About this role
Junior Electrical Engineer
Overview:
The Junior Electrical Engineer is a full-time, on-site role based in either Fremont, CA or Reno, NV.
This role supports the design, testing, and optimization of electronics integrated into Pivotal’s flow control products, working closely with senior engineers and cross-functional teams.
Day-to-day responsibilities include assisting with electrical schematics and layouts, performing basic calculations and simulations, supporting lab testing and troubleshooting, and documenting design changes and test results. The engineer collaborates with manufacturing and operations to resolve issues, ensure product reliability, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives. The role also involves maintaining compliance with relevant safety and industry standards and participating in technical reviews and design updates.
Key Responsibilities:
• Support the design of analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits for flow control electronics, including sensor interfaces, valve drivers, power regulation, and communication interfaces.
• Create and update schematics and assist with PCB layout in Altium or KiCad under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Select and qualify electronic components, maintain part data and BOMs, and support replacements for obsolete parts.
• Build, bring up, and debug prototype boards; perform lab testing using oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, and signal generators.
• Perform basic circuit calculations and simulations (e.g., SPICE), including power budgets, tolerance analysis, and thermal derating.
• Design and maintain electrical test fixtures, cable harnesses, and test procedures for engineering and production use.
• Document test results and design changes, and support the engineering change (ECO) process.
• Support manufacturing and field troubleshooting, including failure analysis of returned or nonconforming assemblies.
• Help ensure designs meet applicable safety and EMC requirements and industry standards (e.g., CE, SEMI S2).
• Collaborate with firmware, mechanical, and test engineers during product development and design reviews.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 0–2 years of electrical engineering experience; relevant internships, co-ops, or project work are considered.
• Foundational knowledge in Electrical Engineering, with the ability to apply core concepts to product development and troubleshooting.
• Skills in electrical design, including reading and creating schematics, selecting components, and supporting prototype development.
• Understanding of low-voltage DC power conversion and distribution relevant to industrial and high-tech equipment.
• Ability to use common engineering tools and software (e.g., Altium, KiCad, and standard test equipment such as multimeters and oscilloscopes).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills, with attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work in cross-functional teams in an on-site environment.
The ideal candidate will also have:
• Exposure to semiconductor, manufacturing, or industrial automation environments.
• Exposure to Copy Exactly! / Copy Exact! and related design replication methodologies.
• Hands-on PCB design, assembly, or soldering experience.
• Basic microcontroller or firmware experience (C/C++).
• Experience with test automation or data analysis tools such as Python or LabVIEW.
• Familiarity with relevant electrical safety standards and best practices.