Lead Electrical Architect

Nearfield Instruments; Rotterdam; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading metrology technology company in Rotterdam seeks an experienced Electrical Lead to oversee the design and implementation of electrical architectures for complex systems. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensuring high-quality deliverables while mentoring junior engineers. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years of experience in electrical system design, a strong background in EMC and safety-critical design, and the ability to operate effectively in high-end engineering environments. Fluent English is required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in electrical system design for complex high-precision equipment.
• Proven ability to balance performance, risk, cost, and manufacturability at system level.
• Experience operating as a senior, lead, or principal engineer.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead end-to-end electrical architecture at system level.
• Set direction for electrical design across subsystems.
• Drive root-cause analysis and implement structurally sound solutions.
• Mentor engineers and elevate technical quality.
• Represent the electrical domain in system architecture discussions.

Skills

Electrical system architecture

EMC expertise

Signal integrity

Safety-critical design

Education

MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering or Electronics

Job description

Overview

As Electrical Lead, 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
  Combine input and considerations from the whole organization, assure the cycle time/MTTR 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.