Position Overview:

The Senior R&D Engineer plays a critical role in driving innovation, advancing technology, and delivering high-performance solutions within the plasma lighting product portfolio. This position is responsible for leading complex research, design development, and experimental investigations related to plasma light sources, power electronics, and system-level integration. This position serves as a technical expert, guiding projects from concept through commercialization while ensuring performance, reliability, manufacturability, and regulatory compliance.

Job Description:

Drive the design and development of plasma lighting products (e.g., Cermax, Excimer lamps), working closely with Pleasanton counterparts and interfacing with the Batam manufacturing team, ultimately leading to mass production in Batam.
Conduct developmental research and competitor analysis to support future technical roadmaps, conceptual design, and innovation.
Provide technical leadership to manage and deliver product/process timelines and critical paths in alignment with project objectives and targets.
Develop and optimize manufacturing processes by analyzing requirements and designing or adapting methods and equipment.
Provide technical support for production equipment setup and critical parameter definition in Batam, ensuring manufacturability using tools such as Measurement System Analysis (MSA/GR&R), PFMEA, and lean equipment layout concepts.
Improve manufacturing efficiency (capacity and productivity) by analyzing workflows and optimizing equipment layout.
Lead and manage customer sample requests.
Collaborate with the Batam team to ensure product and process quality (yield) through robust process design, capability studies, and standardized documentation (WI, FMEA, PCP).
Drive continuous improvement initiatives through Six Sigma and Lean methodologies.
Ensure effective communication and information flow to Pleasanton management.
Define specifications for NPI and travel regularly to Batam to support implementation and production ramp-up.
Be willing to travel frequently to Batam to work directly on production lines and support NPI activities.

Job Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. An advanced degree is an advantage.
At least 7 years of engineering experience in R&D, product development, or advanced technology roles within the lighting, plasma, high-intensity discharge (HID), or related high-energy systems industries.
Demonstrated expertise in plasma light source technology (e.g., plasma generation, thermal management, gas discharge physics) is preferred.
Proven track record of leading complex product development cycles from concept and feasibility through prototyping, testing, validation, and commercialization.
Hands-on experience in experimental design, including building test setups, designing experiments, collecting data, and performing structured analysis to optimize system performance.
Strong communication and organizational skills.
Knowledge of hermetic sealing, high-temperature processes, optics and light measurement, thermal modeling, and controlled atmosphere brazing is preferred.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes for plasma arc lighting devices.
Knowledge of Six Sigma concepts and the ability to apply them in projects.
Proficiency in AutoCAD is an advantage.
Experience with DFMEA/PFMEA is desirable.

Senior R&D Engineer (NPI)