Mechanical Engineer – Life Sciences Instrumentation

Portal Biotech Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Portal Biotech Limited in London is seeking an early-career mechanical engineer to join the Hardware team. The role focuses on designing and building components, subassemblies and prototypes, with emphasis on scaling laboratory processes.

You will collaborate across disciplines, perform simulations, support manufacturability, and help maintain instrument stock, while protecting IP through rigorous documentation. The position is on-site at Scale Space, White City, London.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (e.g., automation).
• Proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent).
• Experience using mechanical, thermal and fluid analysis tools (FEA, CFD, thermal modelling) e.g., ANSYS, COMSOL.
• Experience of designing systems and subassemblies and building device prototypes.
• Design of parts for manufacture for CNC, sheet metal, and 3D printing.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, build, and test mechanical components and assemblies.
• Develop microfluidic, electromechanical, and thermal management solutions, including integration of electronics, optics and fluidics.
• Conduct structural, thermal, and fluid dynamics simulation analyses to optimise performance.
• Support product development from concept through to manufacturing including design for manufacturability (DfM) and design for assembly (DfA).
• Develop test methods and execute experiments to validate mechanical designs and system performance.
• Help maintain instrument stock as required (carry out upgrades, repairs, compliance checks).
• Interface with vendors and manufacturing partners to ensure high quality production of products incorporating mechanical components.
• Produce engineering drawings and BOMs, document designs, processes, and test results in compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Protection of intellectual property (designs and patents) arising from your work.

Skills

CAD software

FEA/CFD

Prototype design

DfM/DFx

GD&T

ISO 9001 knowledge

Microfluidics familiarity

3D printing

CNC milling

Laser cutting

Education

Bachelors or Masters in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

COMSOL

Job description

About Portal Biotech

Portal Biotech is developing next-generation bench-top instruments for proteomics, building on decades of in-house expertise in nanopore technology. By analysing full-length protein molecules at the single-molecule level, our platform delivers rapid, real-time information on protein identity, abundance, and structure. This insight opens frontiers in drug discovery, diagnostics, and fundamental research, helping scientists and clinicians to better understand human health and disease.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated, early career stage mechanical engineer, including graduates, to join our Hardware team. Based in our headquarters in Scale Space, White City, London, and reporting to the Instrument Team Leader, this primarily on-site role will involve designing and building components, subassemblies, and fully assembled prototypes as well as developing solutions to enable scaling of common laboratory processes. In this endeavour you will work cross-functionally on ambitious objectives with other teams and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, build, and test mechanical components and assemblies.
• Develop microfluidic, electromechanical, and thermal management solutions, including integration of electronics, optics and fluidics.
• Conduct structural, thermal, and fluid dynamics simulation analyses to optimise performance.
• Support product development from concept through to manufacturing including design for manufacturability (DfM) and design for assembly (DfA).
• Develop test methods and execute experiments to validate mechanical designs and system performance.
• Help maintain instrument stock as required (carry out upgrades, repairs, compliance checks).
• Interface with vendors and manufacturing partners to ensure high quality production of products incorporating mechanical components.
• Produce engineering drawings and BOMs, document designs, processes, and test results in compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Protection of intellectual property (designs and patents) arising from your work.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (e.g., automation).
• Proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent).
• Experience using mechanical, thermal and fluid analysis tools (FEA, CFD, thermal modelling) e.g., ANSYS, COMSOL.
• Experience of designing systems and subassemblies and building device prototypes.
• Design of parts for manufacture for CNC, sheet metal, and 3D printing.

Desirable:

• 1-3 years industrial experience, preferably in life sciences instrumentation or medical devices.
• Design of parts for manufacture for injection moulding.
• Experience of producing engineering drawings with GD&T according to ASME Y14.5 or ISO GPS standards.
• Tolerance stack analysis of assemblies to ensure fit and function.
• Practical experience with rapid prototyping, e.g. 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC milling.
• Familiarity with microfluidics and the control of processes using electronic devices and software.
• Familiarity with quality management systems and regulations ISO 9001.

Salary and Benefits

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. If you are passionate about developing cutting-edge scientific tools and want to contribute to breakthrough innovations in proteomics, we encourage you to apply!

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed by Portal Biotech Limited. For more information on how we handle your personal data, including your rights and how to contact us, please review our Privacy Notice at https://portalbiotech.com/gdpr.