Lead Electrical Architect

Nearfield Instruments; Rotterdam; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Nearfield Instruments is seeking a Lead Electrical Architect to own the infrastructure, interlocking and computing function of its metrology platforms. You will define the electrical architecture and platform roadmaps, and lead cross-disciplinary teams from concept to industrialized systems in semiconductor fabs.

As a principal engineer, you will mentor engineers, drive architectural trade-offs, ensure safety, EMC and system integration, and collaborate with suppliers.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or equivalent.
• 10+ years of experience in electrical system design for complex, high‑precision equipment.
• Demonstrated ownership of system‑level electrical architectures brought to industrialized products.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end electrical architecture at system level and translate requirements into electrical concepts and design rules.
• Set direction for electrical design across subsystems including power distribution, grounding, EMC, signal integrity, safety and control electronics.
• Lead root-cause analysis for complex system-level issues and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and certifications.
• Mentor engineers and architects, elevate technical quality, and grow organizational capability in electrical system design and integration.
• Represent the electrical domain in system architecture discussions, project reviews, and external technical engagements.

Skills

System architecture

EMC & SI

Safety-critical design

Mentorship

Stakeholder communication

Education

MSc/PhD Electrical Engineering

Tools

UL design experience

Job description

As Lead Electrical Architect, you are the system owner for the Infrastructure, Interlocking and Computing function of Nearfield Instruments’ metrology platforms. Together with your team, you define the electrical architecture, platform roadmaps, make key technical trade-offs, and ensure robust execution from early concept through industrialized systems deployed at leading semiconductor fabs. You operate as a principal-level engineer: hands‑on where it matters, decisive in design choices, and a technical authority across disciplines.

Responsibilities

Electrical System Ownership

Own and actively lead the end‑to‑end electrical architecture at system level, combining your own architectural input with leadership of architects and engineers to deliver solutions that meet performance, reliability, safety, and manufacturability targets. Translate system requirements into clear electrical concepts, interfaces, and design rules. Drive architectural decisions and resolve cross‑disciplinary trade‑offs.

Technical Leadership & Design Authority

Set direction for electrical design across subsystems including power distribution, grounding, EMC, signal integrity, safety, sensors, actuators, and control electronics. Review, challenge, and approve electrical designs. Establish standards, best practices, and design guidelines and expectations across the organization and our collaborative partners.

Integration, Validation & Problem Solving

Combining input and considerations from the whole organization, assure the cycle time/MTTR/etc targets are met for electrical integration at machine level, and support critical build, test, and bring‑up phases. Take ownership of complex system‑level issues, drive root‑cause analysis, and implement structurally sound solutions. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and certifications.

Mentorship & Capability Building

Act as the senior technical reference for electrical engineering within NFI. Mentor engineers and architects, elevate technical quality, and grow organizational capability in electrical system design and integration.

Stakeholder & Partner Interaction

Represent the electrical domain in system architecture discussions, project reviews, and external technical engagements. Guide component strategy and supplier interactions where electrical design choices are critical.

Background & Experience

• MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or equivalent.
• 10+ years of experience in electrical system design for complex, high‑precision equipment (semiconductor tools, metrology systems, advanced instrumentation, robotics, or similar).
• Demonstrated ownership of system‑level electrical architectures brought to industrialized products.
• Experience operating as a senior, lead, or principal engineer in multidisciplinary environments.

Technical Depth

• Strong expertise in electrical system architecture, EMC, power and signal integrity, and safety‑critical design.
• Proven ability to balance performance, risk, cost, and manufacturability at system level.
• Solid understanding of mechanical, mechatronic, and software interfaces.
• Proven Compliance/UL design experience

Personal Profile

• Clear technical authority with strong judgment and decision‑making skills.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and driving solutions in experimental, high‑end engineering environments.
• Direct, structured communicator who aligns teams through technical clarity rather than hierarchy.
• Fluent in English, written and spoken.