Systems Engineer, Product Development - Life Sciences

Cambridge Design Partnership; Town of Cambridge; Hybrid; AUD 172,000 - 248,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Discretionary bonus

Learning and development opportunities

12% pension

Private healthcare

EV lease salary sacrifice

Share incentive plan

33 days holiday

Job summary

Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is seeking a senior leader to guide multidisciplinary teams in the development of cutting-edge diagnostic and life-science products. You will oversee project delivery, mentor staff, and collaborate with global client teams to tackle complex development challenges.

You will leverage deep IVD and life-sciences knowledge to navigate technical, regulatory, and cost constraints, ensuring high-quality outcomes and robust client relationships.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of in vitro diagnostics and life sciences markets.
• Experience designing systems for complex biochemical assays with attention to user and cost trade-offs.
• Proven leadership and ability to drive multidisciplinary development projects.
• Track record in client interaction, proposals, and presentations in a consultancy setting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee delivery of client projects with high technical quality; may lead projects and meet with clients.
• Mentor and develop the team’s knowledge in IVD and life sciences.
• Help nurture internal Diagnostics sector experts and support recruitment.
• Work with client managers to grow long-term client relationships.
• Raise sector profile by attending conferences and events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

IVD market expertise

Leadership

Clear communication

Regulatory knowledge

Client presentations

System design for assays

Fast-paced consultancy

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Physical Sciences

Job description

CDP design and develop consumable and reader systems for point-of-care, home and lab-based in vitro diagnostics (IVD) systems and life science tools for some of the world’s leading diagnostics and life-sciences companies, developing innovative products from early-stage concept, through to product launch.

Your objective will be to guide our multidisciplinary technical teams to drive product development programmes, delivering successful outcomes for our clients.

With your technical knowledge and experience in in vitro diagnostics or life science tools you will present as a trusted technical ‘face’ of the sector to our clients, collaborate with our sector business developers in EU and USA to bring in sales opportunities, and lead our multidisciplinary teams of technical experts in UK and USA to navigate the technical complexities of development projects to ensure the product meets requirements.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee delivery of our client projects to a high level of technical quality. In some projects you may also be responsible for leading projects, communicating and meeting with clients regularly.
• Mentor and develop the team’s knowledge, skills and experience in in vitro diagnostics and life science tools, from graduate to senior levels.
• Help nurture our internal team of Diagnostics sector technical specialists, drawing from our general capability teams, and recruiting externally.
• Work with our client managers to nurture and develop long term client relationships.
• Help the sector raise its public profile globally by attending conferences
• Perform other duties as assigned

This role is full time/hybrid with minimum 3 days per week on site at our beautiful modern Cambridge, UK site. International travel will be required for visits to our clients, conferences, and our Raleigh, USA office.

Skills and Attributes:

• Expert knowledge in the in vitro diagnostics and life sciences market, able to understand specialist technologies and applications to help identify compelling opportunities for CDP and clients.
• Expert at designing systems that implement complex biochemical assays; able to navigate the technical, user and cost trade-offs to develop ‘well balanced’ products.
• Leadership and communication skills to empower the team and drive multidisciplinary development projects efficiently and effectively towards well-defined goals.
• Creative and highly technical ability in many of the following areas: concept generation of consumables and reader systems; assay implementation, prototyping techniques, detail design; design of experiments; design for high volume manufacture, IVD V&V.
• Familiar with industry regulations IVDR, MDR and standards ISO 13485, 21CFR part 820 and ISO14971;
• Comfortable presenting to clients and groups, with confident, clear and compelling communication style.
• Confident working in a fast-paced consultancy environment.

Experience and Education:

• Career experience in medical device development, ideally having played a significant role in product launch of an in vitro diagnostic device or life science tools product. Alternatively, experience at a product /technology development consultancy working in the same field.
• Track record of planning and leading large development projects, taking responsibility for quality, time, and cost.
• Proven experience in account management activities, acting as technical lead in sales meetings, proposal writing and presenting.
• Degree-level education, or equivalent in relevant subject such as Mechanical Engineering, Physics or Natural Sciences.

Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an end-to-end innovation partner, propelling global brands and ambitious start-ups to success. We build breakthrough products and services – from insight to ideas, prototypes to production – bringing innovation to life. Our teams are multi-disciplinary, uniting scientific rigor, design ingenuity, and engineering excellence for consumer and healthcare clients. People-centred, deeply collaborative, and – above all – expert, we’re uniquely positioned to shape the future for consumers, patients, and industry. Even our ownership model is innovative: We’re 100% owned by our employees, ensuring an open culture and a total commitment to our projects’ success. As part of our benefits package, we offer:

• flexible working
• a discretionary bonus
• excellent learning and development opportunities
• a 12% non-contributory pension
• private healthcare
• electric vehicle lease salary sacrifice scheme
• share incentive plan
• 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays