Mechanical Engineer

Sapho Bio; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High-Impact Work

Comprehensive Health Coverage

401(k) with company matching

Unlimited PTO & holidays

Job summary

Sapho Bio in San Carlos, CA is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and maintain the hardware used in our lab. This hands-on, on-site role involves turning manual bench processes into reliable automated systems and working closely with lab and operations teams.

You will be expected to be rigorous, smart, and hardworking, with a strong focus on safety, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or an equivalent field.
• At least one engineering internship in industry.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining safety standards.
• Excellent documentation, organization, and communication skills.
• Live within a 30 minute commute of San Carlos.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical systems, fixtures, and tooling that support lab operations.
• Build, test, and iterate on prototypes.
• Install, maintain, and troubleshoot lab instrumentation and equipment.
• Produce and maintain drawings, bills of materials, and design documentation.
• Work with vendors and machine shops to source parts and manage fabrication.
• Partner with the lab team to identify manual processes worth automating.
• Whatever else is needed for the company to succeed.

Skills

Independent work

Documentation

Safety conscious

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

SolidWorks or Fusion 360

Machining

3D printing

Lab automation equipment

Job description

Mechanical Engineer

Department: Lab

Reports To: CTO

Location: On site, San Carlos, California

Employment Type: Full Time, Exempt, Salary

Compensation: $120,000 - $150,000 USD + equity options

About the Company

Sapho Bio is a revenue-generating biotechnology company developing a rapid microbiology release platform designed for the precision medicine era. We are a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers committed to transforming the lot release process through innovation, speed, and accuracy.

Our culture emphasizes agency, innovation, and continual learning. Following the successful validation and launch of our first proprietary assay, we now have over 30 customers and are growing quickly.

About The Role

We are looking for a Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and maintain the hardware our lab runs on. You will work directly with our lab and operations teams in San Carlos, turning manual bench processes into reliable automated systems.

This is a hands-on role. You will spend time at a workbench and in the lab. If you like owning a problem from sketch to working hardware, this is a good fit.

You are a good fit for this role if you are rigorous, smart, and above all hard-working.

Application Requirements:

• Your cover letter should give clear examples of the following:
  • An instance in which you demonstrated an exceptional work ethic
  • Something you designed and built yourself
  • What you worked on during your industry internship, and what you delivered
• This job is not 9-5
  • This is an opportunity to work very hard, learn a lot, and develop skills that will serve you well throughout your career
  • This is not an opportunity to focus on work life balance

Who You Are:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or an equivalent field
• At least one engineering internship in industry
• Ability to work independently while maintaining safety standards
• Excellent documentation, organization, and communication skills
• Live within a 30 minute commute of San Carlos

Nice to Haves:

• Proficiency with CAD such as SolidWorks or Fusion 360
• Experience with machining, 3D printing, and design for manufacturing
• Lab automation, liquid handling, or robotics experience
• Python scripting or embedded programming ability
• Prior experience in biotech or another regulated environment
• Prior experience at a startup

Responsibilities:

• Design mechanical systems, fixtures, and tooling that support lab operations
• Build, test, and iterate on prototypesInstall, maintain, and troubleshoot lab instrumentation and equipment
• Produce and maintain drawings, bills of materials, and design documentation
• Work with vendors and machine shops to source parts and manage fabrication
• Partner with the lab team to identify manual processes worth automating
• Whatever else is needed for the company to succeed

Details:

• This is a full-time in-person role in San Carlos, CA
• The compensation range for this role is $120,000-150,000 along with equity options in the company and benefits

Life at Sapho Bio

• High-Impact Work: Help transform pharmaceutical testing and accelerate patient access to life-saving therapies.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Financial Security: 401(k) with company matching and company-paid life insurance.
• Time to Recharge: Unlimited PTO and company-recognized holidays.
• Connection & Community: Team lunches, office events, and offsite gatherings.
• Competitive Compensation: Market-leading salary and meaningful equity participation.
• Fast-Paced Environment: Join a team that moves quickly, learns continuously, and executes with purpose.
• World-Class Team: Work alongside experienced scientists, engineers, and operators.
• Prime Location: Sunny, collaborative workspace in San Carlos.