Mechanical R&D Engineer

SLAM Orthopedic; Delft; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAM Ortho in Delft is seeking a Mechanical R&D Engineer to own the mechanical architecture of our patented sensor system, ensuring micron‑level alignment of components and a scalable design for manufacturing up to 500 units. You will collaborate with firmware and electronics teams to translate sensor performance into robust, reliable hardware.

You will investigate environmental effects from sterilization, handling, and assembly, push the technology toward manufacturability, and build prototypes

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field required.
• 3–5+ years in fine mechanics, scientific instruments, optics, or related area.
• Exposure to sensor technologies such as strain gauges, photodiodes, imaging sensors or optical rangefinders.
• Knowledge of interaction between mechanical parts and firmware/electronics (noise, calibration).
• Experience with design for manufacturing (DFM/A, GD&T) for plastics and metals.
• Experience with FEM analysis (stress, temperature) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical architecture of our patented sensor system with micrometer precision.
• Collaborate with firmware and electronics engineers to connect sensor performance to design.
• Investigate, simulate and resolve environmental effects from sterilization, handling or assembly.
• After design transfer, push technology toward manufacturability and next‑gen opportunities.
• Build prototypes and test setups to validate assumptions and accelerate issue resolution.
• Translate a working prototype into a stable, scalable design suitable for 500 units.

Skills

Fine mechanics

Sensor technologies

Analytical mindset

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Fusion 360

SolidWorks

Creo

Job description

Role description

At SLAM Ortho, we are dedicated to empowering trauma surgeons with innovative sensor technology, enabling them to provide superior care for patients with fractures.

By combining advanced sensor technology, smart data analysis and a reusable device design, we help surgeons operate faster and place implants more precisely - reducing complications and supporting quicker recovery. In this role, you will work with cutting-edge technology, directly improve patients’ lives, and contribute significantly to enhancing the quality of our healthcare system.

You’ll be working at the heart of our patented sensing technology—making it not only work reliably today, but also scalable for tomorrow. Once the current system is locked in for manufacturing, you’ll help uncover its limits, refine and expand its performance, and drive the development of follow‑on products.

As the Mechanical R&D Engineer on our team, you:

• Own the mechanical architecture of our patented sensor system - ensuring that mechanical and optical components align within microns, every time.
• Collaborate with firmware and electronics engineers to connect sensor performance to sensor design - SNR, thermal drift, reflectivity, misalignment issues.
• Have an analytical mindset, there is still quite a lot we don’t know or want to research further, your understanding of the system will be pivotal
• Investigate, simulate and resolve environmental effects on the system due to sterilization, handling or assembly.
• After design transfer, help push the technology further - understanding its limits, failure modes and future opportunities for next‑generation development.
• Not only work from your computer screen, build prototypes and test setups to validate your assumptions and resolve issues early.
• Working with our (mechanical) engineers to translate a working prototype into a stable, manufacturable and scalable design (micrometer shifts matter, but we still need to build 500 units reliably).
• Design and validate the mechanical assembly - controlling sealing, tolerances, surface quality, creep, torque, and thermal behaviour.
• Develop or support optical calibration and verification fixtures, ensuring geometry, light paths and reference surfaces are reproducible.

What we expect from you

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Fine‑mechanical engineering, applied physics or any related field
• 3‑5+ years of relevant experience in fine mechanics, scientific instruments, optics, or otherwise
• Exposure to sensor technologies: strain gauges, photodiodes, imaging sensors, or optical rangefinders.
• Knowledge of interaction between mechanical parts with firmware/electronics (e.g. signal noise, resolution, calibration).
• Having worked on devices that operate in challenging environments (e.g. survive sterilization, cleaning chemicals, vibration or temperature cycles) would be a big plus.
• Experience transitioning from lab prototype → low‑volume manufacturing → external supplier or OEM would be a big plus.
• Strong skills in 3D CAD (we work with Fusion 360, but SolidWorks or Creo experience will work too)
• Experience in design for manufacturing (DFM/A, GD&T, both plastics and metals)
• Experience with FEM analysis (stress, temperature) and simulation in general is a plus

What we offer

• Competitive salary package
• You’ll be part of a young team navigating complex technical and regulatory challenges together to bring safe, meaningful innovation to surgeons and patients.
• You’ll thrive in a setting where growth comes from taking ownership - we value initiative, accountability, and the drive to make things better every day.
• A supportive company culture with various social activities
• The unique chance to see your work improve patient care and surgical outcomes