Lead Electronics Engineer - Life Sciences Instrumentation

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 experienced and versatile Lead Electronics Engineer to join our Platform Development (/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 an Instrument 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.

Qualification

Required:

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Electronics / Electrical Engineering with 3+ years’ experience.
• Strong background in analogue electronics, with particular emphasis on instrumentation, low-noise design, and small-signal measurement systems.
• Experience with PCB design EDA tools (Altium, Allegro, Cadence, DipTrace, etc.) and in designing multilayer PCBs, with good understanding of signal integrity, grounding, shielding, and noise mitigation.
• Experience characterising and debugging electronic systems and components such as amplifiers, DACs, ADCs, power supplies, and digital interfaces.
• Hands-on experience prototyping, testing and debugging PCBs and PCBAs using electronic lab equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, logic analysers, spectrum analysers etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to work across a broad range of engineering problems, from concept design and simulation through prototyping, test, integration, and system-level troubleshooting.
• Working level proficiency in C, C++, Python for test automation and hardware bring-up.
• Good communication skills and ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.

Desirable:

• Proficiency in analogue or mixed signal ASIC design.
• Hands-on experience with microcontrollers, embedded control systems, and supervisory circuitry.
• Familiarity with life sciences instrumentation and medical devices.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. If you are passionate about developing cutting-edge scientific tools and want to contribute to breakthrough innovations in proteomics, we encourage you to apply!