Bioptix Ltd
Mechanical/Production Engineer
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About the Role
The post holder is a member of the R&D team, reporting to the company's Technical Director, and plays a dual role spanning both hardware innovation and manufacturing readiness. The role combines hands-on mechanical design of precision robotic and micromanipulation hardware for our automated patch clamp platform, with responsibility for transferring designs from prototype to reliable, scalable production.
The post holder is highly skilled in precision mechanical design, with strong knowledge of mechatronic systems, motion control hardware, and manufacturing processes such as machining, injection moulding, or sheet metal fabrication. The person is comfortable working across both early-stage R&D and production environments, and can translate a lab prototype into a manufacturable, reliable product.
Responsibility
R&D / Mechanical Design
- Design and development of precision mechanical components and sub-assemblies for automation hardware, including micromanipulators, pressure control systems, sample stages, etc.
- Use of CAD software (e.g. SolidWorks, Fusion) to design, model, and iterate on mechanical parts and assemblies.
- Tolerance analysis, materials selection, and structural/thermal considerations for precision instrumentation.
- Design for integration with electronics, optics, motion control, and software systems.
- Building and testing of prototype mechanical assemblies, including troubleshooting and iterative refinement.
- Close collaboration with electrical, software, and optical engineers to ensure coherent system-level design.
Production Engineering
- Lead the transfer of validated designs from R&D into production, including Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) reviews.
- Develop and document manufacturing processes, assembly procedures, and quality control checkpoints.
- Liaise with external suppliers, machine shops, and contract manufacturers to source parts and manage tooling.
- Identify and resolve manufacturing issues, including root-cause analysis of failures or inconsistencies.
- Support build of pilot/production batches and help establish scalable, repeatable manufacturing workflows.
- Maintain technical documentation, including drawings, BOMs, and assembly instructions, to a standard suitable for regulated or quality-controlled production environments.
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General
- Contribute to strategic decisions on hardware architecture for the current developing system and including planned future capabilities.
- Manage and monitor mechanical engineering resources and budgets in relevant areas.
- Support installation, servicing, or troubleshooting of instruments at customer or partner sites as required.
- Contribute to technical documentation, patents, and reports as needed.
- Train or mentor other team members on mechanical design or production processes where relevant.
Selection Criteria
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a closely related subject.
- Demonstrable experience designing precision mechanical systems, ideally within scientific instrumentation, robotics, or medical devices.
- Proficiency with CAD software (e.g. SolidWorks) and understanding of GD&T and tolerance stacking.
- Practical experience transferring designs from prototype to production, including DFMA principles.
- Familiarity with a range of manufacturing processes (CNC machining, injection moulding, sheet metal, 3D printing) and their design implications.
- Experience working with suppliers and contract manufacturers.
- Ability to communicate technical information clearly, both verbally and in writing, to a multidisciplinary team.
- Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify root causes and implement practical, robust solutions.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of projects, while collaborating effectively across engineering disciplines.
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Desirable Selection Criteria
- Experience with precision motion systems (e.g. motorised micromanipulators, linear stages, actuators).
- Experience designing mechanical systems that integrate with electronics, optics, or software control.
- Experience in a start-up or scale-up environment, particularly in the transition from low-volume R&D builds to higher-volume manufacturing.
- Experience with biological or life science instrumentation.
- Experience in the mechanical design of kinematic systems, including linkages, stages, or manipulators requiring precise, repeatable motion control.
Pre-employment Screening
All offers of employment are made subject to standard pre-employment screening, as applicable to the post. If you are offered the post, you will be asked to provide proof of your right-to-work, your identity, and we will contact the referees you have nominated. You will also be asked to complete a health declaration (so that you can tell us about any health conditions or disabilities so that we can discuss appropriate adjustments with you), and a declaration of any unspent criminal convictions.
About Bioptix Ltd
Bioptix is a neuroscience technology company founded in Oxford in 2021, developing intelligent automation solutions designed to make advanced brain research more accessible, reproducible, and scalable. Our products automate critical stages of patch clamp electrophysiology, helping researchers overcome one of the most technically demanding processes in neuroscience.
Bioptix brings together expertise across neuroscience, electrophysiology, robotics, imaging, software engineering, artificial intelligence, and technology commercialisation. As we continue to grow, our long-term ambition is to help create a more connected understanding of the brain by bringing together neural function, structure, and molecular identity through a broader platform of integrated research technologies.
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