Systems Engineer

Senior Systems Engineer — Material Characterization

Reports to: Systems Engineering Leader, Material Characterization

Scope: System design, requirements definition and design verification for high-performance Material Characterization instruments — Fourier transform infrared spectrometers, UV-Visible spectrometers and differential scanning calorimeters — from concept through launch and manufacturing support.

Provide senior systems engineering leadership within a multidisciplinary R&D team developing complex, high-precision optical and thermal analysis instrumentation. The role owns system-level design and specification for assigned programmes — developing a deep understanding of how the products are used, the underlying technology and the drivers of performance, reliability and cost — and leads design verification from planning through execution. The emphasis is on quality by design and up-front analysis rather than design evolution; the Senior Systems Engineer is expected to guide less experienced engineers and drive technical problem-solving to conclusion.

1. System design and architecture

• Lead concept development and system-level design for new products and major platform changes.
• Contribute design calculations and modelling across optical, mechanical, electronic, thermal or algorithmic aspects of the system, depending on project needs.
• Understand product performance parameters at system and sub-system level, and how design choices affect performance, reliability and cost.
• Reduce technical risk early through analysis, prototyping and structured experimentation.

2. Requirements and specification

• Develop and document high-level functional and performance requirements from customer and business needs.
• Decompose system requirements into detailed, testable sub-system specifications.
• Maintain requirements traceability from customer need through to verification evidence.
• Specify the software, fixtures and test equipment required for verification activities.

3. Design verification

• Define the verification strategy and author test plans for prototype evaluation and design-verification builds.
• Design and conduct experiments to test product performance and the performance of manufacturing fixtures; work with external test houses where required.
• Use knowledge of potential failure modes to design experiments that verify design assumptions as well as system performance.
• Analyse experimental data and produce clear summary reports that support design decisions and gate reviews.

4. Product quality and root cause analysis

• Generally and proactively promote product quality.
• Lead root cause investigation of selected manufacturing and field failures and drive remedial actions to conclusion.
• Liaise with Manufacturing and Service to understand quality issues; identify and specify manufacturing test and QA fixtures and processes.

5. Collaboration and mentoring

• Work within multifunctional project teams, directing troubleshooting internally and with consultants and suppliers.
• Actively participate in design reviews across engineering disciplines.
• Guide and mentor junior engineers in test planning, execution and interpretation of results.

• Build a working understanding of the product range, key performance parameters and current development programmes.
• Establish relationships across the R&D team, Manufacturing and Service.
• Take ownership of requirements definition and verification planning for an assigned programme.
• Review current verification practices and identify opportunities to strengthen quality by design.

Essential

• Degree in Physics or an engineering discipline.
• Substantial experience in the design, verification and troubleshooting of high-precision electro-mechanical or scientific instrumentation.
• Experience working within a structured product-development programme, with a quality-by-design approach.
• Proven ability to assess technical risk, recognise failure modes, and design and conduct experiments to verify performance.
• Strong data analysis and report-writing skills; proficient with software for data collection and analysis.
• Proven ability to plan a programme of work and drive it to completion.

Preferred

• Postgraduate qualification in an engineering or physical science discipline.
• Experience with thermal analysis instrumentation (DSC, TGA), FT-IR or UV-Visible spectroscopy, including infrared detectors and associated pre-amplifier design.
• Knowledge of optics, control system modelling or signal processing.
• Formal training in FMEA and familiarity with structured product design methodologies.
• Experience mentoring or technically leading small teams.

PerkinElmer is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.