Senior NPI Engineer – Prototype & Sample Builds
Belfast | Contract | Up to £42.50 per hour | Outside IR35 | 12 months
Are you an experienced NPI or prototype engineer who loves getting hands-on with cutting-edge hardware?
We're recruiting on behalf of a fast-growing electronics business designing and manufacturing low power wireless wearable IoT devices for the healthcare sector. With a significant pipeline of new product launches, they need a senior engineer to own their prototype sample build process end-to-end.
The Role
As Senior NPI Engineer, you'll lead sample builds across multiple concurrent IoT hardware programmes. From defining build specifications and sourcing components, to hands-on bench assembly, firmware flashing, cloud validation, and international dispatch. You'll own the full lifecycle. This is a senior individual contributor role: no direct reports, but you'll coordinate across engineering, programme management and technician teams to get devices built right and shipped on time.
What You'll Be Doing
* Hands-on assembly of prototype IoT devices (PCB, enclosure, SIM, battery) and bench-level troubleshooting
* Flash firmware and validate end-to-end device connectivity and cloud data transmission
* Define sample build specifications in collaboration with hardware, firmware, mechanical, and software teams
* Coordinate materials procurement and manage inbound logistics from global suppliers
* Manage build schedules across typically three concurrent programmes — up to 100 units at peak
* Handle international sample dispatch including packaging, customs, export/import documentation, and dangerous goods compliance
What We're Looking For
* 5+ years of hands-on experience in electronics, IoT, or connected hardware. In NPI, prototype engineering, or operations
* Proven ability to work directly with sensitive electronic hardware at bench level
* Supply chain experience including global component sourcing and supplier coordination
* Track record managing international shipments - customs, export/import docs, dangerous goods, and country-specific certification (CE, FCC)
* Working knowledge of IoT platforms and how hardware, firmware, and cloud configuration interact
* Strong communicator, comfortable working across global engineering, commercial, and supply chain teams
Why This Role?
This position has been created to scale up a fast-growing NPI capability at a genuinely exciting point in the business's growth. If you thrive on variety, take pride in ownership, and want the satisfaction of seeing prototype hardware ship to global customers on time.
An interview can be quickly arranged.