Systems Architect, New Product Development, R&D

A Snapshot Of What You'll Do

We're seeking a Systems Architect to define the architecture of next-generation analytical instruments before development begins. In this role, you will apply first-principles physics, quantitative modeling, and system-level tradeoff analysis to evaluate measurement concepts, define instrument architectures, and ensure that only physically sound and scalable designs enter product development.

• Operate at the front end of innovation, shaping new instrument platforms and evaluating emerging sensing technologies that will influence Anton Paar's future product portfolio, including analytical laboratory instruments that characterize powders and porous materials using techniques such as:
  • Physisorption
  • Chemisorption
  • Gas pycnometry
  • Mercury intrusion porosimetry
  • Capillary flow porometry

The Impact You'll Make

Architectural Planning: Identify dominant physical effects, cross-domain interactions, and disturbance mechanisms, and distinguish them from negligible effects during early concept evaluation. Establish functional and physical modularization strategies balancing measurement performance, serviceability, and reuse. Specify system boundaries, module interfaces, and architectural constraints. Select enabling technologies based on quantitative feasibility and robustness.

Functional Performance: Analyze operational requirements, including sensitivity, stability, noise, drift, and environmental influences. Derive and assess measures to achieve reliable, high-quality measurement results within known physical and practical limits. Develop simplified physical models, first-principle estimates, and error budgets to evaluate measurement feasibility, performance limits, and architectural trade-offs prior to detailed design.

Business Alignment: Ensure technically feasible system concepts are aligned with strategic goals, cost constraints, scalability, and long-term product sustainability. Evaluate competing physical system concepts using quantitative analysis and first-principles reasoning and determine whether concepts are physically viable for development. Provide architecture-level go/no-go recommendations during concept and pre-development stages. Serve as a technical authority during development, ensuring adherence to the defined system architecture. Support resolution of architecture-relevant issues when deviations or conflicts arise. Assess existing instruments to identify architectural weaknesses, performance limitations, and opportunities for reuse or improvement. Document architectural decisions, models, assumptions, and interfaces to ensure long-term reuse and traceability. Protect and manage architectural knowledge and intellectual property.

Education and Experience

• Required: BS in Physical Sciences, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or similar field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in engineering or physics-based product development
• Demonstrated experience in physical modeling, error budgeting, and early-stage concept evaluation
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate within diverse technical teams
• Preferred: PhD in Physical Sciences, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or similar field
• Experience in precision instrument or product development
• Experience in project management
• Experience generating technical documentation: requirements, specifications, reports, plans, procedures
• Experience in technology due diligence, M&A assessment, or evaluating acquisition targets from a systems/software perspective

Success Criteria

• Physically viable system concepts are defined and released into product development
• Architectural modules are reused across instruments with minimal adaptation
• Product developments avoid late-stage redesigns due to unrecognized physical limitations
• Architectural decisions, models, assumptions, and trade-offs are documented and traceable

About the Role

Note: This role owns the physical system architecture. Software architecture and implementation are outside its scope.

Supervision & Work Environment

• Individual contributor role with technical authority, working closely with Engineering and Product Development teams
• Regular sitting, standing, walking, communication, and handling of equipment
• Occasional lifting up to 20 lbs
• Requires ability to obtain a passport for international travel

Equal Opportunity Employer

Anton Paar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.