Embedded Electronics Engineer II – Imaging Systems

Thorlabs; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 84,900 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Company paid life insurance

Generous PTO package

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Thorlabs in Sterling, VA seeks an Electrical/Embedded Engineer II to design, develop, and support advanced electronic systems for scientific imaging, microscope systems, and research instrumentation. You will bridge hardware and low-level firmware, owning modules from concept through production release in a lean manufacturing environment.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate electrical, firmware, software, optical, and electromechanical subsystems, troubleshoot complex

Qualifications

• 4–8 years of experience designing electronic hardware and embedded systems for scientific instrumentation.
• Experience developing products from concept through prototype, validation, manufacturing release, and production support.
• Experience troubleshooting complex hardware, firmware, and integrated system issues.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams in a product development environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electronics for precision scientific instruments, microscope systems, and peripherals.
• Develop embedded firmware and hardware abstraction layers for microcontrollers and embedded processors using C/C++.
• Design low-noise analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits for precision instrumentation, imaging systems, detectors, laser control, motion control, and data acquisition.
• Own electrical designs from concept through schematic capture, PCB layout, prototype validation, debugging, manufacturing release, and sustaining engineering.
• Develop electro-optical and electro-mechanical designs supporting new catalog products and custom systems.
• Integrate electrical, firmware, software, optical, and electromechanical subsystems into complete imaging systems.
• Troubleshoot complex system‑level issues involving hardware, firmware, software, optics, and electromechanical assemblies.
• Perform circuit simulation and electronic verification using industry‑standard simulation and laboratory tools.
• Design manufacturing test fixtures, validation procedures, and production test plans.
• Prepare and maintain engineering documentation including BOMs, schematics, PCB files, drawings, test procedures, manufacturing documentation, and material specifications.
• Support transfer of new products from R&D into Manufacturing emphasizing DFM and DFT.
• Manage project schedules, technical milestones, and engineering deliverables.
• Coordinate with component vendors, PCB fabricators, contract manufacturers, and suppliers.
• Participate in design reviews and mentor junior engineers and technicians.
• Assist Manufacturing and Production with troubleshooting.
• Occasionally participate in technical discussions with customers, Sales, Product Management, and Field Service.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Embedded systems design

Analog/digital circuit design

Low-noise analog design

PCB layout (Altium)

ARM Cortex processors

System integration

Troubleshooting complex systems

Hardware-software co-design

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Altium Designer

Oscilloscopes & lab instruments

SPICE simulation

Multilayer PCB layout

Job description

Thorlabs in Sterling, VA seeks an Electrical/Embedded Engineer II to design, develop, and support advanced electronic systems for scientific imaging, microscope systems, and research instrumentation. You will bridge hardware and low-level firmware, owning modules from concept through production release in a lean manufacturing environment.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate electrical, firmware, software, optical, and electromechanical subsystems, troubleshoot complex