PerkinElmer
Systems Engineer
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Senior Systems Engineer — Material Characterization
PerkinElmer | High Wycombe, UK
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.
Purpose of the Role
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.
Key Responsibilities
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
First 90 days
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- 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 Qualifications and Experience
- 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 Qualifications and Experience
- 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.
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