Research And Development Engineer

About the job

Digital Control Incorporated (DCI) is the world's leading supplier of underground locating and steering products for the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) industry. Since the introduction of this revolutionary technology 30 years ago, Digital Control has been at the forefront of trenchless technologies that enable the efficientinstallationof underground utilities such as fiber optic, telecom, gas, and water lines world-wide. DCI's products are valued for their durable design, ease of use, and uncompromising commitment to customer service.

DCI is seeking an innovative Research and Development Engineer in Kent, WA to conceptualize and design new products. If you are passionate about designing and prototyping, are highly collaborative and thrive in cross-disciplinary engineering organizations, then DCI could be a perfect fit for you! 

Requirements

What you'll do:

• Be a part of DCI Labs, a small team of engineers working on technologies in advance of the New Product Introduction (NPI), or product commercialization teams.
• Conceptualize and produce Proofs-of-Concepts (POC) for new product designs that solve real-world problems in the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) or similar industries.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts to identify key industry problems and devise practical solutions. 
• Refine these inventions and POCs to prepare them for internal transfer to our NPI teams for commercialization.
• Support commercialization of new designs as a consultant throughout the final product development and production stages.
• Maintain current knowledge of technological developments and trends in area of specialty, identify current and future technology needs, and introduce innovative technology to directly support on-going new product development activities.
• Foster, and contribute directly to, ideas and patent applications that expand DCI's IP portfolio.

Requirements

• B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on analog, communications, or RF design, or a B.A./B.S. degree in Physics.
• 5+ years in design and testing of analog electronics post-BS/BA degree, or 3+ years post-MS/MA degree.
• High degree of drive and passion for designing and creating POC for innovative engineering designs.
• Ability to articulate complex physics and electrical domain issues to a non-technical audience.
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a fluid, highly collaborative environment
  
  Desired:
• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics.
• Cross-disciplinary engineering experience.
• Electromagnetic theory and design experience.
• Design experience in Radio Frequency circuits at the PC Board level and with digital radio protocols and standards.
• Proficiency with MATLAB or similar mathematical analysis tools.
• Proficiency with other simulation tools used in physics and electrical engineering.
• LabVIEW experience.
• Machine shop experience.
• Experience working with a legal team from innovation through granted patent.
  
  Who you are:
• Passionate about science and technology and making direct and unique contributions to products that solve tough customer problems
• Excited about working on a collaborative and innovative team!
  If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to still apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or another role at DCI
  

Benefits

• Unparalleled health benefits (PPO plan with no deductibles, no co-pays, DCI covers 99% of costs)
• Quarterly bonuses: we all share in the success of the company
• Professional development
• 401k match (3% match from DCI regardless of participation, 5% maximum match, 100% vested immediately)
• 22 days PTO
• Parental leave
• Company covers 100% of payroll taxes for state family medical leave
• 11 annual paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday
• Winter break (we are closed the last week of each year)
• See more benefits information here.

Compensation:

• DCI is proud to offer comprehensive compensation packages including competitive base pay and discretionary quarterly profit sharing bonuses to all part-time and full-time team members. Base pay is reviewed at a minimum on an annual basis.
• Pay range: $121,400 - 157,700 per year. To ensure equity, our compensation philosophy is to bring people into new roles in the range of the mid-point of that role. Factors consideredfor payinclude thelevel of skill,experience, training, external market factors, and internal value.
• Profit sharing bonus: Over the last 3 years, quarterly bonuses ranged between 11% and 27%. Future bonuses could be higher or lower depending on company profits.

Why DCI?

Work hard, play often... DCI employees are innovative and creative. Our open (forest-like) work environment creates free flowing conversations across all functions. We have gaming days; Lego challenges and ping pong matches to build on our creativity when one hits a roadblock. If that is not enough, our employees bring their four-legged companions (dogs) to work and can take them for a walk around the Green River trail.

DCI takes pride in caring a lot about our employees. We believe that employees should not be burdened with benefits expenses, so we provide lucrative health care plans unmatched in most other companies. We also like to eat at DCI and find any excuse to celebrate the most random holidays (Pi Day, Chocolate Ice Cream Day, etc.) We have monthly catered lunches, a fully stocked snack area,sporting tickets, wellness competitions, and most importantly a team of people who will tell you that DCI is the best place they've ever worked. This is evident by our long service team and low turnover.

Onsite Work Schedule:

Success delivering the highest quality products requires this role to collaborate across engineering, product and manufacturing. This position has a primary work location at the Kent, WA location and requires five days in office.

We Celebrate Inclusion:

DCI is an equal opportunity employer. Employment at DCI is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. DCI does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), or any other basis protected by law.

It is DCI's policy to comply with all applicable national, state and local laws pertaining to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. The Company's EEO policy includes the full & complete support of the Company and all levels of leadership. Because it's just the right thing to do. We hope you think so too.