R&D Engineer, Instrumentation

Responsibilities

• Cook up, keep, and enhance laboratory and plant-level equipment (including equipment for sample preparation, test, and measurement).
• Develop new experimental methods, in support of R&D and non-R&D customers.
• Coordinate with the building and facilities services group to improve and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Design new products and processes involving technology, and improve and maintain existing products under supervision.
• Conduct design analysis on components or assemblies to ensure designs are cost efficient, manufacturable, and reliable.
• Define process improvements that yield results in safety, quality, cost, and control.
• Initiate and maintain relationships with vendors and purchase equipment and supplies to ensure efficiency and continuity of laboratory operation.
• Assist other professionals in performing assigned phases of work, ranging from the use of defined methods to exercising of some degree of technical judgement.
• Provide limited technical guidance to more junior professionals or technicians.
• Lead and manage HOSHIN level projects focused on product or process improvement.
• Analyze and evaluate current equipment and measurement protocols for new products; identify gaps and areas for improvement; design and develop instrumentation to meet those needs.
• Collaborate with other engineers to develop accurate, efficient instrumentation, and data interfaces in accordance with safety and usability standards, customer expectations, and controls methodologies.
• Design and test prototypes of equipment.
• Create basic schematics and simulated models to test designs; modify designs to meet specifications and budget requirements.
• Oversee the implementation of new measuring devices and control systems, ensuring devices are correctly installed and properly tested at the production location.
• Draft and present formal technical documents, reports, and testing results to manager for approval.
• Draft technical and user manuals for instrumentation.
• Provide training related to devices to employees and/or customers.
• Work collaboratively with controls, production, and quality engineers to implement process control protocols and tools.

Qualifications

• B.S. in technical field plus 3 years relevant experience.
• M.S. in technical field plus 1 year relevant experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to plan, organize, and share information in interactions with management, peers, associates, and vendors.
• Ability to troubleshoot, analyze, and resolve problems.
• Must be able to work autonomously as well as in a team setting.
• Working knowledge of computer-aided design equipment and computerized processes preferred.
• Desired: Coding skills in at least two programming languages such as Visual Basic, C, C++, C#, VB, MATLAB, Python, etc.; Fundamental understanding of statistics and process engineering; Technical knowledge and experience in Wonderware InTouch, Allen Bradley PLC, and/or other types of control systems; Experience with SQL, OSISoft-PI, and Azure Platform and familiarity with artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts and implementation; Demonstrated proficiency with two or more programming (e.g., C, C++, Python) languages and SQL; Experience with data interfaces and communication protocols (e.g., TCP/IP) between data acquisition equipment systems.