Senior Mechatronics Engineer

Lightcast Discovery; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Lightcast Discovery seeks a Senior Mechatronics Engineer to lead system design and engineering activities for our platform and microfluidic products. You will bring deep expertise in electronics, mechatronics, and mechanical engineering to deliver complex, manufacturable solutions at scale.

The role emphasizes end-to-end development across hardware, firmware and control, with leadership in system tests, risk mitigation and design reviews.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering complex mechatronic systems in a product-focused environment.
• End-to-end development across hardware and software domains (hardware, firmware, control).
• Strong track record in designing, debugging and delivering reliable, manufacturable systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, deliver and maintain the platform and microfluidic products.
• Focus on electro-mechanical system architecture designs.
• Lead system tests, functional characterization and verification tests.
• Provide technical reviews as subject matter expert.
• Document design outputs and rationale.
• Lead and advocate for good product engineering practice, processes and documentation.
• Lead risk mitigation, design reviews, verification and change control.

Skills

Mechatronics design

Electronics & firmware

Mechanical engineering

Debugging complex systems

System architecture

Embedded programming

Tools

MCAD

ECAD

Job description

At Lightcast we are enabling scientists to gain a deeper understanding of human health and disease at the cellular level.

Our technology enables the direct, precise interrogation of single cell heterogeneity, interactions and functional behaviours with a level of flexibility and scale that was previously inaccessible. Across a broad range of disciplines from basic and translational research to drug discovery, we provide the freedom to accelerate discovery and apply novel biological insights.

At Lightcast we are enabling scientists to gain a deeper understanding of human health and disease at the cellular level. Our technology enables the direct, precise interrogation of single cell heterogeneity, interactions and functional behaviours with a level of flexibility and scale that was previously inaccessible. Across a broad range of disciplines from basic and translational research to drug discovery, we provide the freedom to accelerate discovery and apply novel biological insights.

The Lightcast platform is a benchtop laboratory instrument that uses microfluidics to allow precise and highly flexible control of thousands of aqueous microdroplets using software-generated light patterns. Control systems enable the integrated optical, mechanical, and fluidic sub-systems to perform complex workflows and assays used in the search for drug candidates.

We are seeking a Senior Mechatronics Engineer to join our team and take a leading role in system design and engineering activities. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience delivering complex systems within a product business through a background in Electronics, Mechatronics or Mechanical Engineering, with an emphasis on designing and debugging systems at the intersection of hardware, firmware and control. You will have:

• A strong technical track record in designing complex mechatronic products for function, reliability, manufacture, serviceability and cost
• Hands-on and analytical approach to debugging complex systems, problem solving and resolution ownership
• Full end-to-end development experience in mechatronic and electronic systems, having worked with development and manufacturing teams to engineer and improve product designs
• Deep subject matter expertise and extensive experience in developing and delivering complex measurement systems and instrumentation

Your responsibilities:

• Working with our development, manufacturing and support teams to design, develop, deliver and maintain our platform and microfluidic products
• A strong focus on delivering electro-mechanical system architecture designs
• Taking a key position in system engineering activities, devising and delivering system tests, functional characterisation and verification tests
• Technical review of projects, as a subject matter expert
• Technical documentation of design outputs and rationale
• Leadership in and advocacy for good product engineering practice, process development, definition and documentation
• Leading and participating in risk mitigation, design reviews, verification, change control

It would be advantageous for you to have any of the following:

• Embedded programming experience
• Experience using Python or similar programming languages
• Experience developing Life science products
• Experience developing opto-mechanics, precision motion control and fluidics systems
• A track record of working in a multidisciplinary environment
• Deep knowledge of operating with MCAD and ECAD

Lightcast Discovery is committed to equal employment opportunity. Learn more about Lightcast Discovery