Mechatronics Development Engineer - Pathogen

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas: Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology, Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Change & Managing CO₂, Artificial Intelligence & Robotics.

This is ambitious work – work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real‑world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society.

Welcome to the Pathogen Project: Within this ecosystem, the Pathogen Mission exemplifies EIT’s commitment to transformative science. It aims to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases by leveraging whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based metagenomic and pathogen‑specific analytical tools. This remit includes the development of a decentralised, sample‑to‑answer sequencing diagnostic platform for infectious diseases, enabling rapid and accurate analysis of patient samples without prior assumptions. Supported by Oracle Inc.’s cloud‑computing scale and security infrastructure, the Pathogen Mission is progressing towards certified diagnostic products for deployment in laboratories, hospitals, and public health organisations worldwide.

Your Role: At EIT we are seeking an experienced and detail‑orientated Mechatronics Development Engineer to help develop next‑generation diagnostic technology. In this role, you’ll work alongside experts in microfluidics, microbiology, electronics and firmware to design, build and iterate prototype instrumentation for a point‑of‑care device capable of metagenomic sequencing through a microfluidic cartridge interface. You will take a hands‑on role in developing and refining experimental rigs used to test cartridge‑based modules, integrating actuators, sensors and thermal systems to manipulate fluids at the microscale. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative healthcare technology with real‑world impact. This role offers scope to shape the mechanical architecture of a novel diagnostic platform and to grow within a multi‑disciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, build, modify and iterate prototype rigs in the laboratory to test and validate cartridge‑based modules.
• Design and implement mechanical integration of actuators, sensors, heaters and fluidic interfaces into experimental platforms.
• Develop and refine docking mechanisms between cartridge and instrument.
• Select and integrate off‑the‑shelf components (motors, syringe pumps, load cells, pressure sensors, heaters, drivers).
• Assemble, wire and commission prototype systems in the lab, including rapid reconfiguration as designs evolve.
• Work closely with electronics and firmware engineers to integrate hardware and control systems.
• Identify mechanical, thermal and integration failure modes through hands‑on troubleshooting and testing.
• Conduct structured experimental testing of rigs and document performance improvements.
• Contribute to improving repeatability, robustness and ease‑of‑use of prototype systems.
• Support design reviews with practical insights from lab testing.
• Maintain clear documentation of rig configurations, changes and experimental results.

Requirements Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Experience in mechatronics, automation, robotics, scientific instrumentation or related applied engineering fields (industry or advanced academic experience considered).
• Demonstrated experience designing and building physical prototypes (not just CAD design).
• Strong CAD skills (e.g. SolidWorks, Fusion 360 or equivalent) with experience taking designs through to physical builds.
• Experience designing and mechanically integrating actuators (e.g. stepper/servo motors, linear drives, syringe systems) into working systems.
• Experience integrating sensors (pressure, force, temperature, flow).
• Practical understanding of tolerance stack‑up and mechanical fit.
• Comfortable working in a lab environment (assembly, wiring, debugging).
• Experience identifying and resolving mechanical and integration issues, both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Practical experience selecting, wiring and configuring motor drivers and low‑voltage power systems for electro‑mechanical assemblies.
• Ability to work collaboratively with firmware and electronics engineers.
• Structured and methodical approach to experimental testing.
• Comfortable working in an evolving R&D environment, adapting designs thoughtfully as requirements develop.

We recognise that candidates may not meet every listed criterion. If your experience aligns with most of the requirements and you are motivated by the mission, we encourage you to apply.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Experience with vibration systems or high‑frequency mechanical actuation (e.g. shakers, mixers, centrifuges).
• Experience designing systems involving fluid handling or fluid‑mechanical integration.
• Familiarity with thermal systems (heaters, Peltier elements, thermal contact design).
• Experience working in life sciences, medical device or laboratory instrumentation.
• Basic embedded programming or scripting experience (e.g. Python for test automation).
• Experience with hardware safety interlocks and basic risk awareness.
• Awareness of contamination control considerations in laboratory equipment.
• Experience contributing to early‑stage product development (concept → prototype → refinement).
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, electronics, firmware, scientists).

Key Attributes:

• Team‑oriented and collaborative, comfortable working closely with firmware, electronics and scientific multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communicator, able to explain complex technical ideas clearly.
• Comfortable translating design concepts into physical systems, iterating through structured experimental testing in collaboration with multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Creative and methodical problem‑solver, comfortable iterating experimentally within a collaborative R&D setting.
• Detail‑focused and organised, ensuring high standards across all project deliverables.
• Able to prioritise effectively and manage multiple workstreams in coordination with the wider team.

Benefits:

• Salary: competitive + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Working Together - What It Involves:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
• In certain cases, we can consider sponsorship, and this will be assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate).