Principal Mechanical Engineer - Early Research and Development

Principal Mechanical Engineer - Early Research and Development ROCGJP00039771

• Hourly pay: $70-$80/hr
• Worksite: Leading biotechnology company (Santa Clara, CA 95050 - Onsite)
• W2 Employment, Group Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement Savings Program, PSL
• 40 hours/week, 6 Month Assignment

A leading biotechnology company is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer - Early Research and Development. The candidate will be responsible for concepting, designing, building, and testing novel electro-mechanical, pneumatic, thermal, and fluidic solutions that ensure the ultimate performance, reliability, and longevity of our systems. The Principal Mechanical Engineer will play a vital role in driving innovation for next-generation instrumentation and developing solutions to novel DNA Sequencing and automation challenges.

Principal Mechanical Engineer - Early Research and Development Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end mechanical design and development of mechanical sub-systems including electro-mechanical, pneumatic, fluidic, and thermal components.
• Collaborate with engineers from other disciplines (electrical, consumables, materials) to define and manage all critical technical interfaces for your module.
• Develop novel mechanisms for automated reagent and flow cell loading, clamping, and sealing, ensuring reliability over repeated use.
• Architect and design thermal control systems, including the specification and integration of heating/cooling elements, sensors, condensation control, and heat management.
• Contribute to the technical strategy for the future integrated system, providing data-driven recommendations on architecture and technology choices based on your sub-system's performance.
• You will partner with internal and external simulation experts to guide and validate CFD, thermal, and optical models, using empirical data to refine designs.
• Serve as the primary technical expert for your sub-system during integration, verification, and troubleshooting activities, working directly with the Systems Integration team.
• Lead cross-functional design reviews, driving alignment and resolving technical trade-offs between mechanical design, consumables, materials, and assay requirements.
• Create and maintain all design documentation for your sub-systems, including detailed CAD models, drawings, and specifications.
• Present technical progress, data, and design trade-offs to the broader project team and key stakeholders, clearly articulating the rationale and impact of engineering decisions.

Principal Mechanical Engineer - Early Research and Development Qualifications:

• A PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related discipline with at least 3 years of relevant industry experience; or
• A Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related discipline with at least 4 years of relevant industry experience; or
• A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related discipline with at least 7 years of relevant industry experience.
• Demonstrated deep, hands-on expertise in the design, development, and testing of complex mechanical, electro-mechanical, and pneumatic systems, preferably for life science or diagnostic instrumentation.
• Demonstrated hands-on expertise in thermal management and the design of precision temperature control systems.
• Experience developing fluidics systems and their interfaces including pumps, valves, tubing, sensors, and material selection.
• A strong proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) for detailed design and the creation of manufacturing drawings.
• Expertise in designing components for a variety of manufacturing processes (e.g., machining, injection molding, 3D printing).
• Creative and resourceful problem-solver, with the ability to troubleshoot complex issues at the interface of hardware, software, and chemistry.
• Proficient with common machine shop tools, as well as test and measurement equipment; proficient with rapid prototyping technology such as 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills/lathes, etc; and
• Demonstrated level of proficiency with Python, LabVIEW, or similar tools for device control and data acquisition.
• Demonstrated the ability to lead technical projects and mentor junior engineers, providing clear guidance and delegating tasks to achieve project goals is preferred.
• Experience using simulation tools (CFD, FEA) to guide design decisions is preferred.
• Experience in the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) or other genomics instrumentation is preferred.
• Experience working in a regulated product development environment is preferred.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to communicate technical knowledge in a clear and understandable manner, especially to non-experts; you excel at problem-solving skills and the ability to work under ambiguous situations is preferred.

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