Physical Systems Architect
Full Time
Boynton Beach, FL, US
The Physical Systems Architect is responsible for early-stage instrument definition by selecting and validating measurement principles, defining functional modularization, and rejecting infeasible concepts based on physical modeling, first-principle reasoning, and quantitative trade-off analysis. The role focuses on concept evaluation before detailed design, ensuring that only physically sound, scalable, and robust system concepts enter development. In addition, the Physical Systems Architect contributes to the long-term evolution of the instrument portfolio by evaluating emerging sensor technologies and leading pre-development technology studies relevant to Anton Paar's analytical laboratory instrumentation. Key duties of the Physical Systems Architect encompass:
Architectural Planning
Define the physical system architecture by identifying dominant physical effects, relevant disturbance mechanisms, and fundamental performance limits.
Establish a functional and physical modularization strategy that balances measurement performance, serviceability, and reuse across related instruments.
Specify boundary conditions, interfaces, and constraints between modules, and select technologies based on quantitative feasibility and robustness considerations.
Functional Performance
Analyze operational requirements of physical measurement systems, including sensitivity, stability, noise, drift, and environmental influences.
Derive and assess measures required to achieve reliable, high-quality measurement results within known physical and practical limits.
Business Alignment
Ensure that technically feasible system concepts are aligned with strategic goals, cost constraints, scalability, and long-term product sustainability.
Roles and Responsibilities
Formulate high-level system architectures and specifications that establish clear boundaries and assumptions for subsequent detailed design.
Evaluate competing technical solutions through quantitative analysis and first-principle reasoning and make go/no-go decisions at concept and pre-development stages or prepare them for the R&D Director.
Act as a technical authority during development, ensuring consistency with the defined system architecture and supporting resolution of architecture-relevant issues when deviations or conflicts arise.
Assess existing instruments and platforms to identify architectural weaknesses, performance limitations, and opportunities for reuse or improvement.
Document architectural decisions, assumptions, models, and interfaces in a form suitable for long-term reuse and traceability.
Protect and manage architectural knowledge and intellectual property relevant to physical system concepts and measurement principles.
This role owns the physical system architecture; software architecture and implementation are outside its scope.
Occasional domestic or international travel may be required (less than 5%).
Education and Experience
The Physical Systems Architect typically needs a combination of education, training, certifications and skills. This role requires the following:
MS in Physical Sciences, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or similar
Minimum of 5 years' experience in product development in the field of engineering or physics
Demonstrated experience in physical modelling and error budgeting
Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a diverse team
Demonstrated experience evaluating software architectures, reviewing code, or conducting technology assessments for business or acquisition decisions.
Preferred skills include:
PhD in Physical Sciences, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or similar
Experience in product or instrument development
Experience in precision instrumentation design
Experience in project management
Experience in early-stage concept development or feasibility studies for physical systems.
Demonstrated experience generating technical documentation such as requirements, specifications, engineering report, plans and procedures
Experience in technology due diligence, M&A assessment, or evaluating acquisition targets from a systems/software perspective.
Success Criteria
This role is successful if:
Physically viable and well-justified system concepts are defined and released into product development
Functional and physical modules defined at the architectural level are reused across multiple instruments with minimal adaptation.
Product developments based on the defined system concepts do not require late-stage redesigns due to previously unrecognized physical limitations, interactions, or feasibility issues.
Architectural decisions, assumptions, models, and trade-offs are explicitly documented and remain traceable and usable throughout development and across related projects.
Competencies:
The Systems Architect uses a variety of technical skills, soft skills and industry knowledge to develop applications and systems, including:
Technical Expertise
Ability to perform first-principle estimates
Ability to compare competing physical concepts
Ability to reason across domains without detailed simulation
Ability to identify dominant vs negligible effects
Problem Solving
Effectively identifies issues and evaluates options
Escalates trade-offs where required
Time Management
Ability to achieve desired results within given time frames
Decides between conflicting priorities or escalates to the R&D Director
Teamwork
Works effectively in inter-department and inter-company teams
Understands their role in a workgroup
Quality
Works according to quality standards by following a structured approach of identifying problems, working on a solution, testing and checking their work, and paying close attention to detail
Looks for ways to improve quality within their work area
Who we are:
Anton Paar's high-precision instruments help our customers develop every-day products from your shampoo to your shoes, your lunch and favorite beverages, your computer and medication, jet engines, batteries and the pavement on which you commute every day. We help Fortune 500 companies of almost every industry sector, start-ups, and leading universities conduct their research and quality control.
Owned by the charitable Santner Foundation, our investment into R&D is unmatched and leads to industry-leading products. We maintain fiscal stability and independence so we can handle today's and tomorrow's challenges, and aim to provide meaningful, long-term workplaces for all employees. Anton Paar is headquartered in Graz, Austria, and operates worldwide.
What We Do:
Anton Paar QuantaTec manufactures instruments for characterization of powders and porous materials using techniques like physisorption, chemisorption, gas pycnometry, mercury intrusion porosimetry, capillary flow porometry amongst others.
Supervision Exercised
This role is an individual contributor who is a leader and/or member of multiple teams and is closely aligned with Engineering and Product Development teams.
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, observe, communicate and handle items such as computers, machinery and other equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
Position requires the ability to obtain a Passport for international travel.
In regards to organizational issues, the employee will comply with the regulations set forward in the Anton Paar Employee Handbook, except if otherwise stated.
Anton Paar QuantaTec Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at Anton Paar QuantaTec Inc. are based upon one's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to: age, race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, sickle cell trait, marital status, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
