Head of Engineering

BiomeSense; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits including health coverage

PTO

Parental leave

Job summary

BiomeSense in Chicago is seeking a Head of Engineering to own the full hardware lifecycle for GutLab. This role involves leading design, testing, manufacturing, and ensuring system performance while managing a technical team.

The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in hardware engineering and a deep proficiency in CAD and prototyping. This position offers full benefits including health coverage, PTO, and parental leave.

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience in hardware engineering for complex electromechanical systems.
• Deep proficiency in CAD, tolerances, prototyping & manufacturing.
• Proven ability to build & manage technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Own GutLab architecture and lead design, testing & refinement.
• Drive validation and troubleshooting for system performance.
• Mentor & lead a hardware team towards production milestones.

Skills

Hardware engineering

CAD proficiency

Technical team management

Systems-level troubleshooting

Strategic problem solving

Job description

Head of Engineering

Compensation: $125K– $200K salary, up to 1.0% equity stock options

Full benefits, including health coverage, PTO & parental leave

About BiomeSense

BiomeSense is a life sciences startup applying gut microbiome technologies (GutLab, MetaBiome) to advance personalized medicine. We partner with UCSF, UCSD, NIH & the University of Chicago & are backed by LabCorp Ventures, Bluestein Ventures, Seerave Foundation & Emil Capital Partners.

Role Summary

Own the full hardware (HW) lifecycle for GutLab, from architecture & subsystem integration through manufacturing, validation & deployment for a complex electromechanical device & BOM. Act as final technical authority for GutLab system performance, fleet stability & next generation GutLabs (Gen3) production, combining hands‑on engineering depth with strategic judgment to ensure current systems perform reliably in the field & Gen3 scales into manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• System Ownership & Development: Own GutLab architecture (electromechanical & fluidic); lead design, testing & refinement via CAD, prototyping & manufacturing
• Validation & Deployment Readiness: Own validation, stage gates, documentation & traceability across revisions, firmware & field performance. Lead troubleshooting, diagnostics & closed‑loop fixes to eliminate systemic failure modes
• End-to-End Execution: Set & execute high standards for all aspects of HW development: procurement, transfer, sustaining engineering & operations
• Manufacturing Scale‑Up: Drive DFM, design freeze, pilot builds, supplier alignment, cost targets & manufacturing strategy + execution for Gen3
• Team Leadership: Mentor & lead a HW team; align resources, timelines & execution to production milestones
• Strategic Problem Solving: Address any and all procurement challenges while identifying cost‑effective solutions
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner with other leaders to align hardware development with broader company strategy & goals

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience in hardware engineering for complex electromechanical systems
• Deep proficiency in CAD, tolerances, prototyping & manufacturing
• Product lifecycle ownership (concept through transfer & scale‑up)
• Proven ability to build & manage technical teams
• Systems‑level troubleshooting expertise across mechanical, fluidic & electronic
• Structured, decisive & execution‑oriented with high accountability
• A strategic thinker who thrives under pressure in fast‑paced environments