Lead Electronics Engineer

About Portal Biotech

Portal Biotech is developing next-generation bench-top instruments for proteomics, building on decades of in-house expertise in nanopore technology. By analysing full-length protein molecules at the single-molecule level, our platform delivers rapid, real-time information on protein identity, abundance, and structure. This insight opens frontiers in drug discovery, diagnostics, and fundamental research, helping scientists and clinicians to better understand human health and disease.

About the Role
We are seeking an Electronics Engineer to join our Hardware team. Based in our headquarters in Scale Space, White City, London, and reporting to the Sr. Director Platform Development, this primarily on-site role will involve managing an interdisciplinary team of engineers building and testing electronic components and systems for current-based nanopore sensing.

Tasks and responsibilities
- Manage a team of expert engineers to conceive, develop and test instrument prototypes based on high precision, low noise amplifiers.
- Integrate electronic and mechanical solutions developed internally or in partnership with external organisations into biosensing and nanopore platforms.
- Support lab automation efforts through implementation of electronic and mechanical devices.
- Work cross-functionally to establish electronics, mechanical and software engineering needs.
- Optimise circuit layouts and develop shielding techniques to minimise noise and interference.
- Implement signal processing techniques (hardware/software) to enhance signal-to-noise ratio.
- Perform circuit simulations and modelling using tools such as Spice.
- Document designs and test results, and write requirements, specifications and technical reports.
- Formulate actions and improvement plans with internal and external collaborators.
- Liaise with external partners on subjects including PCB/chip design, fabrication, and testing.
- Stay updated with emerging trends in precision electronics and sensors.

Qualifications
- M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Electronics / Electrical Engineering with 3+ years' experience.
- Strong foundation in electronic components, circuit theory, and integrated circuits.
- Experience of IC and PCB design EDA tools (Altium, Allegro, Cadence, DipTrace, etc.).
- Experience characterising electronic components e.g., amplifiers, DACs, ADCs and SPI interfaces, wafers, raw die, packaged chip.
- Proficiency prototyping PCBs and PCBA testing and debugging using electronic lab equipment (solder irons, oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, logic analysers, spectrum analysers etc.).
- Working level proficiency in C, C++, Python for test automation.
- Good communication skills and ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.

Desirable
- Proficiency in integrated circuit design and background in ASIC development.
- Solid understanding of digital design fundamentals and the ASIC development process and testing.
- Familiarity with life sciences instrumentation and medical devices.