Systems Engineer (Research and Development Scientist and Engineer 2)

About the job

Stanford University is launching an interdisciplinary Neuro-AI project dedicated to building a foundation model of the brain. This endeavor will involve multiple labs and faculty across the Stanford campus, including the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford Bio-X, and the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute. Leveraging cutting-edge advances in electrophysiology and machine learning, this project aims to create a functional "digital twin" — a model that captures both the activity dynamics of the brain at cellular resolution and the intelligent behavior it generates, including perception, motor planning, learning, reasoning, and problem-solving.

This ambitious initiative promises to offer unprecedented insights into the brain's algorithms of perception and cognition while serving as a key resource for aligning artificial intelligence models with human-like neural representations. As part of this project, we are seeking talented Systems Engineers with an extensive background in implementing and maintaining experimental setups used to run large-scale neuroscience experiments. Ideal candidates will have several years of practical experience in building and running multi-modal experimental setups, including implementation of state-machines, the synchronization of different data modalities (such as visual stimulation with eye tracking), and large-scale electrophysiology techniques. Additionally, candidates should exhibit a strong background in quantitative fields such as Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, or Computer Science.

This position promises a vibrant and cooperative atmosphere within the laboratories of Andreas Tolias (https://toliaslab.org), Tirin Moore (https://www.moorelabstanford.com) and other labs at Stanford University renowned for their expertise in perception, cognition, pioneering neural recording techniques, computational neuroscience, machine learning, and Neuro-AI research.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Work together with a team dedicated to developing novel stimulus and behavioral paradigms, as well as large-scale Neuropixels recordings, for experiments in head-fixed behaving animal species beyond current state-of-the-art methods.
• Build and maintain multi-modal experimental setups, including integration of hardware components (e.g. eye/face/body cameras, widefield stereo displays, binocular eye trackers, head-stages for electrophysiology, high precision timing, photodiodes and relays) and software components (e.g. LabVIEW, OpenEphys, Kilosort), the latter in collaboration with Software Engineers.
• Work together with other teams of the Enigma Project to ensure efficient, large-scale, industry-level quality of experiments.
• - Other duties may also be assigned*

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

**- PhD, Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

• 2-3 years of practical experience in building and running experimental neuro-behavioral and/or neuro-physiological paradigms.
• Expertise in implementing hardware and software components for such experiments including concepts of state-machines, real-time high throughput data acquisition and storage, signal processing, visual stimulus presentation, and high resolution eye tracking
• Proficiency in LabVIEW, Matlab, and Python.
• Experience with National Instrument hardware.
• Experience with designing databases in Python/MySQL for big data.
• Experience with problem-solving and engineering solutions for large-scale experiments in neuroscience.
• Experience with networking and cloud storage.

Responsibilities**

Core Duties**:

• Provide leadership and scientific expertise in the planning and implementation of major projects, services, facilities, and activities.

• Develop advanced technological ideas, and guide their development into a final product or new approaches to research. Carry out complex or unique assignments important to the advancement of the field.

• Provide expert consultation and collaboration regarding technical requirements, capabilities, and advancement opportunities; make substantive contributions in diverse technical areas.

• Provide technical direction to other research staff, engineering associates, technicians, and/or students; facilitate workshops and demonstrations on research methods; educate and train users on research methodology and effective tools and techniques.

• Contribute to or co-author published articles, presentations, or scientific papers; identify research and development funding opportunities.

• Supervise staff and resources to meet program objectives.**

Minimum Education ****and Experience

Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**:

• Expert knowledge of the principles of engineering and related natural sciences.

• Demonstrated project leadership experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading and/or managing technical professionals.

Additional Information

-** Job Identification: 201757 - Job Category: Research - Posting Date: 2026-11-13 - Locations: 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA, 94305, US - Pay Range: $142,192-$265,426 - Pay Frequency: Annually - Fixed Term: N - Stanford Schools and Units: School of Medicine - Full time or Part time: **Full Time