Senior Electrical Engineer

Physical Electronics; Chanhassen (MN); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off and holidays

Disability and life insurance

Profit sharing potential

Job summary

Physical Electronics USA seeks a Senior Electronics Design Engineer to lead a small team while remaining hands-on in the lab. You will design custom mixed-signal controls and data-acquisition electronics used in advanced instrumentation, balancing leadership with practical engineering work.

The role requires 10+ years in mixed-signal chassis electronics, strong proficiency in analog design, embedded control systems, and collaboration across software, hardware, and manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years designing chassis-level mixed-signal control electronics; 15+ years preferred.
• Expertise in mixed-signal design, test, and integration; control and data acquisition/processing.
• Experience with medium- to high-voltage analog electronics and safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small team of mixed-signal electronics engineers and technicians.
• Translate system requirements into unit-level specs, plans, cost estimates, schedules, and resource requirements.
• Design, prototype, test, document, and support custom mixed-signal electronic controls and data-acquisition systems.
• Collaborate with software, systems, mechanical, manufacturing, and service teams on design, integration testing, documentation, and product support.

Skills

Mixed-signal design

Leadership

Project planning

Embedded firmware

FPGA

Microcontrollers

Verilog

Python

Raspberry Pi

Low-noise analog design

Hardware–software integration

Test & debugging

USB/Ethernet/SPI

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Altium

OrCAD

PSpice

Job description

Are you a senior electronics design engineer who enjoys leading a highly technical team while

remaining hands-on in the lab?

Do you want to design custom mixed-signal controls and data-acquisition electronics used at the

leading edge of applied science?

Physical Electronics USA (PHI) is seeking a Senior Electronics Design Engineer to provide technical

leadership to a small design group of five to seven engineers and technicians. This role combines

hands-on design and prototyping with technical supervision, resource planning, project leadership,

and cross-functional system integration.

PHI is a global leader in analytical instrumentation for the surface analysis market. Our products

integrate advanced digital and analog electronics, embedded systems, instrument-control software,

precision mechanical and electromechanical systems, high-voltage electron and ion optics, and

automation. PHI instruments are used by leading research institutes, universities, and industrial

laboratories worldwide.

What You Will Do

Technical Leadership and Engineering Planning

• Provide technical leadership and supervisory oversight for a group of mixed-signal electronics design engineers and technicians.
• Translate system-level requirements into unit-level engineering specifications, development plans, cost estimates, schedules, and resource requirements.
• Provide project-planning input, manage technical risk, and work with PHI R&D leadership and ULVAC-PHI in Japan to develop the annual engineering plan.
• Maintain PHI’s state-of-the-art electronics design capability through technical study, continuing education, and practical application of emerging technologies.

Design, Prototype, Test, and Support

• Design, prototype, procure, build, test, document, and support custom mixed-signal electronic controls and data-acquisition systems.
• Develop low-noise, medium- to high-speed analog circuits and medium- to high-voltage analog circuits ranging from approximately 200 V to 30 kV.
• Design embedded control systems using microcontrollers and FPGAs; contribute to firmware development using technologies such as Raspberry Pi, Python, and Verilog.
• Design and integrate digital communications including USB, Ethernet, SPI, and related interfaces.
• Lead complex hardware/software system-level integration, test, troubleshooting, and debug activities.

Manufacturing and Cross-Functional Partnership

• Create and manage strategic partnerships with contract electronics manufacturers.
• Apply current PCB- and chassis-level electronics manufacturing methods and design-for-manufacturability best practices.
• Partner with software, systems, mechanical, manufacturing, and service teams on system design, integration testing, documentation, and product support.
• Provide guidance for continuing engineering, reliability improvements, obsolescence management, and support of PHI’s current electronics suite.

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a closely related field; an advanced degree is preferred.
• More than 10 years of experience designing chassis-level mixed-signal control electronics for highly integrated hardware/software products; 15 or more years is preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in mixed-signal electronics design, test, and integration; control and data acquisition/processing; digital communications; and low-noise analog design.
• Experience with medium- to high-voltage analog electronics and appropriate high-voltage design and safety practices.

PHYSICAL ELECTRONICS USA | CAREER OPPORTUNITY

• Hands-on experience with microcontrollers, FPGAs, embedded firmware, PCB design, circuit simulation, prototyping, and laboratory test equipment.
• Competency with modern electronic design CAD tools such as Altium, OrCAD, and PSpice.
• Working knowledge of PCB and chassis-level manufacturing technologies, contract manufacturing, and design for manufacturability.
• Demonstrated project leadership in estimating, planning, risk mitigation, resource coordination, and execution management.
• Ability and desire to lead a small, highly technical engineering team while remaining actively involved in design and problem-solving.

Preferred Qualifications

• materials, or advanced manufacturing applications.
• Experience working with international engineering or manufacturing partners, particularly in a
• Experience supporting products through design transfer, manufacturing, field service, reliability improvement, and lifecycle management.
• Ability to travel occasionally to business-partner and customer locations, including internationally, generally fewer than 10 days per year.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated starting salary range for this position is $135,000 to $165,000 annually. The actual starting salary will be determined based on the selected candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, skills, and internal equity.

Physical Electronics USA offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; paid time off; paid holidays; disability and life insurance; and other company-sponsored benefits and programs. This position may also be eligible for company profit sharing or other incentive compensation in accordance with applicable company plans.

Why Join Physical Electronics?

Physical Electronics develops advanced scientific instrumentation used by organizations working in semiconductors, energy storage, advanced materials, coatings, and other innovative technologies. In this role, you will:

• Lead a small, experienced technical team while continuing to design, prototype, and solve
• Shape the next generation of custom electronics for sophisticated scientific instrumentation.
• Work across electronics, software, systems, manufacturing, service, and global engineering teams.
• Make a visible impact on product performance, reliability, manufacturability, and long-term technology direction.

technology direction. We are looking for a hands-on technical leader who enjoys developing people, solving difficult system-level problems, and turning complex requirements into dependable, manufacturable electronics. Apply today to help advance the technology behind PHI’s world-class surface analysis instruments.

Physical Electronics USA is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.