Components Engineer

About Tantalus Systems (TSX: GRID)

Tantalus is a technology company dedicated to helping utilities modernize their distribution grids by harnessing the power of data across all their devices and systems deployed throughout the entire distribution grid – from the substation to the EV charger located behind the meter. We offer smart grid solutions across multiple levels: intelligent connected devices, communications networks, data management, enterprise applications and analytics. Learn more at http://www.tantalus.com/.

Come join us if you’re interested in being part of an entrepreneurial team, solving complex technical problems and delivering innovative solutions that will directly impact the electrification of everything and the decarbonization of our society.

We have operations throughout the United States and Canada with offices in Burnaby (British Columbia, Canada), Raleigh (North Carolina, USA), and Norwalk (Connecticut, USA).

This position offers a competitive salary plus variable compensation based on performance targets and business objectives.  Tantalus also offers generous benefits, including medical, dental and vision plans, healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts and paid time off.

The Opportunity:

The Components Engineer will play a key role in strengthening the reliability and scalability of Tantalus' hardware products by providing technical oversight of electronic component selection and sourcing.

Working closely with Product Development, Hardware Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering and supply chain partners, this role will evaluate component choices, identify and qualify alternate sources, and help reduce dependency on single-source components.

This is a hands-on technical role supporting both existing products and future designs. The components engineer will combine strong electronics knowledge, component and vendor expertise, bench-level evaluation and disciplined documentation to improve component availability, cost competitiveness and supply chain resilience.

Location of Position:

This role is based in Burnaby, BC, with a preference for on-site work.

Specifically, the Components Engineer will:

• Review and technically assess electronic component selections for existing products, new product designs and design changes.
• Identify alternate manufacturers, vendors and technically suitable replacement components to reduce single-source dependencies.
• Evaluate and qualify second sources for key components through technical analysis, bench testing and collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Build and maintain alternate sourcing options for existing products to improve continuity of supply, enable competitive quoting and identify cost-reduction opportunities.
• Partner with design engineers early in the development process to identify components with multiple viable sources wherever practical.
• Act as a technical gatekeeper for component selection, constructively challenging choices that create unnecessary sourcing, lifecycle or supply risk.
• Support a disciplined exception process for components that must remain single sourced, including documenting the technical rationale and supporting required management review.
• Evaluate component specifications, performance, compatibility, availability and manufacturer information to support sound technical decisions.
• Maintain clear and thorough documentation of component evaluations, approved alternatives, sourcing information, test results and technical decisions.
• Collaborate with hardware engineering, manufacturing engineering and supply chain partners to address shortages, obsolescence and other component-related issues.
• Develop strong knowledge of key component manufacturers, distributors and market options and use that knowledge to strengthen component selection and sourcing decisions.
• Support the documentation and component-control discipline required to scale manufacturing and work effectively with contract manufacturing partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you Bring:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of technical education and relevant practical experience.
• Approximately 5+ years of experience in electronics design, components engineering, component selection or a closely related hardware engineering role.
• Strong knowledge of electronic components and the ability to assess component suitability from both a technical and application perspective.
• Hands-on experience with analog electronics.
• Experience working with electronic component manufacturers, distributors, vendors and component supply chains.
• Experience identifying, evaluating and qualifying alternate components or second sources.
• Comfortable performing bench testing and using electronic laboratory equipment to validate component performance and compatibility.
• Strong technical documentation skills, with the ability to clearly document component decisions, evaluations, sourcing information and test results.
• Experience working in hardware product development and/or electronics manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.
• Experience with RF electronics is considered an asset.
• A Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation is considered an asset but is not required.

Personal Attributes Required:

• Strong technical judgment with a practical, solutions-oriented approach.
• Confident communicating technical concerns and constructively challenging component choices when required.
• Collaborative and able to work effectively across product development, hardware engineering, manufacturing and supply chain teams.
• Resilient and persistent, with the ability to drive long-term improvements in component sourcing and design practices.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong follow-through and disciplined documentation habits.
• Able to balance technical performance, component availability, cost, lifecycle considerations and business needs.
• Clear written and verbal communicator who can explain technical trade-offs and recommendations effectively.