Microfluidics Engineer in Oxford

About Vivid Dx

Vivid Dx is a medical device company developing a culture-free in vitro diagnostic system for rapid bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing direct from whole blood.

Our technology integrates microfluidic sample preparation, Raman spectroscopy, a scalable Raman spectra database, and machine learning-driven analysis to deliver clinically actionable results in a fraction of the time required by conventional blood culture workflows.

The technology has demonstrated excellent performance in laboratory validation, and we are now advancing through a prototyping and pilot study phase, with regulatory submissions planned under FDA and EU IVDR pathways.

Microfluidics sits at the heart of our platform: it is how we take whole blood and deliver clean, concentrated, viable cells to the optical system.

The person we hire will join a small, close-knit microfluidics team and have a direct and lasting influence on how our sample-preparation technology is designed, de-risked, and manufactured at scale.

The Role

We design and develop the microfluidic sample-preparation systems that process whole blood for our diagnostic platform.

We are looking for a hands-on engineer to join our microfluidics team, working across the full lifecycle – from rapidly prototyping new concepts through to designing for scaled-up, regulated manufacture.

The role spans our bacterial identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) assays as well as our emerging fungal applications, and sits at the intersection of microfluidics, fluid mechanics, and practical engineering.

You will contribute across design, prototyping, experimental testing, manufacturing transfer, and scale-up, taking real ownership of the subsystems you work on.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design and optimisation of microfluidic devices and flow systems across our bacterial ID, AST, and fungal applications
• Design, build, and test prototypes, including experimental validation on biological samples
• Plan and run structured experiments and characterisation studies (e. g. design of experiments) to quantify performance and process robustness
• Analyse system performance and troubleshoot fluidic behaviour, using data to drive design decisions
• Develop and qualify cartridge sealing, bonding, and surface-treatment strategies working with internal teams and external partners
• Contribute to improving robustness, reliability, and scalability of devices
• Design for manufacture and scale-up, translating prototypes into robust, high-yield designs suited to volume-replication routes
• Engage with external fabrication and manufacturing partners
• Take ownership of specific subsystems or experiments from concept through testing and iteration
• Make engineering trade-offs between performance, manufacturability, and cost
• Work within the QMS, moving fluidly between rapid prototyping and regulated product development
• Create sub-system requirements from overall system and product requirements, and develop microfluidic systems that meet both
• Ensure engineering concepts are grounded in biological reality, working closely with our scientists
• Plan, capture, and record design rationale, protocols, and results in clear engineering documentation to support verification, validation, and regulatory submission

Essential

• Degree in engineering, physics, or a related quantitative discipline, or equivalent practical experience
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics or transport phenomena
• Proven hands-on experience with experimental systems or prototyping; designing, building, and testing physical devices, fluidic systems, or experimental hardware, ideally in a commercial setting
• Ability to operate independently, prioritise in a fast-moving startup environment, and communicate concepts clearly to colleagues with backgrounds in other disciplines.
• Confident integrating into a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and clinicians
• Pragmatic problem solver who is open to constructive challenge with a continuous improvement mindset

Desirable

• Experience with microfluidics, lab-on-chip systems, or small-scale fluid systems
• Familiarity with CAD, preferably Solidworks
• Experience scaling microfluidics systems for high volume manufacture
• Familiarity with microfabrication and replication techniques and the tolerances they impose
• Experience with surface functionalisation, bonding and sealing of polymers
• Experience handling biological samples (e. g. blood or cell suspensions) and associated safety practice
• Familiarity with design of experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis of test data
• Experience developing microfluidic devices coupled with optical detection and analytical workflows
• Working knowledge of (one or more) ISO 13485:2016, ISO 14971, EU IVDR, and FDA 21 CFR Part 820
• Experience in an early-stage startup or spin-out environment experiencing rapid growth

What We Offer

• The opportunity to own core microfluidics technology at a company with genuine translational impact in antimicrobial resistance diagnostics.
• A broad, hands-on remit spanning rapid prototyping through to manufacture, with real influence over design direction.
• Direct access to and collaboration with the founding team and scientific leadership.
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and stage of company.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Vivid Dx is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

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