Senior ECU & Electronics Hardware Engineer - Advanced EV in Oxford

We are recruiting a Senior ECU & Electronics Hardware Engineer to join an established engineering organisation developing next‑generation electric powertrain and battery technologies. This role sits at the intersection of advanced EV systems and motorsport‑pace engineering, delivering real hardware into real testing and deployment environments. This is not a software‑only or late‑stage production role. You will design, build, test and own ECU‑level hardware used within battery management systems, powertrain control and supervisory electronics. The work is hands‑on, technically demanding and safety‑critical, supported by long‑term investment and organisational scale.

The Role

You will take end‑to‑end ownership of ECU and electronic control hardware, from early concept and architecture through schematic, PCB design, bring‑up, validation and production release. Alongside hardware delivery, you will play a key role in developing and supporting Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HIL) systems used to validate EV battery and powertrain architectures. The environment is fast‑paced and prototype‑led, but with the structure, funding and stability of a major global engineering organisation. Engineers in this team work closely with firmware, software, systems and test teams to deliver robust, high‑performance solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead ECU and electronic hardware design from concept through to production
• Design mixed‑signal, safety‑critical control and interface boards
• Perform circuit design, simulation, schematic capture and PCB layout oversight
• Own board bring‑up, debugging and fault diagnosis using lab equipment
• Develop, support and debug ECU‑connected HIL rigs
• Support battery, powertrain and control hardware during lab, rig and test activities
• Apply high‑voltage‑aware design principles, including isolation, creepage and clearance
• Select components with consideration for EMC, thermal and reliability requirements
• Define and execute hardware test strategies, including EVT, DVT and PVT
• Work closely with embedded firmware and software engineers to deliver integrated systems
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to continuous improvement of team processes

Technical Requirements

ECU & Electronics Hardware

• Proven experience designing ECU‑level electronics hardware
• Mixed‑signal, safety‑critical board design experience
• End‑to‑end ownership from schematic through PCB and validation
• Strong hands‑on lab capability; comfortable debugging your own designs

EV, Battery & Powertrain Systems

• Experience with BMS hardware, battery control units or EV powertrain electronics
• Understanding of HV battery systems, charging and power electronics
• Exposure to high‑voltage PCB design practices

Tools & Practical Skills

• PCB design experience using Altium, Cadence, Zuken or Mentor
• Confident use of oscilloscopes, logic analysers and bench equipment
• Practical soldering, rework and prototype modification skills

Embedded & ECU Interfaces

• Experience working with microcontrollers or processors
• Communications: CAN, SPI, ISO‑SPI, I²C, UART
• CAN bus design, termination and EMI mitigation

Safety, Quality & Standards

• Understanding of EMC and EMI mitigation
• Grounding strategies and transient protection
• Familiarity with functional safety principles
• Experience applying DFMEA and hardware verification methods
• Exposure to automotive or motorsport‑grade design standards

Ideal Background

• Automotive, EV, motorsport or advanced engineering environments
• Prototype‑heavy, fast‑moving programmes
• Experience delivering hardware against demanding technical schedules

Seniority Expectations

• Leads designs end‑to‑end with minimal supervision
• Comfortable making architectural and technical trade‑offs
• Drives design reviews and delivery timelines
• Acts as a mentor and technical reference for others
• Takes ownership for outcomes, not just tasks

Package & Benefits (UK)

• Competitive base salary: £60,000-£70,000 (higher for Lead/Principal profiles)
• Annual bonus scheme
• Pension with strong employer contribution, increasing with service
• Share / SIP scheme
• Private medical insurance and health cash plan
• Life assurance and income protection
• Free on‑site gym and discounted national memberships
• Electric car salary sacrifice scheme
• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays, with option to buy additional days

Working Pattern

• Predominantly on‑site role due to lab, rig and prototype requirements
• Typically 4-5 days on site, with limited flexibility for remote design or admin work
• Occasional extended hours aligned to testing or integration milestones
• Minimal travel, primarily UK‑based test facilities

Why This Role

This position offers genuine ECU hardware ownership, advanced EV and battery exposure, and the pace of motorsport engineering combined with long‑term stability and investment. It is suited to engineers who want to design, touch, test and improve real hardware - not manage it at arm's length.