Senior Fluidics Architect & Systems Integration Leader

San Diego Stealth Startup; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

San Diego Stealth Startup is seeking a Staff Fluidic Systems Engineer to own design, modeling, and integration of fluidic subsystems for a bioinstrumentation platform. You will lead from concept through prototyping, testing, and transfer to manufacturing, collaborating with mechanical, controls, assay, and software teams.

Key responsibilities include designing microfluidic architectures, developing first‑order performance models, prototyping, defining control strategies, and enabling scalable,

Qualifications

• BA/BS with 8+ years, MA/MS with 6+ years or Ph.D. with 3+ years of experience in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• A minimum of 5+ years of experience in fluidic system design for life science instruments (e.g., DNA sequencers, cell sorters, flow cytometers, lab‑on‑chip devices, or diagnostic analyzers).
• Demonstrated expertise in microfluidic or mesoscale fluid handling, including pressure‑driven, syringe‑pump, or pneumatic control systems.
• Strong understanding of fluid‑material interactions, bubble management, and thermal effects in biological fluids.
• Proven experience leading system‑level integration efforts for NGS platforms or related high‑complexity instruments.
• Familiarity with regulatory and quality considerations for life science instruments.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize fluidic subsystem architectures for precision biological instruments, including microfluidic chips, manifolds, valves, pumps, and sensors.
• Collaborate with assay scientists to translate biological requirements into engineering specifications.
• Develop Fluidic system first-order models of performance, run‑time, and cost to drive architecture decisions.
• Prototype and characterize fluidic subsystems, performing root‑cause analysis and iterative design improvements.
• Define fluidic control strategies, including pressure, flow, and volume regulation under dynamic biological conditions.
• Develop custom metrology to measure the performance of the Fluidics Platform. Experience with image analysis software is desirable.
• Integrate fluidic and mechanical systems with electronics, sensors, and control software.
• Develop Test Software scripts (Python) to exercise the Fluidic Platform and enable testing and optimization.
• Drive Engineering Verification Testing, demonstrating that sub‑system requirements are met.
• Interface with suppliers and manufacturing partners to optimize reliability, scalability, and cost.
• Drive DFM/DFX (Design for Manufacturability / Design for Excellence) for all fluidic components.
• Contribute to patent filings, technical documentation, and design history files as part of regulatory compliance.

Skills

Fluidic design

System integration

Python scripting

Modeling & simulation

Cross-functional teamwork

Life science instruments

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

MS/PhD in related field

Tools

Image analysis

Modeling tools

Job description

San Diego Stealth Startup is seeking a Staff Fluidic Systems Engineer to own design, modeling, and integration of fluidic subsystems for a bioinstrumentation platform. You will lead from concept through prototyping, testing, and transfer to manufacturing, collaborating with mechanical, controls, assay, and software teams.

Key responsibilities include designing microfluidic architectures, developing first‑order performance models, prototyping, defining control strategies, and enabling scalable,