Principal Electronics Engineer

Overview

Vo Co Vo  specialises in innovative communication solutions tailored for businesses, particularly within the retail sector. Our flagship products are designed to create a connected store experience, facilitating seamless communication among retail staff to enhance efficiency and elevate customer service. We empower teams to collaborate effortlessly and achieve their retail goals. You’ve probably already seen us in action - we’re trusted by Tesco, Asda, Dunelm and Iceland, just to name a few.

With over 250,000 users across more than 10,000 locations in 21+ countries, and recognition as one of the top 100 best small-to-medium size businesses to work for, join us on our journey!

Please note, to apply for this position you must be based in the UK and have the legal right to work in the UK.

Role Overview

As Principal Electronics Engineer you will lead the development of on-premise devices for our retail communication systems. This role involves defining, developing and leading Vo Co Vo ’s new on-premise device engineering team, and coordinating with suppliers and external specialists to design the electronic devices that deliver our communication solutions. You will work closely with Product Management, Project Management and Quality to ensure that the devices developed meet the needs of our customers and our business goals.

An ideal candidate will enjoy being hands-on with electronics design work, as well as working with external technology providers and design consultants on larger projects when necessary. You'll be able to balance innovation with practical design, manufacturing and compliance considerations in order to make evidence-based technical decisions.

Due to the need to work with our QA team in our test lab, this person would be expected to attend our Oxfordshire (Shipton-under-Wychwood) office 3 days per week on average, depending on the needs of project work. Alternatively, candidates may propose using their own local test facilities in combination with our lab, and this can be discussed during the recruitment process.

We’re looking for a highly experienced electronics engineer who combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership and a passion for delivering high-quality products. You’ll ideally bring:

• Demonstrable hands-on electronics design experience, with recent experience of operating in a Lead/Principal Engineer role.
• A proven track record of leading electronic product development end to end, from concept through to production.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field. A Master’s degree is highly desirable.
• Hands-on experience with PCB design tools such as Altium, KiCad or similar electronic design software.
• Experience working with Product Data Management (PDM) systems to ensure accuracy, traceability and efficient collaboration across teams.
• Strong knowledge of testing methodologies and an understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements for electronic products.
• Prior exposure to IoT device development, wireless communication systems/protocols or consumer electronics is highly desirable.
• Excellent experience with EMC/EMI design principles, including practical mitigation techniques used in real-world products.
• Confidence working with contract manufacturers and external design partners to deliver products at scale.
• Experience with (or a strong interest in) audio electronics, speech recognition or voice processing systems would be highly beneficial.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with experience of guiding, mentoring, inspiring and developing engineering teams.
• Strong communication skills, you'll be able to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary technical teams and stakeholders.
• A structured, problem-solving mindset, with a systematic approach to tackling complex technical challenges.
• Experience with simulation and analysis tools for circuit and RF design.
• An understanding of mechanical design principles in the context of electronic products.

• Lead the design and development of electronic devices for retail communication systems, taking products from…