Careers

 Location: Onsite – Full Time (Dexter, MI)

k-Space Associates, Inc. is looking for a Technical Sales Engineer to represent its thin-film and industrial metrology tools. Provide technical sales support to existing customer base, and new/current sales leads. Research and identify new market opportunities. Assist in marketing and application development efforts to grow markets and customer base.

Responsibilities:

The qualified sales engineer will support all aspects of technical sales, including:

• Work with prospects, leads, and contacts to assess opportunities, prepare responses to RFQs, define product configuration solutions, and generate quotes.
• Document and manage opportunities in lead tracking/customer management software
• Demonstrate and transfer industry, technical, and product knowledge to potential customers at research laboratories, universities, and production facilities.
• Establish customer rapport and lead follow up.
• Work with kSA representatives and distributors.
• Collaborate with product development, engineering, and production departments to determine how products and services could be designed or modified to meet customer demands, and market trends.
• Maintain knowledge of the latest industry developments and technological advances in products or service offered by competitors.
• Trade show support and booth attendance.

Requirements:

• A minimum of a B.S. in engineering, or a B.S./B.A. in physics, materials science, math, or chemistry. Candidates with a Master’s or Ph.D. degree are encouraged to apply.
• Experience in the thin film deposition, semiconductor device, vacuum technology, optics, or solar panel fields is a plus.
• The successful candidate must possess excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, as well as a positive, outgoing self-starter personality.
• Fluent use of Windows-based PCs is required (including MS Office), and experience with lead tracking software is a plus.
• Willingness to travel.

 Location: Onsite – Full Time (Dexter, MI)

Educational/Certification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or equivalent.
• 5-10 years of relevant work experience in electrical/electronics engineering.
• 5+ years of work experience designing mixed-signal PCBAs with electronics CAD tools (e.g., KiCAD, Altium Designer, EAGLE), and experience with electrical circuit simulation software.
• 5+ years of experience designing embedded systems including microcontrollers, sensors, analog, digital and mixed-signal circuits, DC/DC converter design, and common serial interfaces (e.g., USB, Ethernet, SPI).
• Experience with programming languages such as C/C++ for embedded systems, Arduino for prototyping, and Python for analysis.
• Familiarity with relevant industry standards and regulations (e.g., IEC 61010-1, NFPA 70).
• Experience with Product Life Cycle Management, Product Data Management, Change Control, and Risk Management.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a strong analytical mindset.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills for effective collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Project management skills necessary for effectively planning, leading, and executing product development projects.

Specific Job Duties

• Electronic Circuit Design: Design and develop electronic circuits, including schematic design, component selection, and PCB layout. Ensure that the circuits meet required specifications, standards, and regulations.
• Embedded System Development: Design microcontroller-based embedded systems for controlling and interfacing with electronic hardware. Support the software team by troubleshooting prototype firmware during development. Future Growth: develop prototype firmware or software to enable basic MCU I/O functionality.
• Component Selection: Choose appropriate electronic components, including microcontrollers, sensors, connectors, conductors, passive components, power conversion devices, and AC mains components, considering factors such as performance, cost, availability, and compliance to regulatory requirements.
• Prototyping and Testing: Design and assemble prototype PCBAs, cables, and other electronic components to evaluate their performance, identify issues, and optimize designs. Conduct thorough testing and troubleshooting to ensure reliability and functionality.
• Develop wiring diagrams and electrical schematics for complex industrial tools and electrical subassemblies and cables using 2D CAD software tools.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed records of design specifications, test results, and revisions. Create comprehensive design records for manufacturing and support teams.
• Compliance and Standards: Ensure that electronic designs meet industry and regulatory standards, such as safety and electromagnetic compatibility, and maintain relevant certifications.
• Cost Optimization: Continuously seek cost-effective solutions and design improvements without compromising quality and performance.
• Risk Assessment: Identify potential risks and challenges during the electronics development process and develop mitigation strategies.
• Problem Solving: Analyze and troubleshoot issues and provide innovative solutions to overcome technical challenges during the development and sustainment phases k-Space products.
• Maintain the functionality and calibration of engineering electrical lab equipment.
• Inspect current product design and build procedures for quality and reliability; offer improved procedures and solutions where possible.
• Continuous Learning: Stay current with the latest advancements in electronic components, design methodologies, and industry trends to ensure the use of cutting-edge technology. Stay current with emerging advancements in artificial intelligence and apply them to improve workflow and task execution efficiency.
• Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including mechanical engineers, software developers, and product designers, to ensure seamless integration of electronics into the overall product design.
• Train product technicians as needed for improved manufacturing processes and reliability.