Senior Microfluidics Engineer for Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel allowance

Bonus

Pension

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Income protection

Job summary

Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) in Oxford seeks an experienced Microfluidics Engineer to help develop next‑generation diagnostic technology. You’ll collaborate with experts in microfluidics, biology and software to translate assay requirements into automated microfluidic designs and robust instrumentation.

You will drive practical experiments, prototype fabrication and integration with actuation systems, contributing to decentralised diagnostic platforms for infectious diseases on a global

Qualifications

• BSc or BEng (or equivalent) in Engineering, Physics, Bioengineering, or related field with specialisation in microfluidics, MEMS, or lab-on-a-chip systems
• 4+ years' experience in microfluidics, lab-on-chip systems, or related areas (industry or applied research)
• Experience designing and developing microfluidic systems, devices or closely related technologies
• Understanding of fluid behaviour at small scales, including areas such as mixing, flow control or multiphase systems
• Experience working with biological or chemical assays, ideally within microfluidic or closely related systems
• Practical experience in prototyping and testing devices or experimental systems
• Experience designing for integration with external systems, such as actuators, pumps or thermal systems
• Ability to design and run structured experiments to evaluate system performance
• Experience troubleshooting and improving performance in complex systems
• Familiarity with CAD or similar design tools
• Strong problem‑solving skills and a practical approach to experimental work
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams spanning engineering, biology and software

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and improve microfluidic systems and cartridge architectures for use within automated instrumentation
• Translate biological assay requirements into practical microfluidic designs suitable for automation
• Define and refine interfaces between cartridge and instrument, including fluidic, mechanical and thermal interactions
• Ensure cartridge designs remain compatible with automation, sensing and actuation strategies throughout development and system integration
• Collaborate with instrumentation, electronics and firmware engineers to ensure cartridge designs work effectively with automated actuation and control systems
• Support integration of microfluidic cartridges into prototype systems, including hands-on testing, troubleshooting and system-level validation
• Prototype and test microfluidic designs using appropriate fabrication techniques, such as soft lithography, machining and rapid prototyping
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate cartridge performance, including yield, efficiency and repeatability
• Identify and help resolve fluidic, mechanical and assay-related failure modes
• Contribute to improving robustness, manufacturability and ease of use of cartridge designs
• Document designs, test results and iteration outcomes clearly and systematically
• Contribute to design reviews and technical decision-making within the microfluidics domain

Skills

Microfluidics

Lab-on-chip

CAD

Experimentation

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Fluid dynamics

Automation integration

Prototype testing

Biological assays

Education

BSc or BEng in Engineering (microfluidics)

Specialisation in microfluidics / lab-on-a-chip

Tools

Soft lithography

Machining

Rapid prototyping

CAD tools

Pumps and actuation systems

Job description

Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) in Oxford seeks an experienced Microfluidics Engineer to help develop next‑generation diagnostic technology. You’ll collaborate with experts in microfluidics, biology and software to translate assay requirements into automated microfluidic designs and robust instrumentation.

You will drive practical experiments, prototype fabrication and integration with actuation systems, contributing to decentralised diagnostic platforms for infectious diseases on a global