Senior Mechanical Engineer

ZipRecruiter; Oxford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A pioneering biotech startup in Oxford is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to develop a rapid diagnostic platform. The role involves precision mechanical design, CAD work, and collaboration with suppliers to create robust clinical hardware. This position offers a unique opportunity to impact healthcare directly.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in precision mechanical design.
• Experience with complex assemblies involving fluidics, optics, or electronics.

Responsibilities

• Creating detailed CAD designs and mechanical interfaces.
• Building and documenting test and assembly rigs.
• Working closely with suppliers to select components.

Skills

Precision Mechanical Design

CAD Skills

Thermal Stability

Vibration Control

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Description

Mechanical Engineer – Precision Hardware for Breakthrough Diagnostics

A pioneering biotech startup based in Oxford is developing a rapid diagnostic platform designed to identify diseases directly from clinical samples. The aim is to transform how life-threatening infections are diagnosed and treated, enabling faster, more targeted care and addressing the global challenge of diseases. The company is currently expanding its multidisciplinary team and seeking a Mechanical Engineer to help move from proof-of-concept systems to robust, manufacturable clinical hardware.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of microfluidics and optics—where precision mechanical engineering plays a critical role in performance and accuracy.

Challenges include micron-level tolerances, mechanical stability for sensitive optical components, thermal management, and fluidic integration, all within the framework of a regulated development process. As a mechanical engineer, you will take responsibility for translating breadboard and concept systems into compact, stable, and production-ready assemblies. Core responsibilities include:

1. Creating detailed CAD designs (SolidWorks)
2. Designing mechanical interfaces for optical and fluidic subsystems
3. Building and documenting test and assembly rigs
4. Applying DFM and DFA principles to both instrument and consumable design

The role involves working closely with suppliers to select components and fabrication methods—ranging from CNC machining to molded plastics—as well as generating detailed engineering drawings, BOMs, and technical documentation to support internal builds and low-volume production. This position also supports the development of microfluidic disposables, with an emphasis on robust integration with instrument hardware, manufacturability, and system compatibility.

Considerations include mechanical fit, material selection, and cost-effective scaling toward medium-volume production. Given the context of in-vitro diagnostics and ISO 13485 accreditation, you will ideally have experience or familiarity with working in a regulated product development environment. Contributions to design traceability, risk management, and verification/validation processes will be expected. Involvement in design reviews, tolerance analysis, and root cause investigations is also part of the role.

Ideal Profile:

• Degree (BEng or MEng) in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
• Minimum 3 years of experience in precision mechanical design, ideally in optics, diagnostics, or laboratory instrumentation
• Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks or similar), including GD&T and 2D technical drawing
• Experience with complex assemblies involving fluidics, optics, or electronics
• Understanding of vibration control, thermal stability, and mechanical alignment techniques
• Practical experience with molded parts, DFM/DFA, and working with external suppliers

Bonus: familiarity with ISO 13485, IEC 61010, or 60601; exposure to FEA, thermal/vibration analysis, or hands-on optical system alignment.

This role is ideal for someone looking to apply their engineering skills to meaningful challenges in healthcare and diagnostics.

The position offers the chance to work closely with a small, expert team on cutting-edge systems at an early and exciting stage of development. With new funding rounds underway and a product launch on the horizon, this is an excellent time to get involved.

The business offers a competitive salary between £50,000 - £65,000 (dependent on experience) and will be fully onsite in their state-of-the-art labs in Oxford. If this sounds like you and you're interested in hearing more, follow the instructions below:

1. Click the apply button (we’ll discuss before your CV or application goes anywhere)
2. Find me on LinkedIn (Louis Plevin)