Staff Electrical Engineer

Title                                  Staff Electrical Engineer

Department                     Engineering - Development

Location                           Niwot/Hybrid

ReportsTo                       Research Director

Your Impact

This position is critical to sustaining the company’s technical leadership and innovation pipeline. The Staff Engineer will shape next-generation sensing technologies, influence product direction, and ensure continuity of specialized expertise essential to the company’s success.

The Role

We are seeking a highly experienced Staff Electrical Engineer to lead the research, design, and development of advanced photonic detection systems and ultra-low-noise front-end electronics used in precision particle counting instrumentation. This role combines deep theoretical expertise with hands-on engineering and cross-disciplinary collaboration in optics, electronics, physics, and signal processing. The successful candidate will serve as a technical authority and innovation driver for next-generation sensing platforms by turning concepts into practical engineering solutions through agile, fail-fast industrial research.

Job Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Serve as the organization’s technical expert in photonic detectors, optical sensing, and low-noise analog front-end design.

• Lead architecture development for new sensing systems from concept through validation.

• Define performance requirements, noise budgets, and system-level tradeoff studies.

• Guide engineering teams in solving complex detection and measurement challenges.

Research & Innovation

• Design and evaluate advanced detection techniques involving optical scattering, photon detection, and signal extraction in low-signal environments.

• Develop new methods for improving signal-to-noise ratio through optical, electrical, and algorithmic approaches.

• Remain current with emerging technologies in detectors, lasers, optics, and instrumentation electronics.

• Identify and prototype novel technologies for future products.

System Design & Analysis

• Design precision analog circuits including TIAs, charge amplifiers, and low-noise signal chains.

• Model noise sources, detector behavior, and system performance.

• Collaborate on optical system design including light collection, focusing, and imaging.

• Drive simulation, lab validation, and performance characterization.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with mechanical, optical, firmware, and systems engineers.

• Mentor engineers and support knowledge transfer across teams.

• Provide technical guidance during product development, troubleshooting, and field investigations.

• Lead design reviews and technical decision making.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Opto-Electronics or Physics (or equivalent experience)

• 15+ years of experience in hands-on development of precision instrumentation, photonics, or scientific detection systems.

• Strong background in low-noise analog Amplifier circuit design and schematic capture

• Deep understanding of photodetectors (APDs, photodiodes, photon-counting devices, etc.).

• Experienced development with signal processing for weak signal detection.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical projects,

• Demonstrated use of rapid development methods to enable quick cycles of learning

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of the semiconductor fabrication process and chemical usage desirable.

• Experience with optical system design or close collaboration with optical engineers.

• Knowledge of scattering physics and optical measurement techniques.

• Familiarity with modeling/simulation tools (SPICE, MATLAB, Zemax, etc.).

• Prior experience serving as a subject matter expert or technical lead.

• Background in scientific or analytical instrumentation.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• This is an “in-office” position 80-100% of the time.  The remainder of the time you may work from home.  These percentages are targets with the actual schedule to be determined in conjunction with the Manager's expectations for the position.

• This role primarily operates in an office/lab/manufacturing environment.  Must be able to sit, stand, and use a computer for extended periods of time

• Occasional lifting of up to 20 lbs. independently may be required

• This role involves occasional working in laboratory environments that include exposure to X-rays, radiation, and biological materials. All work is performed following established safety protocols and regulatory guidelines

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary range: $140,000 - $175,000 depending on experience

  • Our compensation philosophy: we offer competitive pay based on market data, including local, national, and industry benchmarks.  For new hires, offers are generally within the established min- to mid-point of the range for the role, with flexibility to recognize experience, skills, and education.  Our approach ensures fair pay internally while remaining competitive externally and allows room for growth.

• Comprehensive benefits package:

  • Health coverage: medical, dental, vision, fsa, onsite clinic (CO employees), life insurance

  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match

  • Vacation, holiday, and leave policies

  • Tuition reimbursement, Employee recognition programs, Employee assistance programs

#LI-JC1