Main Supervisor: Dr. Edmond Cretu, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, UBC
Duration: 2 years
Who We Are:
Sonus Microsystems and the AdaMist (Adaptive Microsystems) research group at UBC, led by Dr. Edmond Cretu, are jointly leveraging state-of-the-art and patented polymer MEMS technology to develop an affordable imaging diagnostic device aimed at transforming clinical screening and remote patient monitoring. Our proprietary technology involves fabrication of polymer-based Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasound Transducers (polyCMUTs), which have unique characteristics that enable the use of ultrasound in applications not previously possible. Our technology has applications in various markets, including healthcare, non-destructive testing, and consumer electronics products.
We are expanding our R&D team through the MITACS Accelerate program and are seeking a highly skilled researcher to help us develop a new class of ultrasound transducers.
Who You Are:
We are looking for an electronics design engineer or scientist (master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral level) with experience in analog and mixed-signal design, embedded systems, and hands-on prototyping. The ideal candidate will also bring complementary skills in software or firmware development. Experience with ASIC design flows is considered a strong asset.
You will work on the electronic architecture that drives our next-generation transducers, including transmit pulsers, receive front ends, signal conditioning circuits, and embedded control.
Responsibilities:
Analog and Mixed-Signal Circuit Design
- Design, model, and prototype circuits for driving and receiving signals from ultrasound transducers
- Develop low-noise, high-sensitivity front-end circuits to interface with CMUT/polyCMUT elements
- Create pulse generation circuitry, biasing systems, and impedance matching networks
- Simulate designs using SPICE tools and iterate based on measured results
- Support development of macromodels or behavioral models (e.g., Verilog-A) for system-level simulation
Embedded Systems and Software Development
- Integrate microcontrollers, DSPs, or FPGAs with analog circuitry for system control and data acquisition
- Develop firmware or embedded code to support excitation, timing control, communication, and data handling
- Write supporting software scripts for testing, automation, and data analysis (Python, MATLAB, or similar)
System-Level Electronics Development
- Participate in design of RF or high-frequency signal paths for ultrasound systems
- Conduct interference and noise analysis, proposing improvements for robustness and signal quality
PCB Design and Prototyping
- Design multi-layer PCBs for mixed-signal systems with attention to proper grounding, isolation, and trace routing
- Collaborate with vendors for fabrication and assembly
- Test and validate prototypes, documenting results and recommending design iterations
Research and Documentation
- Work closely with microfabrication engineers, MEMS designers, software developers, and test engineers to create integrated solutions
- Review scientific literature, emerging ASIC technologies, and patents relevant to ultrasound electronics
- Contribute to technical reports, presentations, and documentation for internal and MITACS reporting
Qualifications:
Required
- PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Physics, or related field
- Hands-on experience with analog/mixed-signal design, including op-amps, filters, bias circuits, and sensor interfaces
- Proficiency with SPICE-based simulators (e.g., LTspice, Cadence, ADS)
- Experience with embedded systems (microcontrollers, FPGAs, DSPs) and associated firmware development
- Strong programming skills (Python, C/C++, MATLAB, or similar)
- Experience building and testing electronic prototypes, including use of oscilloscopes, network analyzers, and similar equipment
- Excellent documentation and communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary R&D environment
Preferred (Asset but not required)
- Experience with ASIC design flows, RTL, Verilog/VHDL, or mixed-signal ASIC architectures
- Background in ultrasound electronics, medical device design, or high-frequency instrumentation
- Familiarity with CMUT technologies or MEMS-based sensors
- PCB design experience in Altium, Cadence, or KiCad
- Experience implementing signal processing algorithms in embedded or PC environments
- Exposure to ultrasound imaging concepts such as beamforming or high-voltage pulsers
Working environment:
- You will work across Sonus’ facilities and partner university labs, collaborating with MEMS process engineers, acoustic engineers, fabrication teams, and software developers
- The role involves both deep technical design work and rapid prototyping in a fast-paced and highly collaborative startup environment
We Encourage Diverse Perspectives
We believe that varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives help us solve complex problems, and recognize that expertise and potential are not always captured by a job description, so if you can help drive our mission forward, we encourage you to apply!
**Please note that we are not able to provide immigration sponsorship at this time**
