Description -

Writing Systems Engineer

Location: Vancouver, WA or Corvallis, OR
Organization: Specialty Printing & Technology Solutions (SPTS)
Reports To: Engineering Manager

Job Summary

The Writing Systems Engineer designs and implements engineering solutions by applying intermediate-level subject matter knowledge to industrial ink delivery and print systems used in SPTS products. This role supports the design, development, characterization, validation, and lifecycle support of reliable, cost-effective, and high-quality writing systems for low to moderately complex products. The engineer bridges mechanical, electrical, firmware, fluidics, materials, manufacturing, applications, supplier, and customer-facing disciplines to ensure reliable ink delivery, print quality, and system performance. The role demonstrates technical judgment, creativity, initiative, and meticulous attention to detail; develops and implements test plans; analyzes data; communicates findings; and contributes as an informed project team member with limited project direction input.

Specialty Printing & Technology Solutions (SPTS) is a business unit within HP's Imaging, Printing and Solutions (IPS) organization. Its focus is to extend HP printing technology into industrial, specialty, and OEM applications beyond traditional office and consumer printing.

Responsibilities

• Designs portions of writing system solutions, including printheads, pens, ink delivery components, fluid delivery subsystems, interconnects, electronics, firmware interfaces, mechanical interfaces, and supporting subsystems based on established engineering principles.

• Defines and supports writing system architecture requirements, performance specifications, and validation criteria for industrial printing products.

• Develops and implements parameters, experiments, and test plans to characterize print quality, image formation, jetting reliability, ink delivery behavior, environmental robustness, image durability, ink consumption, and long-term system reliability.

• Creates plans for validation of form, fit, function, tolerances, reliability, thermal performance, environmental performance, safety, system power interactions, and other writing system performance requirements; publishes and communicates test results.

• Conducts root cause analysis for system-level, manufacturing, supplier, and customer-reported issues; implements corrective actions and remediations according to plan while maintaining thorough procedural records and data logs.

• Evaluates interactions among ink, printhead, firmware, electronics, mechanical systems, fluidics, and materials to support robust system integration.

• Collaborates and communicates with internal and outsourced development partners, including electrical, firmware, software, mechanical, materials, product engineering, manufacturing engineering, applications engineering, suppliers, and customers.

• Supports design reviews, risk assessments, FMEA activities, qualification testing, manufacturing readiness, production ramp, engineering change requests, alternate material authorization, supplier quotation reviews, and product lifecycle management activities.

• Develops automated test and data collection methodologies where appropriate and uses data analysis to develop conclusions, recommendations, reports, and presentations.

• Partners with application engineers and customers to understand use cases and performance requirements, troubleshoot field issues, provide technical guidance, and support continuous product improvement.

• Exercises technical judgment, creativity, initiative, and attention to detail consistently throughout work output.

• Works independently on moderate-scope problems, applying professional expertise, exercising judgment, and resolving issues by following company policies and procedures.

• Participates as a member of project teams and contributes to product development, knowledge sharing, and reliable, cost-effective, high-quality solutions for low to moderately complex products.

Education & Experience Recommended

• Four-year or graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or another related technical discipline, or commensurate work experience or demonstrated competence.

• Typically has 2–4 years of work experience, preferably in product development, printing systems, fluidics, electromechanical systems, electrical design, electronic hardware, test development, data analysis, or a related field; or an advanced degree with little or no work experience.

Essential Knowledge & Skills

• Experimental design, test planning, DOE, statistical analysis, and data interpretation

• Root cause analysis, debugging, corrective action, and issue resolution

• Python, MATLAB, JMP, Minitab, or similar data analysis tools

• Oscilloscope, measurement systems, automated test methods, and data collection methodologies

• New product development, manufacturing readiness, production ramp, engineering change management, quality systems, and supplier qualification

• Effective written and verbal communication, technical reporting, cross-functional collaboration, results orientation, learning agility, digital fluency, and customer centricity

Preferred Knowledge & Skills

• Writing systems and industrial printing systems

• Thermal inkjet or other digital printing technologies

• Printhead, pen, and ink delivery subsystem design

• Fluidics, capillary systems, and ink delivery architectures

• Print quality characterization, image analysis, jetting performance, and reliability testing

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with thermal inkjet (TIJ) or industrial printing systems.

• Knowledge of fluidics, capillary systems, ink delivery architectures, printheads, pens, and writing system performance.

• Experience with print quality characterization, image analysis, jetting reliability, environmental robustness, image durability, and long-term reliability testing.

• Familiarity with Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, reliability testing, and automated data collection.

• Experience supporting products from concept through manufacturing release, including qualification, production ramp, and continuous product improvement.

• Understanding of engineering change management, quality systems, supplier development, and supplier qualification activities.

Impact & Scope

• Impacts the immediate team and acts as an informed team member by providing analysis of information and limited project direction input.

• Contributes to solutions for low to moderately complex products and systems within established engineering guidelines.

Complexity

• Responds to routine issues within established guidelines.

• Applies professional expertise and judgment to moderate-scope problems, using data, testing, and cross-functional input to support decisions and recommendations.

Disclaimer

• This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed in this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, skills, responsibilities, knowledge, etc. These may be subject to change and additional functions may be assigned as needed by management.

The pay range for this role is $83,000 to $127,800 USD annually with additional opportunities for pay in the form of bonus and/or equity (applies to United States of America candidates only). Pay varies by work location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Benefits:

HP offers a comprehensive benefits package for this position, including:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Long term/short term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Life insurance
• Generous time off policies, including;
• 4-12 weeks fully paid parental leave based on tenure
• 11 paid holidays
• Additional flexible paid vacation and sick leave (US benefits overview)

The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

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Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) - 

HP, Inc. provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and prospective employees, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic predisposition or carrier status, uniformed service status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by applicable national, federal, state, and local law(s).

Please be assured that you will not be subject to any adverse treatment if you choose to disclose the information requested. This information is provided voluntarily. The information obtained will be kept in strict confidence.

For more information, review HP’s EEO Policy or read about your rights as an applicant under the law here: “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal"