
Research Scientist, Biomedical Engineering
Boston, MAFull-time$83–228K/yrSeen 2w agoSeen in employer's feed 1w ago
Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.
Watch jobs like this. New roles like this one near Boston, MA, by email.
Don't just apply. Show up ready.
Olive works from this exact posting.
At a glance
Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.
Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
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
Skills
Qualifications
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)
Copyright 2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.
Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency (https://www.jobelephant.com/)
je-3b382df6baba482582edcbc90df3b7e1
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
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology17 open
- Harvard University14 open
- AbbVie10 open
- 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.
Similar jobs, posted recently
Open roles like this one, listed in the last 30 days.
Electrical Engineer IIWHOOP · Boston, MA · $110–150K/yrPosted 2w agoPosted 2w ago
Electrical Engineer, Embedded HardwareBoston Engineering Corporation · Waltham, MA · $85–130K/yr
Associate Research ScientistBruker · Remote · US · $120–130K/yr
Electrical EngineerOptikos, LLC · Wakefield, MA
Principal Electrical Engineer, Advanced DevelopmentZOLL Medical Corporation · Chelmsford, MA (Hybrid) · $132–165K/yr
You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.