R&D Engineering Technician

Subsense Inc.; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Subsense Inc. is seeking a hands-on R&D Engineering Laboratory Technician to support electrical, optical, mechanical, and experimental hardware development in our on-site Mountain View lab.

You will prepare test setups, assemble prototypes, and manage component inventory while enabling engineers to run experiments efficiently. The role requires meticulous, organized work in a fast-paced R&D setting, with collaboration across electrical, optical, and bioengineering teams.

Qualifications

• Hands-on electronics lab experience required.
• Experience soldering and reworking miniature SMT components under a microscope.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and PCB drawings.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an organized, functional, and safe engineering laboratory across electrical, optical, and mechanical work areas.
• Assemble, modify, and rework prototype PCBs and electronic assemblies.
• Perform precision soldering and rework of miniature surface-mount components.
• Set up and support optical experiments involving LEDs, lasers, photodiodes, optical sensors, and fiber optics.
• Perform mechanical assembly and rapid prototyping of experimental hardware.
• Set up, run, and tear down experiments for engineers and scientists across disciplines.
• Operate and maintain scientific instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
• Maintain accurate inventories of lab equipment, tools, and components.

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Digital multimeters

Power supplies

Soldering

PCB rework

CAD reading

Job description

About Subsense

Subsense is a deep-tech company developing the world’s first non-surgical, bidirectional brain-computer interface powered by plasmonic and magnetoelectric nanoparticles. Our mission is to unlock direct communication between the human brain and AI - starting with medical applications such as stroke recovery and moving toward cognitive enhancement for healthy users. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Subsense brings together leading scientists and engineers to redefine the future of human–machine interaction.

About Subsense

Subsense is a deep-tech company developing the world’s first non-surgical, bidirectional brain-computer interface powered by plasmonic and magnetoelectric nanoparticles. Our mission is to unlock direct communication between the human brain and AI - starting with medical applications such as stroke recovery and moving toward cognitive enhancement for healthy users. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Subsense brings together leading scientists and engineers to redefine the future of human–machine interaction.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a hands-on R&D Engineering Laboratory Technician to support our engineering and research teams across electrical, optical, mechanical, and experimental hardware development. This role keeps the engineering laboratory running: preparing test setups, assembling and modifying prototype hardware, fabricating fixtures, managing equipment and component inventory, and making sure engineers and scientists have the tools and materials they need to execute experiments efficiently.

The ideal candidate is highly hands-on, organized, and detail-oriented — equally comfortable reworking a 0402 resistor under a microscope, aligning a photodiode on an optical bench, and machining or 3D-printing a fixture to hold it all together. You will work directly with electrical, optical, mechanical, and bioengineering teams in a fast-paced R&D environment where priorities shift quickly.

This person will own day-to-day engineering laboratory organization, equipment tracking, and component inventory, while providing direct technical support for prototype assembly, fabrication, soldering, testing, and experimental setup. The position is based on-site, primarily at our Mountain View laboratory.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations

• Maintain an organized, functional, and safe engineering laboratory across electrical, optical, and mechanical work areas.
• Establish and improve systems for equipment storage, component tracking, and laboratory workflow.
• Support laboratory ESD, safety, and equipment-maintenance practices.

Electrical & Electronics Support

• Assemble, modify, and rework prototype PCBs and electronic assemblies.
• Perform precision soldering and rework of miniature surface-mount components, including 0201, 0402, 0603, fine-pitch ICs, QFN, QFP, connectors, LEDs, and photodiodes.
• Perform or support BGA soldering and rework, including component replacement, inspection, and troubleshooting.
• Use microscopes, hot-air rework stations, soldering stations, preheaters, and other precision equipment.
• Build and modify cables, harnesses, connectors, breakout boards, and test fixtures.
• Assist engineers with PCB bring-up, hardware debugging, electrical measurements, and troubleshooting.
• Operate oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, function generators, logic analyzers, data acquisition systems, LCR meters, optical power meters, and related instrumentation.

Optical Support

• Set up and support optical experiments involving LEDs, lasers, photodiodes, optical sensors, fiber optics, detectors, and filters.
• Assist with optical alignment, mounting, and measurement of prototype systems.

Mechanical Fabrication & Prototyping

• Perform mechanical assembly and rapid prototyping of experimental hardware.
• Design and fabricate fixtures, jigs, mounts, and enclosures using 3D printing, laser cutting, and basic machining.
• Use hand and power tools safely and accurately.
• Interpret CAD drawings and mechanical documentation; troubleshoot mechanical issues in prototype hardware.
• Build and modify experimental hardware to meet evolving research requirements.

Experimental & Research Support

• Set up, run, and tear down experiments for engineers and scientists across disciplines.
• Prepare and stage equipment ahead of planned experiments; reproduce previously documented experimental configurations reliably.
• Support prototype testing and troubleshoot integrated experimental systems spanning electrical, optical, mechanical, and fluidic subsystems.
• Provide direct bench support to scientists and engineers during R&D experiments.

Instrumentation & Integrated Systems

• Operate and maintain scientific instrumentation, sensors, and data acquisition systems.
• Support pneumatic and fluidic systems used in experimental setups.
• Integrate mechanical and electrical subsystems into working test platforms.
• Support equipment calibration, preventive maintenance, and basic equipment repair.

Inventory & Equipment Management

• Maintain accurate inventories of test instruments, tools, fixtures, cables, adapters, and laboratory equipment; track location, availability, maintenance, and calibration status.
• Manage electronic, optical, and mechanical component inventory, including semiconductors, passives, connectors, sensors, LEDs, photodiodes, optics, hardware, and prototyping materials.
• Work with engineers to identify required components and flag shortages early.
• Receive, inspect, label, organize, and store incoming materials; maintain stock levels of commonly used components and consumables.

Documentation & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain clear documentation of equipment, inventory, test setups, prototype configurations, and laboratory procedures.
• Help develop and improve laboratory procedures, organization, and best practices.
• Collaborate with engineers and scientists to troubleshoot experimental hardware and improve laboratory workflows.
• Support additional engineering laboratory activities as priorities evolve.

What You’ll Bring

Core

• Hands-on experience in an electronics, electrical, optical, mechanical, instrumentation, or research laboratory.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and accurate record-keeping.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving instincts across disciplines.
• Ability to work independently, anticipate laboratory needs, and proactively keep engineers unblocked.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced R&D or startup environment where priorities change quickly.

Electrical

• Strong electronics assembly and PCB rework skills.
• Experience soldering and inspecting miniature surface-mount components, including 0201 and fine-pitch packages, under a microscope.
• Ability to read electrical schematics, PCB drawings, and component documentation.
• Experience operating common electrical laboratory equipment and setting up electrical experiments.

Mechanical

• Mechanical assembly and rapid prototyping experience.
• Experience fabricating fixtures and jigs using 3D printing, laser cutting, or basic machining.
• Comfort with hand and power tools and the ability to interpret CAD drawings.

Optical

• Experience working with LEDs, lasers, photodiodes, optical sensors, or fiber optics.
• Ability to assemble and troubleshoot optical and electro-optical test setups.

Experimental & Inventory

• Experience setting up, running, and documenting laboratory experiments.
• Experience managing laboratory equipment, tools, components, or engineering inventory.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, electronics, electro-optics, mechanical engineering technology, instrumentation, or a related technical discipline — or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Experience with BGA rework and advanced PCB repair.
• Experience with PCB prototyping and hardware bring-up.
• Experience with optical alignment and fiber-optic systems.
• Experience with CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar) and in-house 3D printing or machining.
• Experience with pneumatic, fluidic, or microfluidic systems.
• Experience with data acquisition systems or automated test equipment.
• Experience with ESD-controlled laboratory environments.
• Experience with laboratory equipment calibration and asset management.
• Experience in an R&D, medical-device, semiconductor, instrumentation, biotech, or advanced technology environment.
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary engineering and scientific teams.

Subsense is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.