Principal Electronics Engineer

Location: Horsham, West Sussex

Salary: £65,000–£75,000 per annum

Employment Type: Full-time, permanent

We are seeking an experienced Principal Electronics Engineer to provide technical leadership within a growing team of around 15 engineers.

This is an opportunity for a highly capable electronics professional to lead complex development projects, shape R&D activity, influence engineering strategy and set the standard for technical excellence. You will combine hands‑on electrical and electronic design expertise with the ability to mentor engineers, engage senior stakeholders and deliver robust solutions in demanding, technology‑led environments.

As Principal Electronics Engineer, you will act as a senior technical authority across electrical and electronic development. You will lead major engineering projects, contribute to bids and new‑business activity, and play a key role in developing innovative products and technologies.

The role combines electronics expertise—such as circuit design, components, PCB technology, EMC, power management, servo control, processor interfaces and communications—with electrical engineering capability in power and signal transmission, system wiring, architecture definition and production‑aware design.

You will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, senior leadership, customers and suppliers to ensure technical solutions are innovative, practical, robust and aligned with project, customer and business requirements.

• Lead the electrical and electronic design activity for major development and R&D projects.
• Act as a technical authority and subject‑matter expert across assigned technology areas.
• Develop circuit, PCB and system‑level solutions covering power management, processor interfacing, communications, servo control, EMC and electrical architecture.
• Define, assess and review electrical power and signal architectures, including power flow, system wiring, interfaces and production considerations.
• Lead and support multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver effective, well‑structured solutions to complex customer requirements.
• Set and promote high standards of engineering practice, quality, technical governance and design assurance.
• Lead by example, providing technical direction, constructive challenge and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
• Support line‑management activity for a smaller engineering sub‑team, including development planning, coaching, training needs and resource‑planning input.
• Proactively review and improve engineering processes, tools, standards and ways of working.
• Lead or contribute to R&D activity, analytical research, technology roadmaps and the development of new technical capability.
• Conduct and review engineering analysis, including circuit emulation, performance analysis, thermal and power budgets, and system‑level trade studies.
• Identify key technical risks, critical design activities, schedule impacts and mitigation actions throughout the project lifecycle.
• Investigate and resolve complex technical faults at PCB and system level, applying structured root‑cause analysis and implementing lasting corrective actions.
• Engage regularly with senior management, directors, customers and other key stakeholders, communicating technical risks, design choices, progress and recommendations clearly.
• Support bids, proposals, technical estimates and new‑business acquisition activity.
• Provide technical input from initial bid and concept phases through detailed development, verification, production and ongoing customer support.

You will be a technically credible and commercially aware Principal Engineer who is comfortable operating at both detailed design and strategic level.…