Production Engineer - Electronics

Location: Waterbeach, UK

Department: Engineering (NPI)

Reports to: Production Engineering Manager

Type: Full-time, Permanent

Thermoteknix Systems Ltd, founded in 1982 and based in Cambridge, is a world leader in thermal imaging, night vision, and augmented reality systems. Our award‑winning technologies are trusted by defence, security, and industrial customers in over 70 countries. With in‑house R&D, cutting‑edge innovation, and a global reputation for quality, we design and manufacture solutions that perform in the toughest environments.

Due to increasing market opportunities and an ever‑growing product range, Thermoteknix is expanding its Engineering capacity by creating a New Product Introduction (NPI) team within R&D.

As a member of the new NPI team, you will be responsible for leading the electronics aspects of transitioning products from development into scalable repeatable manufacturing. You will work closely with R&D, manufacturing, and quality teams, as well as drawing on your existing electronics and PCB assembly manufacturing knowledge to ensure products are designed and validated for efficient production, assembly, and test.

Additionally, you will contribute to the enhancement of existing electronics used for product testing to boost production test speed and ensure that products are thoroughly tested and validated.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with R&D to ensure new PCB assemblies are designed for simple and reliable manufacture, using DFMEA early in the design process to identify and mitigate potential electronics design risks
• Identify design improvements to enhance manufacturability and production efficiency
• Communicate with PCB manufacturers to understand their capabilities and constraints
• Support electronic design work streams within NPI projects, ensuring readiness for build and scale, and supporting the transition of products through to customer delivery
• Define inspection and test strategies for PCB and electronic assemblies during product development, collaborating with R&D to maximise test coverage throughout the NPI process
• Collaborate with manufacturing team to define and document product test instructions, and production workflows to establish repeatable manufacturing and testing
• Lead the development of automated test equipment for comprehensive testing and calibration of PCB assemblies and products, In collaboration with R&D, mechanical, and software engineers
• Take a hands‑on approach during NPI builds, supporting root cause investigation and resolution of electrical programming, configuration, and test issues within the ECN framework, and supporting non-conformance investigations with the quality team
• Drive improvements in manufacturing readiness by identifying and implementing opportunities to streamline electronic test processes and reduce build time
• Contribute to the development of the new NPI team’s standards and processes

Required Skills & Experience

• Degree in Electronic Engineering or related discipline
• Proven electronics design experience with the aid of PCB CAD tools (e.g. Altium)
• Strong understanding of DFM/DFA/DFT
• Experience supporting products through prototype to production transition for low to medium volume products
• Strong understanding of PCB assembly, electronic integration, and production test methods
• Experience creating technical documentation and releasing into a controlled change management system
• Experience working cross-functionally in a fast‑paced engineering environment

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience of complex designs including microcontrollers, analogue circuits and power supplies
• Knowledge of video standards and USB
• Understanding of software for automation (C#, C++, Lab View)
• Experience supporting NPI from prototype…