainable commute with our cycle to work program, promoting eco-friendly travel and a healthy lifestyle.
• Health Assured: Your mental health is essential. Access our comprehensive mental health support services for a balanced work-life experience.
• People’s Pension: Secure your future with our pension scheme, investing in your financial well-being beyond the workplace.
• Perks at Work: Enjoy exclusive discounts and deals through our perks at work program, adding value to your everyday life.
• Specsavers Eyecare: Your vision matters. Benefit from our eyecare program with Specsavers, ensuring your eyes stay healthy and your vision clear.

If you are driven by innovation, eager to make a significant impact in the realm of scientific and medical research, and possess the skills and passion we are looking for, we invite you to apply and be a part of our mission to improve our understanding of the details of life.