Senior R&D Support Technician

Role Summary

The Senior R&D Support Technician (Level 3) is the most experienced technician on the R&D team, independently building, testing and maintaining prototypes, test setups and lab equipment, own complex technical tasks end to end, troubleshoot problems without close supervision, and mentor Level 1 and Level 2 technicians.

• Reports to: R&D Engineering Manager
• Works closely with: R&D engineers, quality assurance, procurement, production and customers

Key Responsibilities

Prototyping and experimental builds

• Build, assemble and modify prototypes, bread boards, test fixtures and test rigs from engineering drawings, schematics and verbal briefs.
• Suggest design-for-test and design-for-manufacture improvements based on hands-on build experience.

Testing and data collection

• Plan and run complex test procedures, including environmental, functional, reliability and stress tests.
• Set up and calibrate instruments and prototype units.
• Record, organize and do first-pass analysis of test data, flagging anomalies to engineers with likely causes.
• Write and update test procedures and work instructions.

Troubleshooting and maintenance

• Diagnose and fix faults in prototypes, lab equipment and test systems down to component level.
• Own preventive maintenance and calibration schedules for lab equipment.
• Act as the escalation point for technical problems Level 1 and Level 2 technicians cannot resolve.
• Supports company RMA needs based on workload.

Lab operations

• Keep the lab organized, safe and audit-ready, following safety, ESD and quality procedures.
• Manage lab inventory, spare parts and consumables; raise purchase requests and work with procurement.
• Maintain accurate records of builds, configurations and changes for traceability.

Leadership and collaboration

• Train, mentor and review the work of junior technicians.
• Lead technical sub-tasks within R&D projects and estimate time and materials for them.Support the handover of new products from R&D to production, including pilot builds.

Required:

• 6+ years as a power technician, with at least 3 years in R&D or service support, with vast knowledge in different design topologies.
• Associate's degree in electrical technology or similar field
• Strong ability to read and work from schematics, mechanical drawings, BOMs and technical specifications.
• Hands-on skill with lab instruments: oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, signal generators and data acquisition systems.
• Good written and spoken English for technical documentation and communication