Principal Mechanical Engineer in Bristol

Role Type: Permanent - Full time (Part time considered)

Hours: 37.5 per week (Part time considered)

Location/Contract set up: Programme, All Saints’ Street, Bristol, BS1 2NB - Onsite

Salary band range (dependent on experience): £60,000 to £80,000 per annum DOE

Reports to: Head of R&D

Responsible for: Mechanical Engineering Team

Closing Date: 11:59pm 1st May 2026

The Company: We are Open Bionics, a growing startup based in Bristol who designs, develops and manufactures beautiful bionic limbs for those with upper limb absences. Our flagship product is the Hero Arm and with this myo-electric arm, we turn disabilities into superpowers! We have collaborated with some of the biggest brands in the world, such as Star Wars, Marvel, Twentieth Century Fox and Konami, and we have won multiple awards, including Hanger Clinics Innovation Award.

Our Mission & Values:

• Innovate - Look at the problem differently.
• Empower - Enable people to act with confidence.
• Be Ambitious - Think bigger.
• Treat People Equally - Treat everyone with equal respect.
• Be Reliable - Always deliver. On time. On budget. To specification.

Role Specification: We are looking for a highly skilled and hands-on Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical engineering function within our R&D team at Open Bionics. This is a key role responsible for driving the design, development and delivery of innovative mechanical systems that underpin our next generation of bionic products.

You will lead and develop a team of mechanical engineers, providing both technical direction and day-to-day support, while remaining closely involved in the detail of design and problem solving. Working as part of a multidisciplinary R&D team, you will ensure that mechanical design, prototyping and testing activities are executed to a high standard, and aligned with product, regulatory and manufacturing requirements.

You will take ownership of the mechanical development lifecycle, from early concept and architecture through to verification, validation and production readiness. This includes responsibility for design robustness, performance, reliability and cost, as well as driving continuous improvement in engineering standards, tools and processes.

This role requires a strong balance of technical depth and leadership capability. You will be expected to make sound engineering decisions, mentor and grow the team, and contribute to the wider R&D strategy, ensuring that mechanical innovation continues to play a central role in delivering impactful, user-focused products.

Our Culture: You will thrive at Open Bionics if:

• You love a fast pace: You are ambitious, comfortable taking risks, and want to work in an environment that moves quickly.
• You value transparency: You appreciate open communication about company performance, finances, and future plans.
• You are a collaborative expert: You know your stuff, but you love working across teams and respect the domain expertise of your colleagues.
• You want to make an impact, not coast: You bring 100% of your energy to the table. We aren't a relaxed or overly corporate environment; we are driven by results.
• You value your downtime: We work hard, but we don't do long hours. We respect your personal time and expect you to unplug completely when your contracted hours are up.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the mechanical engineering team (currently a team of 2 incl. this role), providing technical direction, mentorship and day-to-day support to ensure high performance and development of team capability.
• Own the mechanical design of Open Bionics products, including bionic limbs and supporting systems, ensuring designs meet performance, usability, reliability and cost requirements.
• Oversee all mechanical engineering activities, maintaining high standards of design quality, documentation and execution across the team.
• Drive the full mechanical development lifecycle, from concept generation and architecture through detailed design, prototyping, verification, validation and production readiness.
• Embed a user-centred, co-design approach, actively seeking, interpreting and incorporating feedback from patients, clinicians and end-users into mechanical design decisions to improve functionality, comfort and overall user experience.
• Ensure compliance with relevant medical device regulations and standards, including ISO 13485 and applicable MDR requirements, working closely with Quality and Regulatory teams.
• Lead design reviews and technical decision-making, ensuring robust engineering justification, risk mitigation and alignment with product requirements.
• Develop and implement best practices in mechanical engineering, including design processes, tools, standards and documentation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with electronics, software, manufacturing and commercial teams to ensure integrated product development and successful delivery.
• Own mechanical testing and validation strategies, ensuring products are thoroughly evaluated for performance, durability and safety, including real-world user feedback where appropriate.
• Support product cost optimisation, including material selection, manufacturability and design-for-assembly considerations.
• Contribute to innovation and continuous improvement, identifying opportunities for new technologies, improved designs and enhanced user experience.
• Support the transfer of products into manufacturing, ensuring designs are production-ready and scalable.

Person Scorecard Essential:

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent professional engineering accreditation, or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Product Design, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• Significant experience in mechanical engineering (typically 10+ years), with a strong track record of delivering complex products from concept through to production.
• Proven experience in engineering leadership (typically 5–7+ years), including leading, mentoring and developing engineers within a multidisciplinary environment.
• Strong desire and ability to coach and develop others, with a track record of supporting engineers in their technical and professional growth.
• Experience developing products within a regulated environment, such as medical devices or a similarly controlled industry.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end product development lifecycle, including design, prototyping, testing, validation and manufacturing transfer.
• Ability to balance hands-on engineering with leadership responsibilities, remaining close to technical detail while guiding team direction.
• Experience working in both small (startup/scale-up) and larger organisations, with the ability to adapt approach to different levels of structure and pace.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical capability, with a structured and data-driven approach to engineering challenges.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines and align stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Experience within a regulated environment (e.g. medical devices, ISO standards, or similar).
• Experience implementing or improving R&D processes, such as New Product Introduction (NPI), change control, or product lifecycle management.
• Exposure to intellectual property (IP) development, including patents and design protection.
• Experience scaling engineering teams or functions within a startup or high-growth environment.

Benefits:

• 32 days annual leave (including bank holidays)
• Additional day of leave: moving house/getting married
• Company Pension Scheme
• Cycle 2 work Scheme
• 50% subsidised Gym/Sports membership/exercise classes (up to £30)
• Up to 50% cost covered for professional accreditations
• Free Fruit/ Tea & Coffee in office
• Culture of Team socials

To Apply:

• Visit our website https://openbionics.com/ and click ‘Careers' where you can apply.
• Write a Covering Letter explaining why you are suitable for the role. You must address the person's scorecard criteria and detail why you want to work for Open Bionics.
• Upload your CV which evidences the technical aspects of your knowledge, skills and experience.

Please note that both of the above must be provided in order to be considered for the post. Interviews are likely to take place virtually.

Other Information: Open Bionics is an Equal Opportunities employer. If you are disabled and require any reasonable adjustments, please contact [email protected]. We welcome enquiries from everyone and we value diversity in our workplace. We may operate positive action measures to encourage people from under-represented groups to apply and help them overcome disadvantages in competing with other applicants. If you are successful, you will be expected to provide proof of your right to work in the UK.