BioMEMS / Microfluidics Engineer

Full-Time No home office possible

Overview

We’re seeking a Senior BioMEMS / Microfluidics Engineer to join our growing team and help build the future of wearable biochemical monitoring. You will lead the design, prototyping, and manufacturing of microneedle-based interstitial fluid sampling and microfluidic subsystem – a core part of our wearable molecular sensing platform.

The role

We’re hiring a BioMEMS / Microfluidics Engineer as a foundational technical hire to lead the design, prototyping, and translation of our microneedle ISF sampling and microfluidic subsystem. You’ll own the full fluidic path – from skin interface and sampling through transport, priming/venting and bubble management, to the flow-cell where sensing occurs.

This role is central to platform reliability: your work directly impacts sample quality, yield, lag time, robustness during wear, and ultimately the user experience. As we scale, there’s a clear pathway to technical leadership – owning this subsystem end-to-end and building a small team around you.

You will own:

Own the dermal interstitial fluid sampling & microfluidic cartridge architecture end-to-end.
Lead microneedle strategy and integration: define requirements, support design/selection, and manage external manufacturing partners (DfM feedback loops, tolerances, QC, sterilisation compatibility).
Design and prototype wearable microfluidic architectures that perform under real-world conditions (motion, temperature changes, multi-hour wear).
Develop reliable initial wetting / priming strategies (e.g., passive capillary and/or prime-then-passive concepts) to ensure repeatable start-up.
Engineer sustained sampling using capillary-microfluidic design principles – prioritising stability and simplicity.
Build robust solutions for sealing, venting, leakage prevention, and bubble/occlusion control.
Define materials and surface treatments for wettability, low sample loss, anti-fouling, and biocompatibility.
Design interfaces and packaging concepts that connect the cartridge to the core sensing module/electronics (under NDA), with manufacturable assembly in mind.
Create test methods/rigs to quantify priming success, flow stability, leakage, clogging risk, and multi-hour performance.
Drive early DfM and scale-up thinking: assembly steps, tolerance stack-ups, supplier readiness, and path to pilot builds.

You’ll collaborate closely with leaders across photonics, chemistry, clinical, and product and play a key role in bringing a genuinely cutting-edge wearable technology from first prototypes to pilot-ready systems.

The person

Ideal requirements:

PhD (or MSc + 3+ years) in BioMEMS, Microfluidics, Biomedical/Mechanical Engineering or related.
Proven hands-on experience designing capillary-driven / passive microfluidics (wicking, hydrophilic treatments, flow control features like valves).
Built and owned end-to-end microfluidic systems from at least concept to prototype to repeatable build (and early manufacturability thinking).
Experience with wearable / skin-interfacing fluidics and the realities of real-world operation (motion, temperature, sweat, long wear).
Strong familiarity with microneedle-based sampling or adjacent minimally invasive sampling approaches including vendor integration if applicable.
Strong experimental mindset: able to design rigorous flow/pressure/volume/reliability tests, analyse data, and iterate quickly.
Comfortable operating in a high-ambiguity, fast-moving early-stage environment.

Nice to have (strong signals, not required)

Experience with ISF extraction, priming/first-wet strategies, bubble traps/venting, and anti-fouling / low-loss surface treatments.
Microfluidics that interfaces with optical sensing or biosensing assays (immuno/aptamer/enzymatic).
Experience with rapid microfluidic fabrication and/or high-precision low-flow systems (µL/min → nL/min).
Exposure to medical device development standards (e.g., ISO 13485 / ISO 10993) and design controls.

Why work for us?

Foundational ownership + real influence: you’ll own a core subsystem end-to-end and directly shape the product roadmap. As we scale, there’s a clear path to technical leadership and building a team around you.
Deep-tech, real-world impact: work at the intersection of BioMEMS, microfluidics, and next-gen sensing to build a platform that can fundamentally change how health is monitored – moving biochemical insight from occasional lab tests to everyday life.
Work with exceptional people: collaborate with top-tier talent from Cambridge and Imperial College and leaders across sensing, chemistry, and product in a highly ambitious environment.
High-pace, high-support culture: a flat structure, fast iteration, and genuine room to experiment – with regular check-ins and feedback to support your growth and development.
Competitive compensation & meaningful equity: we offer competitive salary and significant early-stage share options, so you’ll own a real stake in what you’re building