Principal Hardware Engineer, Precision Instrumentation

What You Will Build

• Precision mechanical systems for experiments, such as titanium microfixtures, micrometer-precision electrode drives, and custom machined jigs.
• Components for custom microscopes and optical systems, including alignment and mounting hardware.
• Custom laboratory instrumentation and surgical or experimental robotics, designed and iterated alongside the scientists who depend on them.
• Electronics and control hardware that interface mechanical systems with data acquisition and the rest of the research stack.
• The design and prototyping facility itself: tooling, workflows, and fabrication capabilities that determine how fast the team can move.

What We Are Looking For

• A world-class generalist and hands-on problem-solver who has built precision hardware in a high-precision industry, ideally medical devices, robotics, aerospace, semiconductor capital equipment, or commercial scientific instrumentation.
• You have designed and built hardware that other people relied on for real work, and you kept it running.
• Resourcefulness about getting things built quickly: you will machine one part, 3D-print the next, and send a job out for what is better outsourced.
• Comfort working from a rough idea rather than a finished spec, figuring out the path to a working instrument together with the people who need it.
• Deep fundamentals in mechanical design and fabrication, with real working ability in electronics or optics. You do not restrict yourself to what is familiar.
• Intellectually curious, collaborative, and eager to learn the science around you.
• A track record of owning complex instruments end-to-end, from concept through fabrication, integration, and reliable operation.
• Experience making and defending design tradeoffs across performance, manufacturability, cost, and timeline.
• Experience equipping and running a workshop, makerspace, or prototyping facility.
• A history of mentoring engineers or setting engineering culture and standards.

Bonus

• Experience with small precise parts, difficult materials, tight tolerances, precision motion, or optical alignment.
• Hands-on electronics design (PCB layout, embedded systems, sensor/actuator integration).
• Familiarity with electrophysiology or other low-volume, high-complexity hardware environments.
• CAD/CAM proficiency with hands-on machining (CNC, lathe, mill) and 3D printing.
• Experience integrating hardware with data acquisition systems (DAQ, TTL synchronization, serial/SPI protocols).

Education

Backgrounds in mechanical, electrical, or biomedical engineering, physics, or related fields are all welcome. Graduate work or research experience is a plus but not required.