Principal Electrical Engineer, Instrument Development

Lead instrument development from concept through prototype and deployment, including requirements, architecture, schematic/layout oversight, bring-up, calibration, and characterization.

Architect and design precision, low-noise, and mixed-signal electronics for measurement and control, including signal integrity, grounding/shielding, and power integrity in demanding lab/cryo-adjacent environments.

Define timing/clocking and synchronization approaches across instruments and subsystems; own key electrical interfaces between instruments, cryo hardware, and control/readout stacks.

Drive robust validation of instruments (test plans, automated measurements, calibration workflows, and acceptance criteria), and use data to improve performance, reliability, and manufacturability.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams including quantum research, architecture, experimentalists, cryogenics, firmware/software, and test engineering to translate system needs into measurable electrical specifications and instrument roadmaps.

Define and maintain shared reference and validation platforms (bench/rack/PCB/interconnect) used to de-risk new designs, enable rapid bring-up, and provide repeatable regression coverage for critical slices of the stack.

Lead vendor engagement and manage build/buy decisions for instrument and validation hardware (e.g., chassis/backplanes, connectors/cabling, clocks, power modules, test fixtures), including qualification plans and acceptance criteria.

Doctorate in Electrical Engineering or related field AND 3+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment Ability to leverage AI tools to drive innovation and efficiency (e.g., performance modeling and analysis, research gathering, day to day task automation).

Ability to work in an “AI-first” environment using modern AI tools to accelerate discovery through hardware development. Demonstrated technical leadership in architecting and delivering complex electrical instruments or measurement/control systems (e.g., modular racks/chassis, mixed-signal boards, precision analog front-ends, timing/clocking, or high-speed data acquisition).

Experience defining validation strategies and executing bring-up/debug for electrical instruments and hardware systems, including test planning, measurement automation, and failure analysis.

Proficient fundamentals in at least two of the following: precision analog design, mixed-signal design, signal integrity/power integrity, timing/clocking distribution, RF/microwave, or high-speed digital interfaces.

Effective communication skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines (physics, firmware/software, mechanical/thermal, manufacturing, and test).

Experience delivering instruments from prototype to sustained operation, including calibration/characterization, reliability improvements, and documentation suitable for broader team use.

Experience with high-reliability interconnect and packaging constraints (connectors, harnessing, impedance control, grounding/shielding) Experience with compliance, safety, and practical deployability deployment considerations for instruments (EMC/EMI, grounding, safety interlocks, ESD, and serviceability).

Experience building shared reference/validation testbeds that de-risk new designs and improve development throughput across teams. Experience delivering complex products in a fast-paced environment with evolving requirements, including cross-team alignment and milestone-driven execution.

Experience collaborating with firmware/FPGA and driver/software teams to define interfaces and debug across HW/FW/SW boundaries. Track record of mentorship and technical leadership, including setting design/validation bars and guiding others through complex bring-up and debug.