Systems Engineer

When joining PerkinElmer, you select an experienced and trusted leader in scientific solutions, with the support of a global service network and distribution centers, providing the right solution, at the right time, to meet critical customer needs.  With over an 80+ year legacy of advancing science and a mission of innovating for a healthier world, our dedicated team collaborates closely with commercial, government, academic and healthcare customers to deliver our broad portfolio of analytical solutions, and OneSource services.

Job Title

Systems Engineer

Location(s)

High Wycombe

Job Description

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.