Electronics Design Engineer

Job Summary

About this Team:

If you want to be on the cutting edge of technology and touch all facets of Acuity Lighting business, then this is the group for you! This position provides exposure to Acuity Indoor, Outdoor, Industrial, OEM, and Residential portfolios and your efforts can make a direct impact to top line revenue and bottom line margin via new products development, value engineering activities, product enhancements, and new technology integrations. The Electronics & Light Engine group provides innovation and ideation direction and solutions into all Acuity illumination products.

Electronics Engineering is the key role in our illumination systems strategic vision, innovation solution designs and product lifecycle management which shape corporate and personal financial success.  This role provides exposure to aspects of Acuity Brands Engineering, Optics, Supply Chain, Finance and Product Management which can support your career growth opportunities.  Our exciting team is seeking to integrate a new Electronics Design Engineer that will independently explore new innovations to be brilliant, be productive, and be connected.

How you will contribute:

This role is responsible for new product design, cost reductions, field quality resolution, manufacturing support and sustaining engineering activities related to Electronics & Light Engines.  The successful Electronics Engineer will provide product ideation, electronics hardware design, firmware creation/updates, LED selection, PCB design/layout, UV/Horticulture solutions, PCBA drawing creation along with selection of drivers, surge protection devices, emergency battery backup equipment and luminaire electronic controls.  Responsibilities include prototyping, testing, and assembling prototypes/samples required for evaluating designs and cost reductions.  This engineer will manage many projects simultaneously while collaborating with all cross functional members of the design team, Focus Factory and Product management to ensure a successful and on-time product launch.  In everything this engineer does, both in project and daily tasks, LEAN Process methodology is applied to create impact, streamline, and improve processes.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Electronics Engineer is Involved in various aspects of the design process including, but not limited to, selecting Electronics and LEDs components, creating Firmware solutions for microprocessor-based solutions, LED driver selection, and system controls to provide integrated Light Engine solutions. Calculate parameters for Electronics and LED schematic configurations while working with the Optics team to provide correct lumens targets and lumens per watt to enable specific light distribution. Develops and distributes engineering data in the form of Engineering Change Notices, bills of material, drawings, PCB design/manufacturing files, test specifications, parts tracking and all necessary product deliverables for product release and successful factory product launch.  Manages engineering documentation, ECRs, ECOs, DFMEA, calculations, and drawings using the Acuity Product Life Management and Financial systems.  Design work varies from new product development to product enhancements, cost reductions, support Customers/Focus Factory/Supply Chain as the needs of the business change. (est. 30%)

• Initiates and assists with the development of concepts for new products from project charters, specification matrix provided by Product Manager, reviewing competitor's samples,  and Acuity  Electronics & Light Engine design standards. These concepts and designs must be compliant with Acuity DFx (Design for Reliability/Testability/Manufacturability etc..) before products launch. (est. 15%)

• Contributes to Acuity Product Development System (PDS) for each design product. This helps ensue project management timelines and required deliverables for each team member are completed.  PDS and DFx also ensure high quality compliant designs which achieve the Customer Experience Matrix (CEM). (est. 15%)

• Support ABS/LEAN Transformation by actively identifying/leading/participating in Kaizen events and completing post Kaizen activities to ensure documentation and standards outlive the event.  Assist the Electronics & Light Engine team with all process improvement activities and related research.  Develop and continuously improve Electronics & Light Engine processes, testing, DFx and other documentation.  Lead, develop, and participate in Kaizen activities. (est. 15%)

• Submits photometry/thermal test requests and works directly with the testing group as necessary on any required follow-up.  Works with mechanical design team at large to ensure all samples submitted for testing are compliant to product CEM and Electronics & Light Engine testing/DFx documentation. Reviews functional specifications, project charters and competitors' samples along with testing reports to ensure product is compliant to CEM. Complete luminaire product scaling activities to ensure accurate and complete products specifications can be published. (est. 10%)

• Continuously identifies and actively implements process improvements related to productivity, quality, reliability, design, testing, purchasing, and manufacturing; to include sourcing new or alternate processes/components, equipment, and/or training of manpower. Looks for advancements or changes in technology to improve Acuity products or market position. (est. 10%)

• Partners with Acuity Focus Factories to resolve component, testing, deviation requests and bill of material errors to keep the manufacturing lines running and ensure quality product is produced. (est. 5%)

Skills and Minimum Experience Required

• Minimum: Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics Engineering (Masters preferred)
• Ability to independently create electronics hardware designs.
• Ability to independently create microprocessor firmware/code.
• Minimum: Demonstrated applicable experience in Electronics and Firmware Engineering Design, with ability to share specifics of personal work on Electronics/Firmware designs with data driven component selection and solutions of high-quality electronics systems.
• Proficient use of schematic capture and PCB layout tools, CAD(2D), Microsoft Office365 programs, MiniTab, SPICE, Circuit analysis tools…etc.
• Ability to communication understanding of heat transfer/flow, thermal design considerations, electrical isolation considerations, design cost trade-offs/analysis, EMI considerations, design prototyping and design Reliability testing.
• Ability to use and understand results from benchtop electronics design tools independently and safely such as; oscilloscope, signal generator, curve tracer, power analyzer, DVM, Surge and EMI generator, spectrum analyzer, Variac, illuminance flux/CCT measurement, RLC bridge, ESR meter, bench-top sphere and power quality measurement equipment, etc.
• Ability to demonstrate understanding and use of electronic component selection related to design, component tolerance stack-up analysis, component reliability analysis, simulation in computer circuit analysis tools and system considerations.
• Ability to communicate some understanding of PCBA manufacturing, factory testing methods, component selection impacts, types of PCB materials and why/when each is used.

Additional Required Skills and Experience

• Ability to demonstrate LEAN & Six Sigma methodology and practices such as standard work, time study, cause & effect, A3, 5WHY and other tools of DMAIC.
• Ability to clearly communicate verbally & written in English, sketches, engineering drawings, data collection and able to create and technical presentations to varied audiences.
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively in cross-functional and cross-matrix team environments to enable high quality product designs and deliverables are achieved on-time.
• Ability to adapt personally and quickly to changes within Acuity, industry, engineering and other standard work activities which produce compliant designs and on-time deliverables enabling Acuity business metrics.  
• Understands applicable standards such as UL, DLC, and/or Energy Star standards and testing processes related to electronics and lighting products.
• Ability to travel (est. 10%) or as business situations dictate.
• Physical ability to independently lift up to 50 lbs.