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Research Scientist, Biomedical Engineering

Boston University

Boston, MAFull-time$83–228K/yrSeen 2w agoSeen in employer's feed 1w ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$83–228K/yr
Location
Boston, MA
Role Type
Research
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree

Job overview

The Research Scientist will lead the design, development, characterization, and maintenance of wearable biomedical optical instruments for brain imaging and peripheral sensing research. The role covers circuit design, PCB layout, FPGA and embedded firmware, sensor and camera systems, and integration of optical and electronic subsystems into wearable packages. The position is open to all experience levels; some professional experience is a plus, and an MS or PhD is preferred.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

PCB DesignAltiumKiCadEagleAnalog Circuit DesignMixed-Signal Circuit DesignFPGA FirmwareVHDLVerilogEmbedded CPythonMATLABCamera/Image SensorsOptical SystemsSiPM/APD DetectorsSize, Weight, and Power DesignDocumentationCommunicationWearable/Implantable Biomedical DevicesNear-Infrared Optical SpectroscopyLow-Power WirelessBLE/ZigbeeInstrumentation Publications

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, ECE, or Related FieldMaster's or PhDSome Professional Work Experience

Full job description

Research Scientist, Biomedical Engineering

Job Description

Research Scientist, Biomedical Engineering

Category

Charles River Campus --> Professional

Job Location

Boston, MA, United States

Tracking Code

26500493800921

Posted Date

9/25/2026

Salary Grade

Grade 00

Expected Hiring Range Minimum

$82,500.00

Expected Hiring Range Maximum

$227,500.00

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, training and internal pay comparison. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular

The Electrical Engineer / Research Scientist will lead the design, development, characterization, and maintenance of wearable biomedical optical instruments for brain imaging and peripheral sensing research. The role spans analog and digital circuit design, PCB layout, FPGA and embedded firmware, sensor and camera systems, and integration of optical and electronic subsystems into compact wearable packages. The successful candidate must be self-driven and capable of largely independent work. Interested candidates should email David Boas ([email protected] (https://apptrkr.com/get\_redirect.php?id=9892216&targetURL=mailto%3Adboas%40bu.edu) ) with a resume and a cover letter indicating (1) qualifications related to this position and (2) a short description of one of their prior circuit designs.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Design and validate mixed-signal electronic circuits for wearable instruments, from schematic through fabrication and bring-up.

  • Develop FPGA firmware (VHDL/Verilog) and embedded C firmware for real-time data acquisition and instrument control.

  • Develop unit tests and test benches.

  • Characterize sensors, cameras, and optical front-ends (photodetectors, SiPM, lasers/LEDs) for low-noise, low-light performance.

  • Integrate optics, electronics, and firmware into compact, deployable wearable systems; support other modalities (e.g., EEG, IMU)

  • Design or supervise the design of PCBs (multilayer, rigid and flexible) including low-noise techniques and impedance control.

  • Bench test and troubleshoot hardware using standard lab instruments; hands-on assembly, soldering, and rework.

  • Document designs and performance; mentor students/postdocs on hardware topics; contribute to publications.

Required Skills

  • BS in Electrical Engineering, ECE, or related field required; MS/PhD preferred.

  • Open to all experience levels (early-career through senior), given strong technical fit.

  • Some professional work experience is a plus.

  • Proficient in PCB design (Altium, KiCad, or Eagle), analog/mixed-signal circuit design, FPGA firmware (VHDL/Verilog), embedded C, and Python/MATLAB.

  • Experience with camera/image sensors, optical systems (free-space or fiber), and SiPM/APD detectors is a strong plus.

  • Comfortable designing for tight size, weight, and power constraints; strong documentation and communication skills.

Preferred:

  • Background in wearable/implantable biomedical devices, near-infrared optical spectroscopy (CW-NIRS, SCOS, DCS), or low-power wireless (BLE/Zigbee); publication record in instrumentation.

  • Working Conditions Lab/office environment at CILSE, Boston University; hands-on hardware work is a daily core activity, with occasional collaboration with Boston-area clinical partners.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Required Skills

Job Location: Boston, MA

Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Salary Grade: $82,500.00-$227,500.00

To apply, visit https://jobs.silkroad.com/BU/External/jobs/317337 (https://apptrkr.com/9892216)

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How this job compares

Set against the 2,216 open Research Scientist jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 27, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$83–228K/yr
  • Massachusetts median$100–125K/yr103 salary ranges
  • US median$147–224K/yr1,481 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $155K, is 24% above the Massachusetts median midpoint ($125K) — in the middle half of Research Scientist salary ranges in Massachusetts.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 127 open Research Scientist jobs in Massachusetts and 2,216 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Massachusetts
Experience
Research Scientist postings that state a minimum ask for 4 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 2 to 6 years (1,209 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 1,229 of the 2,216 open Research Scientist jobs (55%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 27, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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