Senior Mechatronics Engineer

Lightcast; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Lightcast Discovery seeks a Senior Mechatronics Engineer to join the team, leading system design and engineering activities for the Lightcast platform and microfluidic products.

The role emphasizes end-to-end development across hardware, firmware and control, with hands-on debugging and leadership in design reviews and risk mitigation. Cambridge-based role within a product-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in designing complex mechatronic products for function, reliability, manufacturability and cost

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, deliver and maintain the platform and microfluidic products with development, manufacturing and support teams
• Lead system engineering activities, devise tests, characterisation and verification plans
• Provide technical reviews as subject matter expert on projects
• Document design outputs and rationales with clear technical reasoning
• Advocate for best product engineering practices, process development and documentation
• Lead and participate in risk mitigation, design reviews, verification and change control

Skills

Mechatronics design

Electronics

Firmware development

System design

Problem solving

Tools

MCAD

ECAD

Python

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
• 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 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.