Senior R & D Engineer, Electrical Engineering
Implantable Neuroelectronics Team (IRTU)
Location: San Diego, CA (On-site)

Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

We are seeking a R&D Electrical Engineer to own the electrical and electronic hardware design of Synchron's implantable devices. This individual will serve as the engineering authority for the implant's electrical architecture - spanning neural front-end acquisition, mixed-signal ASIC integration, power management, RF telemetry, and PCB/flex-circuit design - with accountability from concept through design verification.

This is a hands-on, technically deep role with significant cross-functional visibility. The successful candidate must be equally comfortable reviewing schematic details and defining system-level electrical architecture as the program moves through typical development phases.

Key Responsibilities

Electrical Architecture & Circuit Design
• Own the end-to-end electrical architecture of the implant, including neural acquisition front end, mixed-signal processing, power regulation, and RF telemetry subsystems
• Lead schematic design, component selection, and circuit simulation for ultra-low-power implantable electronics
• Define electrical interface specifications and performance budgets across the implant system (power, noise, bandwidth, data throughput)
• Drive ASIC integration and co-design with silicon partners, defining specifications, test plans, and bring-up procedures

PCB & Flex-Circuit Development
• Lead design of miniaturized, high-density PCB and flex-rigid circuit assemblies suitable for chronic implantation
• Manage layout reviews, signal integrity analysis, and design-for-manufacturing constraints at implant scale
• Coordinate with mechanical engineering on board-level integration within hermetically sealed enclosures

Power Management & RF Telemetry
• Architect power delivery and energy harvesting/storage strategies for long-duration implant operation
• Design and optimize wireless communication links (custom RF, BLE, or inductive) under biological tissue constraints
• Establish power budgets and duty-cycling strategies that balance neural data throughput against implant longevity

Verification, Test & Reliability
• Define and execute electrical verification and validation test plans aligned with design control requirements
• Lead bench-level characterization, environmental testing, and EMC/EMI assessment of implant electronics
• Own failure analysis and root-cause investigation for electrical anomalies across prototype and production builds
• Establish design-for-reliability practices including derating analysis, accelerated life testing, and worst-case circuit analysis

Regulatory & Design Controls
• Serve as electrical engineering lead within the design controls framework (IEC 60601, IEC 62304)
• Author and maintain electrical design inputs, risk analyses (per ISO 14971), and verification/validation protocols
• Support regulatory submissions with electrical test reports, design rationale, and traceability documentation

Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner closely with firmware, mechanical, and systems engineers to co-optimize the implant across all domains
• Collaborate with the wider R&D team on neural interface electrical requirements and signal quality
• Work with contract manufacturers and test houses to transfer designs into scalable production

Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related discipline
• 8+ years of experience in analog/mixed-signal hardware design for miniaturized, high-reliability electronic systems
• Deep expertise in low-noise neural or bioelectric front-end design, including amplifier chains, ADC interfacing, and filtering
• Strong PCB and flex-circuit design experience with high-density, space-constrained layouts
• Proficiency with EDA tools (Altium, Cadence, or equivalent) and circuit simulation
• Hands-on experience bringing electronic subsystems from prototype through design verification into production

Preferred Qualifications
• Active implantable medical device experience (e.g., neurostimulators, cochlear implants, cardiac rhythm devices)
• ASIC integration or co-design experience, including specification development and silicon bring-up
• RF or wireless telemetry design for implantable or body-worn devices
• Familiarity with ISO 14708, IEC 60601, and FDA guidance for implantable electronics
• Experience supporting regulatory submissions (IDE, PMA, or 510(k)) with electrical design evidence
• Background in power management for energy-constrained, long-life implantable systems

Compensation

The base salary range for this role is $140,000 - $200,000 depending on experience, skills, and qualifications.

In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or equity grants, subject to board approval and company policy.

Visa Sponsorship

We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position at this time.

Benefits (for W-2, full-time, exempt employees in the US only) ***Intern positions not eligible

• Subsidized medical and dental insurance coverage for you and your dependent(s)
• Life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability
• 401k
• Discretionary unlimited PTO
• Flexible Spending Account for you and your dependent(s), with eligible plan elections
• Commuter benefits for NY employees