SonicPrecision: R&D Engineer – Ultrasound Catheter Systems

HightechXL; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock Appreciation Rights

Mentoring

Annual salary review

Holiday allowance

Research facilities access

Career development plan

Flat international team

Flexible hours

40-hour week

Job summary

SonicPrecision in Eindhoven is seeking a hands-on engineer to take a medical device from bench to clinic. You will design, build, and test the catheter prototype system, and work closely with founders and our System Engineer to prepare for pre-clinical studies.

The role involves developing signal processing algorithms, coordinating with suppliers, and ensuring documentation meets ISO 13485 and IEC 62304. A Master’s or PhD and 1–3 years in medtech are preferred, with fluency in English.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in electrical/biomedical/mechanical engineering.
• 1–3 years in medical device development or related hardware/embedded systems.
• Hands-on across hardware, signal processing and software integration; fluent in English.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and test the prototype catheter system and testing infrastructure.
• Make design choices enabling CE marking, sterilisation, and single-use considerations.
• Develop and validate signal processing algorithms to extract tissue characterisation.
• Work with external suppliers and contract manufacturers in hardware integration.
• Collaborate with CARIM/MUMC+ on pre-clinical study setup and animal lab readiness.
• Create and structure technical documentation (requirements, specs, design files, test reports, risk management) per ISO 13485 and IEC 62304.

Skills

Hands-on hardware

Signal processing

Software integration

English communication

Education

Master’s or PhD in electrical/biomedical/mechanical engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB

C/C++

Job description

About SonicPrecision

Every year, more than 100,000 patients in the US and Europe undergo catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia, a heart rhythm disorder that can be fatal. Most procedures happen without real-time tissue feedback: the electrophysiologist burns the tissue, ends the procedure, and hopes that the lesion has reached the source of the arrhythmia. In published studies, up to 50% of patients have the arrhythmia back within a year.

SonicPrecision is changing that. We integrate a near-field ultrasound sensor into the tip of the ablation catheter. The sensor shows the electrophysiologist what is happening inside the tissue while the procedure is still running. For the first time, the physician can confirm that a lesion is deep enough before ending the procedure.

We are a Philips spin-out, based in Eindhoven, with an exclusive, worldwide licence to the relevant Philips patent families. Our pre-clinical programme runs in partnership with CARIM at Maastricht University and TU Eindhoven. Our next milestone is First-in-Human: the very first use of the device in patients.

The role

This is a junior to mid-level role for a hands‑on engineer who wants to take a medical device from the bench to the clinic. You work directly with the founders and our System Engineer to build, integrate, and test the catheter prototype system: first on the bench, then in a pre‑clinical setting, then scaled toward First‑in‑Human. You will be making design decisions that set the architecture of a system that will eventually enter patients.

You will:

• Design, build, and test the prototype catheter system and the testing infrastructure for evaluation on the bench and in pre‑clinical environments
• Make design choices that think ahead about CE marking, sterilisation, and single‑use requirements, so the step to a clinical system is a scaling exercise, not a redesign
• Develop and validate signal processing algorithms to extract tissue characterisation information from the raw ultrasound data
• Work with external suppliers and contract manufacturers in hardware, catheter integration, and electronics miniaturisation
• Work with CARIM / MUMC+ on the pre‑clinical study setup, making sure the prototype is ready for the animal lab and signal quality meets study endpoints
• Structure technical documentation (requirements, specifications, design files, test reports, risk management) aligned with ISO 13485 and IEC 62304 from day one

What we are looking for

• Education: Master’s or PhD in electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related discipline
• Experience: 1-3 years in medical device development, research instrumentation, or a related hardware / embedded systems environment; if you have just graduated and did a strong medtech graduation project, please apply
• Technical skills: Hands‑on across hardware, signal processing, and software integration; proficiency in Python, MATLAB, C / C++, or equivalent
• Domain affinity: Familiarity with medical devices, ISO 13485, IEC 62304, or catheter / minimally invasive device development is a clear advantage
• Communication: Able to write clearly and present confidently to clinicians, regulators, and investors. Fluent in English.
• Mindset: Comfortable in an environment where not everything is defined yet, and energised by working in a small team where your work is directly reflected in the product

What we offer

• You personally build a device that goes into patients to improve their lives
• Stock Appreciation Rights: you share in the equity upside of the company you help build
• Direct mentoring by our System Engineer: learn near‑field ultrasound sensing, catheter integration, and the regulatory route to First‑in‑Human
• A salary that matches your experience, reviewed every year
• 25 holiday days, the Dutch 8% holiday allowance, and a travel allowance
• Access to research facilities at TU/e and MUMC+
• Room to grow: a personal development plan, and a role that grows as the company grows
• A flat, small, international team, flexible hours, and a 40‑hour week in which results count, not hours logged

Practical details

• Location: Eindhoven, mostly on site because you build hardware; about one day a week from home
• Contract: Full‑time; a one‑year contract to start, with the clear intention to extend it
• Start date: As soon as possible; ideally Q4 2026
• Application deadline: 1 November 2026; we review applications on a rolling basis
• Right to work: You must already have the right to work in the Netherlands; we are not able to act as a recognised sponsor at this stage

Apply with your CV and a short motivation letter. Half a page is enough: tell us why this problem interests you and what clinical or research experience you bring. Questions first? Contact René Aarnink (CEO) at [e-mail] or Joanneke Groen (CPO) at [e-mail].