Prototyping Engineer, Automation & Hardware

About the Role

We’re looking for someone early in their career who likes making physical systems work. You’ll build, wire and modify the prototypes and test rigs our R&D team uses to develop new bioreactor technology, from benchtop setups to pilot reactors. One day that’s wiring a control panel; the next it’s plumbing a skid or chasing down why a sensor drifts. You’ll work alongside our engineers and learn how industrial fermentation equipment is designed, built and run.

Responsibilities

• Build and modify prototypes, test rigs and bioreactor systems: mechanical assembly, sanitary fittings and tubing, pumps, valves, heaters and gas lines.
• Wire and program small control systems: PLCs and microcontrollers, motor drivers, sensors (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, pressure, flow) and mass flow controllers.
• Run experiments, keep clean data and build records.
• Troubleshoot equipment and fix it.
• Document what you build: wiring diagrams, parts lists and procedures.
• Help commission new equipment, and keep our lab and pilot systems running.

Qualifications

• Have built physical things that work, at school, at a job or on your own.
• Can wire and troubleshoot basic electrical and control systems, and have programmed a PLC, an Arduino, a Raspberry Pi or similar.
• Are handy with tools, and ideally have done some machining or fabrication.
• Have worked around bioreactors, fermenters or other lab or process equipment, in a lab, a brewery, a food or biotech plant, or similar.
• Take safety seriously around electricity, pressure, steam, compressed gases and chemicals.
• Have a degree in mechanical, electrical, chemical or biological engineering, mechatronics, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• You don’t need all of these. If you’ve built real things and want to learn bioprocess hardware, apply.

Preferred Skills

• Industrial automation: CODESYS, Siemens, or SCADA and HMI tools such as Ignition
• Sanitary process hardware: tri-clamp fittings, diaphragm valves, cleaning in place
• Building or running fermentation or cell culture equipment

Benefits

• Competitive compensation through a mix of salary and equity.
• Unlimited paid vacation and sick/leave days + public holidays.
• Comprehensive health insurance for employees and their dependents, including dental and vision.
• Paid family leave.
• Membership at Pacific Pipe Climbing gym next door.

Salary range: $75,000-$110,000 per year.