Principal Electrical Engineer

Cutera, Inc.; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Cutera, Inc. is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to lead power, analog, and digital design for next-generation medical devices, spanning laser, ultrasound, RF, and related technologies.

You will drive system-level architecture, oversee design verification, and guide complex cross-functional reviews to ensure product safety, performance, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of electrical engineering experience, ideally in medical devices.
• Proven design and development of electronics from concept to production.
• Strong systems-level electrical design, integration, debugging, and testing.

Responsibilities

• Design sensor interfaces, display drivers, power supplies, and control electronics for high-power laser and RF applications.
• Develop schematics and PCB layouts using industry-standard tools.
• Lead transfer of new products from development into production with Manufacturing and Quality teams.
• Provide technical input into design specifications, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Mentor junior engineers and enforce engineering best practices across the team.
• Collaborate with Cross-functional teams including Mechanical, Optical, Software, Clinical, and Regulatory.

Skills

15+ years experience

Medical devices

System-level design

Power electronics

EMC/EMI expertise

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

LTspice

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Altium Designer

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Principal Electrical Engineer to join our R&D Electrical Engineering team and contribute to the development of next-generation medical devices and applications. Projects span a broad range of technologies, including complex laser and optical delivery systems, ultrasound, and radio-frequency (RF) devices. This position will play a key role in developing sophisticated electronic systems that power these products and supporting their successful transition from concept through commercialization.

The engineer will serve as a technical resource for power supply, sensor interface, analog, and digital circuit design, working closely with cross-functional teams including Mechanical, Optical, Software, Clinical, Manufacturing, Quality, and Regulatory.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Operate with the highest level of independence to drive complex technical issues to resolution and establish the technical direction for the R&D department.
• Articulate complex designs, technical risks, and R&D roadmaps to executive management to ensure engineering efforts align with business commercialization goals.
• Drive "New Product Architecture" initiatives by defining system-level designs for next-generation medical devices and leading complex cross-functional design reviews to ensure total system integrity.
• Maintain expert-level knowledge of industry technology trends to actively drive innovation within the R&D department and serve as a primary thought leader for the electrical engineering function.
• Proactively manage professional development and continued education to stay at the forefront of engineering best practices, emerging technologies, and advanced design and simulation tools.
• When required serve as the final technical authority on design verification and validation strategies, ensuring the company’s engineering practices evolve to meet changing global regulatory standards.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior and staff-level engineers, fostering their professional development and ensuring the consistent application of engineering best practices across the R&D team.
• Lead strategic technical engagements with key PCB, component, and tooling suppliers to influence technology roadmaps, establish critical vendor partnerships, and drive holistic optimizations for performance, quality, and cost-efficiency across all R&D platforms.
• Define project scope, priorities, schedules, and technical deliverables in alignment with departmental and product development goals.
• Design sensor interfaces, display drivers, power supplies, and control electronics for high-power laser and RF applications.
• Develop schematics and PCB layouts using industry-standard design tools.
• Design, integrate, and test analog and digital control circuits.
• Lead the transfer of new products from development into production, working closely with Manufacturing and Quality teams.
• Provide technical input into design specifications, risk management, and product development activities.
• Ensure electrical safety, EMC, and regulatory compliance across product designs.
• Develop and execute test plans to support design verification and validation of electronic systems.
• Collaborate closely with systems, mechanical, UI/UX and software engineering to support system-level architecture and implementation.
• Troubleshoot complex electronic systems and perform root-cause analysis of new and existing designs.
• Support continuous improvement of existing products, processes, and engineering practices.
• Other duties as needed or required.

Minimum Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering; Master’s degree preferred.
• 15+ years of relevant electrical engineering experience, preferably within medical devices or energy-based medical devices and controlled physical energy forms—such as lasers, radiofrequency, and ultrasound
• Proven experience designing and developing electronics for commercial products from concept through production.
• Strong background in systems-level electrical design, integration, debugging, and testing for complex products.
• Experience designing and controlling diode-pumped solid-state and flashlamp-pumped laser systems.
• Strong proficiency in analog and digital circuit design.
• Extensive experience with board-level debugging, testing, documentation, and design troubleshooting.
• Strong understanding of EMI/EMC principles, radiated emissions, and mitigation techniques.
• Proficiency with engineering simulation, data analysis, and automation tools such as LTspice, MATLAB, and LabVIEW.
• Expertise with schematic capture and PCB layout tools; Altium Designer preferred.
• Experience working with high-voltage electronics and power electronics.
• Familiarity with PID controllers, electromechanical systems, electro-optics, sensors, and instrumentation.
• Experience with IEC 60601-1, EMC standards, ISO 14971, and related medical device regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with Electrical, Mechanical, Optical, Software, Clinical, Manufacturing, Quality, and Regulatory teams.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently drive complex technical issues to resolution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate technical concepts and make sound engineering recommendations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Experience developing high-power laser, RF, ultrasound, or other energy-based medical devices.
• Experience with electrical safety and EMC testing and certification processes.