Key Responsibilities

• Designing microfluidic cartridges in CAD (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Fusion 360 or equivalent)
• Fabricating prototypes using 3D printing (SLA/FDM) and other rapid-prototyping methods
• Selecting polymers, films, adhesives and substrates, and investigating how they affect fluidics, bonding, surface properties and assay compatibility
• Carrying out surface treatments to control surface behaviour
• Bonding, sealing and assembling devices, and validating bond quality
• Designing and running fluidic tests
• Designing experiments to find the root cause of fabrication and fluidic failures
• Analysing test data, documenting experiments and reporting methods, results and conclusions clearly
• Feeding practical findings back into the next design iteration

Who You Are

You are an engineer who is obsessed with building. You have a track record of taking microfluidic devices through to a working prototype, and you learn fastest with something in your hands. What draws you here is where the work lands: designs that reach real patients and help transform the way healthcare is designed and patients are diagnosed. You want to see the things you make out in the world, not sitting in a report.

You bring high energy to a fast-paced bench, you focus on the details, you’re organised, you take initiative and you are excited about being part of an all-hands-on-deck startup.

Must-Haves

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Microengineering, Materials Engineering or a related discipline
• Hands-on experience designing, fabricating and testing microfluidic devices or lab-on-chip systems
• Practical CAD experience (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Fusion 360 or equivalent)
• Hands-on experience with 3D printing or other rapid-prototyping techniques
• Experience with polymer/material selection, surface treatment and bonding/sealing of microfluidic devices
• Practical understanding of microfluidic flow, channel design, fluid handling and common failure modes
• Experience troubleshooting physical prototypes and using experiments to identify root causes
• Ability to analyse experimental data and report it clearly, with strong attention to detail and documentation
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with a small technical team
• Right to work in the UK
• Willingness to work on-site in Slough initially, and in London after the move

Nice-To-Haves

• Experience with diagnostics, point-of-care devices or biological samples
• Experience with injection moulding, laser cutting, CNC machining or other manufacturing routes
• Familiarity with design for manufacture and scaling a prototype toward production
• Experience with imaging or flow visualisation techniques
• Exposure to design controls, ISO 13485 or a regulated development environment

Why Join Us

• Real ownership of a core part of the product, with the room to grow into leading cartridge development independently.
• Work on cutting-edge technology with direct, real-world impact on women's health.
• A fast-paced, hands-on team where your iterations show up in the next prototype, not months later.
• The opportunity to take diagnostic assays from concept through validation to market.
• Competitive salary with EMI equity package

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a concise covering note (half page maximum) to careers@unravel.health. In your note, we would value:

• A microfluidic device or prototype you have built, the problem it solved, and the specific part you owned.

We read these carefully; they tell us more than a summary of techniques. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Unravel is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to an inclusive team in which strong scientific thinking can thrive. If you require any adjustments to the application process, please let us know. We are not able to sponsor visas, so applicants require a right to work in the UK.