Research Hardware Engineer – Portable Neurotech Systems

E11 Bio; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Arbor Neuroscience is hiring a hardware-focused engineer to ensure the hardware exists to enable neuroscience experiments in humans and animals. You will work with scientists and an external engineering partner to build and validate devices and systems.

The role emphasizes designing robust, portable hardware for laboratory and home-based studies, with a focus on implants, headstage interfaces, and test rigs. You will contribute to documentation and reproducibility across platforms.

Qualifications

• Depth in mechanical, electrical, or bioengineering.
• Experience building research hardware or instruments.
• Ability to work with external engineering partners.
• CAD proficiency; simple PCB design.

Responsibilities

• Translate researchers' needs into hardware requirements.
• Own Forest 1 development: define the next version and collaborate with the engineering partner.
• Design, build, and validate hardware for a platform combining bidirectional electrophysiology and ultrasound, including implants and headstage interfaces.
• Make Forest 1 portable and robust for use outside the clinic.
• Identify what to build in-house versus contract out; manage contractors.
• Prepare platforms for external use: documentation, reproducibility, and robustness.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

Bioengineering

Tools

CAD

PCB design

Job description

Arbor Neuroscience is hiring a hardware-focused engineer to ensure the hardware exists to enable neuroscience experiments in humans and animals. You will work with scientists and an external engineering partner to build and validate devices and systems.

The role emphasizes designing robust, portable hardware for laboratory and home-based studies, with a focus on implants, headstage interfaces, and test rigs. You will contribute to documentation and reproducibility across platforms.