Senior Principal Electrical Engineer

ALKU; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

ALKU in Northridge, CA is seeking a Senior Principal Electrical Engineer with deep expertise in electrochemical biosensing to lead the development of next-generation medical devices for diabetes management.

You will guide cross-functional teams, own sensor electronics design, verification, and regulatory compliance, and drive innovation from concept through validation to production in a fast-paced, onsite environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 10+ years in relevant field.
• Master's degree with 8+ years in relevant field is preferred.
• PhD with 6+ years in relevant field is acceptable.
• Experience with ISO 13485 and FDA medical device standards is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical design of electrochemical glucose sensor systems, including circuitry and embedded systems.
• Define verification and validation strategies for sensor electronics and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Oversee risk analyses (FMEA) and design reviews for sensor components.
• Collaborate with regulatory and quality teams to support submissions and audits.
• Mentor junior engineers and present technical findings to leadership.

Skills

Technical leadership

Electrical design

Signal processing

FMEA

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

Cadence

Altium

SPICE

Job description

Seeking a highly experienced Senior Principal Electrical Engineer with specialized expertise in electrochemical biosensing to lead the development of next-generation medical devices. This role requires deep technical knowledge in biosensor design, electrochemical systems, and medical device regulations to drive innovation in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

As a Senior Principal Electrical Engineer, you will play a critical leadership role in the design, development, and optimization of cutting-edge electrochemical glucose sensor technology for diabetes management. You will provide technical expertise, drive innovation, and guide cross-functional teams to deliver safe, effective, and reliable medical devices that improve patient outcomes. Candidates must be willing to work in a fast-paced, multi-tasking, team environment.

Join a passionate team dedicated to transforming diabetes care through innovative sensor technology. You’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives and work with some of the brightest minds in the medical device industry.

Technical Leadership:

• Lead the electrical design and development of advanced electrochemical glucose sensor systems, including circuitry, embedded systems, and signal processing algorithms.
• Define and execute verification and validation strategies for sensor electronics, ensuring compliance with relevant medical device standards (ISO 13485, IEC 60601, etc.).
• Drive innovation through the evaluation and adoption of new materials, sensor architectures, and low-power electronics.
• Oversee design documentation, risk analysis, and failure mode analysis (FMEA) for sensor-related components.
• Interface with external partners, suppliers, and research organizations to advance sensor technology.
• Present technical findings and project updates to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

Design & Development:

• Architect electrical systems for continuous glucose monitors or other diagnostic platforms
• Develop signal conditioning circuits, analog front ends, and data acquisition systems for biosensor applications
• Design low-noise, high-precision potentiostat circuits and amperometric measurement systems
• Develop algorithms for signal processing, noise reduction, and biomarker detection
• Create electrical interfaces between biosensors and embedded systems
• Optimize sensor performance parameters including sensitivity, selectivity, and stability
• Drive innovation in sensor miniaturization, power optimization, and wireless connectivity

Technical Oversight:

• Collaborate with chemistry, mechanical, software, systems, and manufacturing teams to integrate sensor technology into commercial diabetes devices.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers and project teams in design best practices, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis.
• Review and approve electrical designs, test protocols, and validation procedures
• Lead design reviews and risk analysis activities

Regulatory & Quality:

• Ensure designs comply with FDA regulations (21 CFR Part 820), IEC 60601, and ISO 13485
• Support regulatory submissions including 510(k) and PMA applications
• Implement design controls and verification/validation protocols per medical device standards
• Partner with regulatory and quality teams to support submissions, audits, and compliance activities.

Required Knowledge and Experience:

Requires a Bachelor's degree and minimum of 10 years of relevant experience OR Master's degree with a minimum of 8 years relevant experience OR PhD with 6 years relevant experience.

Nice to Have:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience with electrochemical biosensing systems
• Deep understanding of electrochemical principles (cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, potentiometry)
• Experience with biosensor fabrication techniques and electrode materials
• Knowledge of biocompatibility requirements and sensor packaging for biological environments
• Experience with wireless communication protocols (Bluetooth, NFC) for medical devices
• Proficiency in circuit simulation tools (SPICE, Cadence) and PCB design (Altium )
• Deep knowledge of PCBA design and manufacturing processes
• Previous experience with continuous glucose monitoring or other implantable sensors
• Experience with ISO 14971 risk management processes
• Publication record in peer-reviewed journals related to biosensing

*This job is fully onsite in Northridge, CA*