Principal Electrical Engineer

Job Description

This Principal Electrical Engineer role sits within a dynamic R&D organization and plays a key role in delivering the next generation robotic platform that aims to transform the future of healthcare and neurosurgical procedures. You will serve as a technical leader who resolves complex multidisciplinary issues, defines and improves electrical engineering processes, and ensures robust electronic design within a regulated medical device environment. Your work will directly influence design iterations and contribute to cutting-edge neurosurgical robotics in a fast-growing, innovation-driven company.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for electrical and electronics engineering activities within the R&D organization, guiding the development of a next generation robotic platform for medical applications.
• Lead and resolve complex multidisciplinary issues that span electronics, controls/software, and electromechanical systems, ensuring robust and well-documented solutions.
• Develop, document, and maintain detailed processes and best practices for medical electronics development in a regulated environment.
• Create, refine, and implement technical processes and standards for electrical engineering development, ensuring consistency and compliance across projects.
• Design, document, and execute electronic tests for mixed-signal, digital, and analog circuits, including PCB-level testing and system-level verification.
• Perform detailed circuit analysis of mixed-signal, digital, and analog circuits, applying strong electronics fundamentals to ensure performance, reliability, and safety.
• Contribute to the design and validation of motor control circuits and mixed-signal electronics for precise sensing applications in robotic and electromechanical systems.
• Apply relevant medical device standards, including ISO and IEC 60601-1 and 60601-1-2, to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for Class II and Class III devices.
• Use electrical CAD tools, with a focus on Altium, to design and review PCBs and electronic assemblies for medical robotic systems.
• Plan, schedule, and lead technical meetings and discussions, identify key discussion points, and drive alignment and decisions across workstreams.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including controls/software and mechanical engineering, to determine system-level performance and interactions.
• Systematically determine root causes of issues in electro-mechanical systems using structured problem-solving and data-driven analysis.
• Prepare and deliver clear technical presentations to communicate design concepts, analysis results, test outcomes, and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Generate high-quality documentation for design, testing, processes, and compliance to support regulatory submissions and internal quality requirements.
• Leverage analytical tools such as MATLAB/Simulink and SPICE to model, simulate, and analyze circuits and systems, and to support design decisions.
• Ensure designs meet EMC and electrical safety requirements by applying working knowledge of relevant standards and best practices.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to enhance design processes, test strategies, and documentation practices.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to other engineers, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and rigorous engineering practice.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering required.
• Master’s degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in R&D or product development required.
• Strong electronics fundamentals for analog, digital, and electromechanical design.
• Technical systems understanding of interactions between electronics, controls/software, and electromechanical disciplines.
• Solid understanding of determining system performance across cross-disciplinary subsystems.
• Demonstrated success in systematically determining root cause of issues in electro-mechanical systems.
• Demonstrated experience developing Class II and Class III medical devices in a regulatory environment.
• Experience applying relevant medical device standards such as ISO and IEC 60601-1 and 60601-1-2.
• Proven experience with electronic design for motor control circuits.
• Proven experience with mixed-signal electronic design for precise sensing applications.
• High proficiency in electrical CAD tools, with Altium strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of EMC and electrical safety principles and standards.
• Proficiency in analytical tools such as MATLAB/Simulink and SPICE.
• Exceptional data analysis skills, with the ability to interpret complex test results and design metrics.
• Strong presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly.
• Strong technical collaboration skills, including scheduling and leading meetings, setting agendas, and driving decisions across workstreams.
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to self-direct and manage priorities.
• Experience working within regulated environments such as medical device development, including familiarity with FDA and ISO frameworks.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with troubleshooting electrical systems, including PCBs, analog, digital, and hardware electronics.
• Experience in test engineering, including design and execution of electronic tests and documentation of results.
• Experience in industries with rigorous quality and safety standards such as aerospace (AS9100) or automotive (TS16949).
• Experience working with motors, motor drive systems, and motor control circuits in robotics or electromechanical platforms.
• Familiarity with robotics systems and neurosurgical or surgical robotic applications.
• Experience with circuit analysis for mixed-signal systems, including digital and analog domains, in medical device contexts.
• Comfort working with quality and regulatory frameworks such as FDA and ISO for medical devices.
• Ability to create and refine technical processes and best practices for electrical engineering teams.
• Some project management skills, including planning, prioritization, and coordination of technical workstreams.
• Ability to integrate feedback from cross-functional teams and incorporate it into design and process improvements.

This is a Contract position based out of Newton, MA.

The pay range for this position is $65.00 - $75.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Newton,MA.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 26, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $65 - $75