Electronics Engineer

Data Acquisition Engineer required for fast growing, progressive and successful international Aerospace Manufacturer.

Job Title: Data Acquisition Engineer

Location: Near Aylesbury

Salary: £42 – 46K per annum plus benefits including parking

Relocation package potentially available

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week (Mon-Fri)

The Data Acquisition Engineer will be responsible for the maintenance and enhancement of National Instrument-based data acquisition and control systems at the Westcott facility. This role serves as the primary point of contact for troubleshooting any irregularities in these systems, while also providing essential support for rocket engine firing and clean room propulsion test campaigns. In addition to circuit design and PCB layout capabilities using KiCAD software, this position acts as the liaison for external custom design providers, generating specifications and collaborating with suppliers to achieve tailored solutions. Together with the electronics technician, the role includes manufacturing capabilities for circuit boards, interconnecting harnesses, and complete module boxes, as well as conducting comprehensive testing of all components, from basic continuity checks to intricate signal response evaluations. Furthermore, it ensures the smooth operation of software utilised for data acquisition and control, managing updates as necessary

Skills & Attributes required:

• Degree, HND or equivalent in Electronic Engineering based subject with an emphasis on practical field experience combined with a solid fundamental theory base.
  
  
• Good understanding of data acquisition fundamentals, types of sensors normally used (pressure transducers, flow meters, temperature sensors) including both transmitter (4-20mA type) and transducer (voltage) output types of sensors.
  
  
• Good understanding of the importance of calibration, best industry practices and minimization of cumulative errors.
  
  
• An understanding of drive electronics for conversion of 5V (or 3.3V) level TTL signals to high current drives for operating 1A or higher solenoids.
  
  
• Good soldering skills and experience with crimping of terminal pins. Hand soldering of both through hole and surface mount devices is required down to 0805 package size
  
  
• Understanding electronic schematics, identification of physical components and a comprehensive understanding of underlying component functions (passive components, operational amplifiers as well as digital electronics including microcontrollers).
  
  
• 5 years of experience in a relevant industry that uses analogue and digital theory for fault finding / design work
  
  
• Understanding of National Instruments LabVIEW data acquisition and control hardware/ecosystem, ideally with experience of the C-series modules.
  
  
• Some understanding of RS485/RS422/RS232 serial buses e.g. the MODBUS protocol.
  
  
• Good IT skills based around the MS Windows operating system.
  
  
• Electronic design capability (both analogue and digital electronics) preferably via an EDA software suite (ideally KiCAD or similar)
  
  
• Coding experience and a desire to automate and improve legacy systems. The languages of LabVIEW, C++, VBA, and Python are highly desirable.
  
  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on fault detection, diagnostics, and system optimization.
  
  
• Familiarity with ECSS software standards (e.g., ECSS-E-ST-40-04, ECSS-E-ST-40-05) and systems
  
  
• Understanding of high voltage mains electrics including single and 3 phase supplies
  
  
• Knowledge of flight electronics built to ECSS standard
  
  Duties:
  
  
• Maintenance of various data acquisition and control systems including generation of a preventative maintenance plan
  
  
• Providing first point of call for all investigations (de-bugging) of anomalous behaviour associated with data acquisition and control systems.
  
  
• Supporting rocket engine firing campaigns and clean room propulsion system test campaigns.
  
  
• Provide in-house circuit design (both digital and analogue) and PCB layout capability (using KiCAD software) for various custom solutions.
  
  
• Be a point of contact for external providers of custom design solutions. This requires the generation of specifications and working with suppliers to produce a finished solution.
  
  
• Provide, in conjunction with the electronics technician, circuit board manufacturing capability. This includes prototype boards (Vero® or strip boards) as well as populating externally manufactured bare PCBs/completing partially finished PCBs.
  
  
• Provide, in conjunction with the electronics technician, a manufacturing capability for interconnecting harnesses.
  
  
• Provide, in conjunction with the electronics technician, manufacturing capability for complete module boxes (typically 19” rack boxes containing PCB’s, power supplies as well as front and rear indicators/connectors) for firing sites as well as Electronic Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) for flight systems
  
  
• Provide end-to-end testing of all manufactured components – ranging from simple harness continuity checks through to more complex signal response testing of data acquisition systems.
  
  
• Ensuring various pieces of software that are used for data acquisition and control are running smoothly, addressing updates as required. Software is handled through a combination of in-house code and external contractor supplied code
  
  
• Duties will be performed in a mixed environment with periods in a standard office environment, cleanroom duties, electronics lab, and test facilities.
  
  
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally be required to work late/nightshifts, weekends and holidays.
  
  
• Other requirements include; Manual handling, working at height , bending at waist, sitting, kneeling, climbing, walking, crouching, working outdoors in all weathers, working in high noise level environments requiring hearing protection and working around lubricants, solvents, batteries, cleaning fluids, paints, and other chemicals
  
  SJM Recruit Limited are acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this opportunity