Senior Electrical Engineer

Senior Electrical Engineer

Design Review, PCB Electronics & Sustaining Engineering

About Ideal Vacuum Products

Ideal Vacuum Products develops and supplies vacuum equipment, components, systems, and technology for scientific and industrial applications. Our engineering work combines electronics, software, mechanical systems, and hands-on testing.

Summary

Ideal Vacuum Products is seeking a senior, hands-on electrical engineer who can strengthen our engineering team and help keep successful products in production. Our engineers develop electronic controls and measurement devices for vacuum and spectroscopy applications, working alongside scientists, mechanical engineers, software engineers, and manufacturing staff.

This role has two clear priorities: improve new designs through thoughtful review and mentoring, and sustain released PCB designs when components become obsolete or difficult to obtain. We need the engineer colleagues turn to when a circuit is not behaving, a design needs experienced judgment, or a component shortage threatens production.

Responsibilities

After completing on-job training, an engineer at Ideal Vacuum is:

• Lead design reviews. Review schematics, PCB layouts, and component selections across the electrical engineering team's projects before prototype orders and production release. Identify issues in grounding, noise, protection, derating, power distribution, thermal performance, and testability.
• Mentor fellow engineers. Work through difficult problems with the team, explain the reasoning behind your recommendations, and help engineers build stronger design and troubleshooting skills.
• Keep production boards buildable. Track component lifecycle status, manufacturer change/discontinuance notices, and approved alternatives. Identify supply risks early and help prevent avoidable redesigns and production interruptions.
• Qualify replacement components. Compare datasheets and application requirements, evaluate electrical and thermal behavior, and verify package, pinout, timing, and firmware implications. Determine whether a substitution is truly drop-in or requires circuit, layout, or software changes.
• Validate and release changes. Use circuit analysis, simulation, and bench testing to verify replacements and revisions. Maintain accurate board BOMs, approved alternatives, schematics, revision records, and clear production change instructions.
• Solve difficult hardware problems. Investigate prototype failures, production issues, and returned products. Find root causes and implement corrective actions that improve reliability.
• Work closely with production and suppliers. Coordinate with purchasing, PCB fabrication/assembly suppliers, and manufacturing staff to qualify available parts and put approved changes into production promptly.

Education:

• B.S. Electrical Engineering + 2 years of relevant electrical design experience
• or M.S. Electrical Engineering

Skills and Experience: * Expertise in power electronics and power distribution

• Substantial hands-on electronic product development experience, typically 10+ years, including responsibility for hardware after production release.
• Strong circuit-analysis and PCB design skills, with sound judgment across analog, digital, power, and embedded-control interfaces.
• A demonstrated record of component replacement and sustaining engineering for commercial products, supported by practical verification and documented releases.
• Proficiency with a professional schematic/PCB tool such as Altium, KiCad, DipTrace, or comparable software, plus familiarity with SPICE or similar circuit simulation.
• Confidence troubleshooting at the bench with oscilloscopes, multimeters, and other appropriate test instruments.
• Clear, patient technical communication; constructive design feedback; and the ability to prioritize urgent production needs alongside longer-term improvements.
• A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related discipline, or an equivalent combination of technical education and demonstrated electronics design experience.

Pay & Benefits:

• Competitive and negotiable salary
• Health Insurance, Life Insurance, FSA
• Short & Long Term Disability
• 401K Retirement package
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Flexible work schedule
• Profit sharing bonuses
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave

Why Join Ideal Vacuum

You will have a direct influence on the quality of our products and the growth of our engineers. This is an opportunity to contribute technical judgment across new development, manufacturing, and the ongoing support of products customers depend on.

How To Apply

Email your resume to [email protected] with a brief note describing:

• A production-board component substitution or obsolescence problem you personally resolved: what you changed, how you verified it, and how it reached production.
• A design review or mentoring example where your contribution helped another engineer avoid or solve a significant problem.

High-level, nonconfidential examples are welcome.

Ideal Vacuum Products

5910 Midway Park Blvd. NE

Albuquerque, NM 87109

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $38.00 - $65.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Ability to Relocate:

• Albuquerque, NM 87109: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person