Electrical Engineer - Instrumentation

Location: Santa Clara CA (primarily onsite)

Group: Analyzer Product Group (APG) Engineering

Role Summary

We are looking for an Electrical Engineer to design develop and troubleshoot custom electronics for a Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) product. You will work across analog digital and mixed-signal circuits taking designs from concept through schematic/PCB layout prototype bring-up test/validation and support in manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Development

• Design and develop custom electronics (analog digital mixed-signal) for precision instrumentation and sensor systems
• Own schematic capture and PCB design (placement/routing) including BOM creation DFM/DFT considerations and design reviews
• Perform component selection and trade studies (cost risk availability lifecycle reliability) including derating and failure mode thinking

Board Bring-Up & Debug

• Lead board bring-up: initial power checks clocking comms interfaces fault isolation and root-cause debugging
• Use lab instrumentation (oscilloscope DMM logic analyzer spectrum analyzer) to characterize signals noise timing and power integrity

Test & Validation

• Develop test strategies and write test procedures to verify functionality performance reliability and robustness
• Partner with systems optics/laser firmware/software and manufacturing to troubleshoot instrument-level issues and drive corrective actions

Production Support

• Support transition to production: ECOs documentation test fixtures support and resolving field/manufacturing issues

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent practical experience)
• 3 years of hands-on experience designing and debugging electronics (preferably for instrumentation sensors or embedded systems)

Technical Expertise

• Strong fundamentals in circuit analysis and electronics: analog digital mixed-signal interfaces and signal integrity basics
• Demonstrated experience with board bring-up prototyping soldering/rework and hardware debugging
• Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB design tools (Altium preferred; OrCAD/KiCad acceptable)
• Comfortable using lab equipment: oscilloscope DMM power supplies function generator; logic analyzer experience is a plus

Soft Skills

• Strong problem-solving documentation and communication skills
• Able to work effectively across disciplines

Preferred Qualifications

• Precision analog / low-noise design (TIA photodiode front-ends ADC/DAC interfaces reference/clock design)
• Power architecture experience (switching regulators LDOs grounding strategy ripple/noise control sequencing protection)
• Experience with embedded hardware interfaces (SPI I2C UART CAN USB Ethernet) and supporting firmware teams during integration
• EMC/EMI and compliance awareness; experience designing for noisy environments and mixed analog/digital layouts
• Experience in regulated or high-reliability products (documentation discipline design reviews test coverage)
• Exposure to optoelectronics/instrumentation systems (lasers photodetectors analog front ends precision timing)

The base salary range for this full-time position is $110K to $120K. Our total compensation packages includes base salary bonus eligibility and equity. Your base salary range and title will be determined based on the location experience qualification skills knowledge level and pay of employees in similar positions.

We offer a comprehensive benefit package including:

• Medical Dental and Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
• Life Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Employee Referral Program
• 401K
• Social events (summer picnic holiday party team lunches etc.)
• On-site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges outdoor bootcamp flu-shots etc.)

About Picarro:

We are the worlds leader in timely trusted and actionable data using enhanced optical spectroscopy. Our solutions are used in a wide variety of applications including natural gas leak detection ethylene oxide emissions monitoring semiconductor fabrication pharmaceutical petrochemical atmospheric science air quality greenhouse gas measurements food safety hydrology ecology and more. Our software and hardware are designed and manufactured in Santa Clara California and are used in over 90 countries worldwide based on over 65 patents related to cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology and are unparalleled in their precision ease of use and reliability.

At Picarro we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race sex color religion national origin protected veteran status gender identity social orientation or disability. Posted positions are not open to third-party recruiters/agencies and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals.

At Picarro we strive to ensure that all individuals regardless of their abilities have equal opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying please contact Picarro Inc. assistance.