Mechanical Design Engineer – Consumables & Product Development
Location: Oxford (office-based)
Type: Permanent, Full-time
Background
Pictura Bio is an innovative MedTech start-up developing a next-generation in vitro diagnostics platform. Founded in 2021 as a spin-out from the University of Oxford, our goal is to advance technology that enables rapid pathogen identification for earlier diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Our platform combines microscopy, electronics, mechanics, fluidics, software, and biological assays into a highly integrated instrument system. The interaction between mechanics, optics, physics, chemistry, biology, and computation is therefore critical to overall system performance.
While our long-term objective is the development of a regulatory-compliant medical diagnostic device, we also continue to develop and supply advanced imaging systems and diagnostic assays for external customers. This provides the opportunity to work on both commercial instrumentation and the future development of our diagnostic platform.
Overview of the Role
You will support the development of our diagnostic platform, taking ownership of defined mechanical design work packages and working closely with the assay, optics, electronics, and software disciplines. This role is suited to a hands‑on mechanical design engineer who enjoys taking designs from CAD through prototyping and testing towards manufacture.
Your first focus will be evolving our consumable flow cells into more bespoke, robust, cost‑effective, and manufacturable designs. As the platform develops, you will expand into supporting the mechanical design and integration of our microscopy‑based instruments.
While much of your time will be spent on design and development activities in the office, there will be plenty of opportunity for hands‑on work in our workshop. You will report directly to, and work with guidance from, the Head of Engineering, and we will support your development through CPD investment and exposure to every discipline across the platform, with the opportunity to grow into a senior role.
You will contribute across:
- Mechanical design and development of consumables
- Prototyping, testing, and performance characterisation
- Design for manufacture and assembly
- Mechanical integration of consumables and microscopy‑based instruments
- Verification and preparation for manufacture
You will help ensure that:
- Design requirements are clearly defined and flowed down from system and assay requirements.
- Designs are tested, characterised, and verified against agreed performance requirements.
- Designs are robust, manufacturable, and scalable, with cost and production volume considered from the outset.
- Mechanical interfaces and design decisions are clearly documented and communicated across disciplines.
Key Responsibilities
Mechanical Design & Development
- Develop mechanical designs for consumables and instrument assemblies, progressing from existing components towards bespoke product designs.
- Support the translation of system, assay, and user requirements into mechanical specifications.
- Develop 3D models and assemblies in PTC Creo, and engineering drawings to BS 8888.
- Contribute to tolerance stack‑up analysis that accounts for manufacturing variation, and to the evaluation of components, materials, and manufacturing approaches.
- Implement design for manufacture and assembly principles, including for injection‑moulded plastic parts.
Prototyping & Manufacture
- Develop and test prototypes in our workshop, using methods such as 3D printing.
- Support work with external suppliers and manufacturers on feasibility, quotations, tooling, and first‑article inspection.
- Support the move from prototype builds towards repeatable, scalable assembly, simplifying designs to reduce cost and complexity.
Systems Integration
- Support the integration of consumables with our instruments, including mechanical location, optical alignment, and fluidic interfaces.
- Support the mechanical design and integration of microscopy and optical subsystems, such as mounts, stages, and enclosures.
- Investigate and help resolve mechanical, interface, and performance issues.
- Contribute to cross‑discipline work involving assay, optics, electronics, and software.
Verification & Characterisation
- Develop practical test methods and fixtures to evaluate mechanical performance, repeatability, and reliability.
- Support the characterisation of consumable performance.
- Contribute to performance metrics, acceptance criteria, and design verification activities.
- Investigate failures, contribute to root‑cause analysis, and keep clear records of test results.
Quality & Regulatory Development
- Contribute mechanical design documentation to the Design History File.
- Support development activities within an ISO 13485‑aligned environment.
- Contribute to risk management activities, design reviews, and requirements traceability.
- Support design transfer and future regulatory submissions in the UK, EU, and US markets.
About You
You are a practical engineer with strong mechanical fundamentals and experience developing real‑world products and will likely have:
- 3+ years’ experience in mechanical design or product development and a minimum 2:1 degree in a related subject
- Some experience with fluidic systems or fluid‑contacting components
- A strong understanding of mechanical design principles, from concept through to prototype and testing
- Experience producing engineering drawings to BS 8888, including tolerancing for manufacturing variation
- Experience using 3D CAD tools. Ideally PTC Creo, although SolidWorks or Siemens NX experience is also welcome.
- Practical experience with prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting
- An appreciation for design for manufacture and assembly, material selection, reliability, and cost‑driven design
- Strong communication and problem‑solving skills, and the ability to organise your own workload
- The ability to work enthusiastically and effectively within a multidisciplinary environment
Highly Desirable
- Experience in medical devices, diagnostics, or life sciences, ideally within an ISO 13485 or similarly regulated environment
- Optomechanical design experience, such as precision mounts, stages, or the alignment and stability of optical components
- Familiarity with microscopy, optical design principles, or optical design tools (e.g., Zemax OpticStudio)
- Experience designing injection‑moulded plastic parts and working with manufacturers
- Experience supporting manufacture, assembly, or design transfer activities
- Experience working in a start‑up or rapidly growing technology company
Alongside a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy:
- Company equity
- Cycle to work scheme
- Professional institute subscriptions
- CPD investment and support
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing MedTech company at a pivotal stage in its development. You will play an active role in supporting our current development pathways and the future evolution of a novel diagnostic platform, with the opportunity to develop your career as the company expands.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
