Senior R&D Engineer

Luminate Medical; Galway; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A medical technology innovator based in Galway is seeking a senior R&D professional to develop innovative cancer care products. The ideal candidate should have over 6 years of experience in the medical device sector, specializing in design and development. Key responsibilities include overseeing product development, validating designs, and collaborating with teams to drive innovation. This role offers competitive compensation and a supportive working environment focused on patient care.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible benefits package

Generous vacation policy

Qualifications

• 6+ years of R&D experience, with 4+ in medical devices.
• Expertise in Design History File documentation.
• Hands-on experience with design for assembly/manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of FDA and ISO 13485 regulations.

Responsibilities

• Drive product development from concept to manufacture.
• Conduct technical reviews and manage design documentation.
• Test and validate design concepts through prototyping.
• Collaborate with R&D and QA teams to maintain project quality.

Skills

Creative problem solving

Team collaboration

Effective communication

Self-driven

Organizational skills

Tools

CREO CAD

Job description

Shape the Future of Cancer Care at Luminate Medical

At Luminate, our mission is to make cancer care more human.

Our first two products, Lily and Lilac, are revolutionary wearable devices designed to address hair loss and peripheral neuropathy respectively – two of the most common and difficult side effects of cancer treatment. We have an exciting pipeline focused on building products that help cancer patients to live, not just survive. Lotus, our latest solution is a next‑generation system designed to make at‑home cancer care more accessible and efficient for both patients and clinics.

Working at Luminate Medical

• This is a key early hire at a rapidly growing company. You will have an opportunity to shape the development of multiple high‑impact patient‑facing products and gain first‑hand insights into the growth of a start‑up.
• We offer a highly competitive salary comparable with multinational medical device companies, a flexible benefits package (including health insurance and pension), alongside a company laptop, headphones and camera.
• We believe in quality of life in our products and for our people, and offer flexible working hours, and a generous vacation policy.

What You Will Do:

Become a technical contributor within the R&D group to drive patient‑focused cancer care products from idea to manufacture, including:

Drive product development from concept to manufacture by:

• Contributing to technical reviews, interpreting experimental data, and influencing design direction through brainstorming sessions.
• Developing concepts from early prototypes to manufacturing readiness using techniques such as vacuum forming, injection moulding, dip moulding, heat sealing, laser cutting, and 3D printing.
• Leading tasks and projects with a structured, methodical approach to product development.
• Evaluating and sourcing materials, components, and suppliers to ensure optimal design and manufacturability.
• Communicating design decisions effectively, interpreting research literature and test results to refine and improve designs.
• Creating and maintaining design documentation, including drawings, specifications, technical reports, user needs, product requirements, and traceability matrices.
• Collaborating with design assurance to conduct risk assessments through FMEAs.
• Working with manufacturing engineers to ensure DFA throughout design

Testing, Analysis, and Development of Novel Medical Devices

• Building prototypes to validate design concepts.
• Developing and implementing test methods to ensure safety and effectiveness.
• Predicting design outcomes through mathematical modelling, digital analysis, and experimental validation.
• Utilising user testing groups to gather real‑world insights and iterate on designs.
• Working with the V&V engineer to validate test methods for design verification.

Project Execution and Leadership

• Taking ownership of critical and complex technical tasks to drive project success.
• Collaborating with the R&D Lead, Project Manager, and RA/QA teams to maintain timelines and uphold quality standards.
• Managing external suppliers and manufacturing partners, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with project goals.
• Providing technical leadership and mentorship to junior team members, fostering growth and expertise within the team.

Personal Attributes – The Ideal Candidate Is:

• Creative: A creative problem solver who is enthusiastic about new ideas.
• Open: A proactive team player whose efforts help develop your teammates. You are willing to adopt, engage with and shape company culture in a positive manner. You can give and receive candid feedback in a constructive and positive manner.
• Communicative: Proficient in written and verbal communication and collaboration skills. You are able to share ideas and support exploration of other ideas.
• Self-Driven: You have a sense of urgency in your work and thrive when taking responsibility for tasks.
• Organised: You can prioritise your list of tasks with input from more senior colleagues and ensure actions are completed on time.

Requirements – The Ideal Candidate Must Have:

• 6+ years of R&D experience, including 4+ years in the medical device sector, working on multiple product design and development projects.
• Expertise in Design History File (DHF) documentation, including Design Inputs, Test Method Design & Validation, and Design Verification Plans.
• Hands‑on experience in design for assembly/manufacturing, with knowledge of injection moulding, vacuum casting, dip moulding, joining technologies, and rapid prototyping (3D printing).
• Proven ability to develop robust test methods for evaluating designs, predicting outcomes, and guiding iteration and carrying out Design Verification testing.
• Strong understanding of medical device regulatory requirements, including FDA guidance, MDR, ISO 13485, and IEC 60601.
• Familiarity with Quality Management Systems (ISO 13485) and compliance with industry standards, in particular FDA guidance, MDR guidance, ISO 13485 and IEC 60601.
• Methodical and structured approach to product development.

Experience Advantages – It Would Be Advantageous to Have:

• Experience working with wearable products that involve textiles.
• CREO CAD experience.
• Experience in design for sterilisation.
• Experience testing autoinjectors and/or vascular access devices.
• Prior experience designing and executing usability studies and incorporating human factors considerations into the product design.
• Experience with design for electromechanical and pneumatic devices.

Don’t have all of these requirements?

Some people are less likely to apply for a role unless they are 100% qualified. Your experience, skills and passion will set you apart – tell us what you have learned and achieved, whether personal or work‑related! With the right mindset, many of the skills above can be learned on the job. If this role excites you, don’t let the description hold you back!