Senior ECU & Electronics Hardware Engineer - Advanced EV in Banbury

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

• 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
• 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
• 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
• Experience working with microcontrollers or processors
• Communications: CAN, SPI, ISO-SPI, IC, 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.