Sr. Electrical Engineer

Danaher; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Molecular Devices, a Danaher operating company, seeks a Senior Electrical Engineer in San Jose, CA to architect, design, and sustain electrical subsystems for life-science instrumentation. Lead hands-on hardware development from concept to production, focusing on reliable electronics, motion and sensor control, and digital interfaces.

You will collaborate with systems, mechanical, software, and quality teams to translate requirements into robust PCB designs, verify through tests, and drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience developing electrical components for complex electromechanical products.
• Demonstrated proficiency in mixed‑signal circuit design and PCB development.
• Hands‑on experience with Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB design, and SOLIDWORKS for mechanical integration reviews.
• FPGA/CPLD design using VHDL or Verilog with hardware debugging experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the electrical design of instrument subsystems, including analog and digital circuitry, FPGA- and CPLD-based logic, power distribution, motor and actuator control, sensors, interfaces, and safety functions.
• Translate user needs and system requirements into electrical architectures, schematics, PCB designs, and verification plans.
• Build and test prototypes, perform board bring‑up, system integration, troubleshooting, and design verification.
• Collaborate with systems, mechanical, software, firmware, quality, regulatory, and service teams to conduct risk assessments, reviews, and production readiness.

Skills

Electrical design

Mixed-signal design

FPGA/Verilog

Schematic capture

PCB layout

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

SOLIDWORKS

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

VHDL/Verilog tools

Job description

Bring more to life.

Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology?

At Molecular Devices, one of Danaher's operating companies, our work saves lives, and we are united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact.

You’ll thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. And by harnessing Danaher's system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact, innovating at the speed of life.

Join Molecular Devices and help drive scientific discovery for life science customers in academia, biotech, pharma, and government. Our automated and AI-enabled technology empowers researchers to tackle complex questions and gain deep insights, accelerating the development of safer, more effective therapeutics. As part of our team, rooted in collaboration, authenticity, and innovation, you will contribute to groundbreaking science that enhances lives globally and shapes a healthier future for all.

Learn about the Danaher Business System, which makes everything possible.

The Senior Electrical Engineer is responsible for architecting, designing, integrating, and sustaining the electrical subsystems used in complex life science instrumentation. This role provides hands‑on technical leadership from concept through production, with focus on reliable electronics, motion and sensor control, programmable logic, digital communications, design verification, and resolution of field and manufacturing issues. This position reports to the Manager, BioDiscovery R&D and is part of the BioDiscovery R&D Engineering team located in San Jose, California.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Own the electrical design of instrument subsystems, including analog and digital circuitry, FPGA- and CPLD-based logic, power distribution, motor and actuator control, sensors, communications interfaces, and safety-related functions.
• Translate user needs and system requirements into electrical architecture, schematics, printed circuit board designs, interface specifications, verification plans, risk-control measures, and complete design documentation.
• Build and test prototypes; perform board bring‑up, system integration, troubleshooting, root‑cause analysis, and design verification using laboratory instrumentation and structured problem‑solving methods.
• Partner with systems, mechanical, software, firmware, quality, regulatory, and service teams to conduct risk assessments and design reviews; support product release and sustaining engineering; and resolve manufacturing and field issues through root‑cause analysis and corrective action.

The essential requirements of the job include:

• At minimum, a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience developing electrical components for complex electromechanical products, including ownership of designs through integration, verification, and production release.
• Demonstrated proficiency in mixed‑signal circuit design, schematic capture, multilayer printed circuit board development, power electronics, motor or actuator control, sensors and interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, USB, CAN, or Ethernet.
• Required hands‑on experience with Altium Designer for schematic capture and printed circuit board design, and SOLIDWORKS for mechanical packaging, enclosure, assembly, and electrical‑mechanical integration reviews.
• Hands‑on proficiency with FPGA and CPLD design using VHDL or Verilog, including logic simulation, synthesis, timing analysis, device programming, and hardware debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, digital multimeters, power supplies, version control, and vendor development tools.

Travel, Motor Vehicle Record & Physical/Environment Requirements:

• Ability to work in an engineering laboratory and manufacturing environment in San Jose, California.
• Ability to handle and move benchtop instruments, prototypes, and test equipment weighing up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Some traveling might be required.

It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:

• Developing life science, medical, laboratory automation, robotics, imaging, or analytical instrumentation within an ISO‑aligned quality system using formal design‑control and risk‑management processes.
• Electromagnetic compatibility, electrical safety, environmental, and reliability testing for commercial instrumentation, including design‑for‑compliance and mitigation practices.
• High‑speed digital design, hardware‑description‑language testbenches, scripting‑based test automation, product lifecycle management systems, Jira, or Agile product‑development methods.

Molecular Devices, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives. Whether it is a health care program or paid time off, our programs contri