Sr Staff Engineer Instrument Architecture

Job Summary:

The Senior Staff Engineer works closely with Marketing, HW, SW, Reagents and Verification & Validation to lead complex life science products through every stage of the development. Understand customer needs and workflows, systems architecture and analysis, and how the different sub-systems will fit and interact to meet the desired customer function and experience. The Senior Staff Engineer is responsible for the definition and management of requirements, definition of product architecture, guiding characterization of prototype systems, and successful Verification and Validation.

The Senior Staff Engineer takes responsibility of systems definition and its documentation. This includes ultimate responsibility of system requirements and definition of systems architectures, device drivers, interfaces and communication protocols. The Senior Staff Engineer works with the engineering staff to develop and execute experimental protocols followed by the analysis and reporting of results. The Senior Staff Engineer also participates in the integration of systems components. Additionally, the Senior Staff Engineer supports system level engineering verification efforts and supports the planning of validation test activities. The expectation is to leverage experience as well as best practices, and methods to determine root cause of complex issues. The Sr. Staff engineer is expected to help grow the capabilities of the team through their example setting and mentorship to teammates.

Job Responsibilities:

• Define System Architecture: Author comprehensive system-level specifications, interface control documents (ICDs), and functional block diagrams.
• Manage Subsystem Interactions: Map and optimize the optical, fluidic, electronic, mechanical, and software interfaces to prevent performance bottlenecks.
• Architect System Control & Real-Time Coordination: Architect System Control design, Design state machines, control loops, and timing sequences that orchestrate real-time hardware interactions across fluidic, optical, and electronic modules.
• Design End-to-End Data Flow Architecture: Map high-bandwidth data pathways from raw analog detector signals through digitization, FPGA-based processing, firmware buffers, and high speed transport layers up to the software application layer.
• Lead Sub-Systems Budget Allocation: Define and manage system-level budgets for optical power, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), fluidic timing, and electrical power consumption.
• Conduct Performance Modeling: Build mathematical models to simulate system throughput, carryover, fluorophore spillover, and sensitivity.
• Drive Trade-off Decisions: Balance competing requirements between resolution speed, laser power, mechanical footprint, and manufacturing cost.
• Own the end-to-end requirements lifecycle including user needs, system requirements, derived requirements, traceability, verification planning, and change management for a program.
• Be primary stakeholder in Design and Technical Reviews to practice sound decision making across the program
• Work effectively and collaboratively in a cross functional team and with external partners to identify, communicate, and mitigate program needs at each product lifecycle.

Education, Knowledge and Experience:

• System Control & Embedded Logic: Deep understanding of real-time operating systems (RTOS), deterministic control loops, hardware-software handshakes, state machine design, and communication protocols (e.g., RS232, USB, TCP/IP, CAN bus, SPI, I2C).
• Data Pipeline Architecture: Expert knowledge of high-throughput data processing architectures, including DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfers, FIFO buffering strategies, and high-speed bus interfaces (PCIe, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet).
• Fluidic Dynamics: Understanding of hydrodynamic focusing, laminar flow, microfluidics, acoustic focusing, and high-pressure sample delivery loops.
• Precision Optics: Solid understanding of multi-laser excitation paths, beam shaping, dichroic filter design, and light collection geometry (forward/side scatter).
• High-Speed Electronics & Detectors: Practical knowledge of Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs), Avalanche Photodiodes (APDs), Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs), and FPGA-based digital signal processing (DSP).
• Biophysics & Reagents: Understanding of fluorophore excitation/emission profiles, antibody staining dynamics, and biological assay requirements.
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related discipline, e.g. Physics, Biomedical, Electronics, Computer Engineering or Mechanical engineering. Master’s degree or PhD preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in systems engineering, product development, or product design.
• Experience in design control in a regulated environment.
• Familiarity with regulations and compliance testing is desired

Physical Demands:

Role involves hands-on assembly, integration and rework of complex hardware instruments including fluid handling, optics, motion control, electronics and cabling.

Work Environment:

Hybrid position. Will require on-site and in lab work a minimum of 4 days/week.

At BD, we prioritize on-site collaboration because we believe it fosters creativity, innovation, and effective problem-solving, which are essential in the fast-paced healthcare industry. For most roles, we require a minimum of 4 days of in-office presence per week to maintain our culture of excellence and ensure smooth operations, while also recognizing the importance of flexibility and work-life balance

For certain roles at BD, employment is contingent upon the Company’s receipt of sufficient proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In some locations, testing for COVID-19 may be available and/or required. Consistent with BD’s Workplace Accommodations Policy, requests for accommodation will be considered pursuant to applicable law.