Microfluidic Chip Manufacturing Engineer

Rivercell; Paris; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Growth opportunities

Startup environment

Job summary

Rivercell is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to own the physical realization of its microfluidic chips. You will source glass substrates and components, assemble, test, and scale production up to 500 chips per year, while building supplier networks, tooling, and process controls.

You will work at the bench and with a multidisciplinary team spanning genetics, AI, optics, electronics, and biology, contributing to an ambitious startup from its inception.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in precision-component manufacturing, supplier development, microfluidic or MEMS packaging.
• Experience with lab-device production and process development.
• Fluent in English; French helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

• Own the chip manufacturing and packaging architecture, including substrates, covers, and ports.
• Develop the manufacturing roadmap from manual prototypes to semi-automated production.
• Define and qualify suppliers for glass components and processing.
• Develop repeatable assembly and packaging processes for early devices.
• Lead failure analysis for leaks, misalignment, and packaging defects.
• Recruit, train, and supervise assembly technicians on standard processes and safety.

Skills

Manufacturing

Supplier development

Microfluidics packaging

MEMS packaging

Lab device production

Process development

Documentation

Quality control

Assembly

Sourcing

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

CAD software

Measurement equipment

Job description

We are looking for a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to own the physical realization of Rivercell's microfluidic chip, from the technical sourcing of glass substrates and precision-machined components through assembly, quality control, and small-scale production.

You will translate the chip architecture into a reliable supply chain and a repeatable manufacturing process. You will work directly at the bench while building the supplier network, tooling, documentation, process controls, and production methods required to manufacture up to 500 chips per year.

You will work hand-in-hand with our Lead Microfluidic Chip Engineer, Thin-Film Materials Engineer, Surface Engineering Scientist, Characterization Engineer, Microfluidics & Biofluids Engineer, and Assembly Technician, as well as an interdisciplinary team spanning genetic engineering, AI and software, bio-laboratory automation, optics, electronics, and biology. You will be an integral part of an ambitious and exciting startup project from its inception.

• Own the chip manufacturing and packaging architecture, including glass substrates and covers, spacers, chamber geometry, drilled holes, fluidic ports, electrical contacts, sealing interfaces, and mechanical features

• Develop the manufacturing roadmap from manual prototype builds to a robust semi-automated small-scale production process, improving yield, cycle time, cost, capacity, and reproducibility

• Define technical specifications for glass components. Identify, select, and qualify suppliers for glass components and processing

• Develop repeatable assembly and packaging processes for early devices, including alignment, spacer placement, bonding, sealing, fluidic interconnection, electrical contacting, sterilization and final inspection

• Select and qualify adhesives, gaskets, spacer materials, bonding methods, and packaging components compatible with thin films, fluoropolymer surfaces, biological media, optics, and high-voltage operation

• Design jigs, fixtures, alignment tools, error-proofing features that improve accuracy, repeatability, throughput, and operator ergonomics

• Define and control critical tolerances such as chamber height, substrate parallelism, lateral alignment, hole and port position, bond-line thickness, fluidic volume, and electrical-contact geometry

• Establish incoming, in-process, and final quality controls for substrates, machined components, assembled chips, leaks, dimensional conformity, cleanliness, and cosmetic or functional defects

• Create and maintain the bill of materials, approved supplier list, batch records, traceability system, inspection methods, and acceptance criteria

• Lead failure analysis for leaks, delamination, cracked or warped glass, drilling defects, particle contamination, misalignment, poor electrical contact, chamber-height variation, and assembly-induced damage

• Recruit, train and supervise assembly technicians on standard processes, quality requirements, equipment, documentation, and safe handling of fragile or coated components

• Opportunity to work on a cutting-edge project in the field of biotech

• Opportunity to join an ambitious team and impactful startup among the first employees

• Competitive salary and equity package

• Exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth within the team

You have an engineering degree or equivalent advanced degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, microengineering, materials engineering, precision engineering, microfluidics, or a related field. You have 4+ years of relevant experience in precision-component manufacturing, supplier development, microfluidic or MEMS packaging, laboratory-device production, or manufacturing-process development. You are comfortable moving between engineering drawings, supplier discussions, incoming inspection, process development, and hands-on assembly in the laboratory. You combine strong technical judgment with a pragmatic approach to solving sourcing, manufacturing, quality, and assembly problems. You are autonomous, committed, enthusiastic, and comfortable working with a can-do, creative, and challenging mindset. You are rigorous in documentation, tolerance management, experimental design, data interpretation, and communication of uncertainty. You have excellent communication skills and are fluent in English; professional proficiency in French is helpful but not required. You have previous experience or knowledge in one or more of the following areas:Technical sourcing and qualification of precision glass, ceramic, silicon, polymer, or coated componentsGlass cutting, dicing, drilling, laser or ultrasonic machining, sandblasting, polishing, cleaning, or dimensional inspectionPrecision assembly, alignment, bonding, dispensing, sealing, leak testing, and visual inspectionSupplier qualification, incoming quality control, non-conformance management, and design for manufacturabilityDevelopment of fixtures, jigs, tolerance stacks, process controls, work instructions, and traceability systemsTransition from manual prototypes to pilot-line or small-scale production