Staff Engineer, Fluidic Systems Architecture, and Integration

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

Staff Engineer, Fluidic Systems Architecture, and Integration

Staff Engineer, Fluidic Systems Architecture, and Integration

Job Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

We are seeking a Staff Fluidics Engineer to drive design, modeling, and implementation of complex fluidic subsystems within our bioinstrumentation platform. You will own the full lifecycle — from concept through prototyping, system integration, and transfer to manufacturing — working closely with cross-functional teams in mechanical design, controls, assay development, and software. You will bring deep expertise in microfluidics and mesofluidics, along with hands‑on experience developing reliable, manufacturable fluidic systems for biological or analytical instruments.

This role is a unique opportunity to be a central contributor to the core platform.

Key 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.

Qualifications

Required:

• 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 the unique performance requirements of NGS, including reagent fluidics, temperature control, and other process tolerances.

Preferred:

• Familiarity with regulatory and quality considerations for life science instruments.

Why Join Us

• Influence the foundational technologies and strategies of a company poised to shape the future of clinical genomics and healthcare.
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative environment where innovation and scientific rigor are deeply valued.
• Join a seasoned and multidisciplinary team tackling high‑impact problems at the intersection of science and engineering.
• Competitive compensation and equity package, comprehensive benefits, and flexibility to support work‑life integration.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We thrive on diversity and collaboration.