Principal Mechanical Engineer – Advanced Automation & Systems Integration

Role

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer at Vivodyne, you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team pushing the boundaries of automated, large-scale "organ-on-a-chip" robotics and related manufacturing systems. Your focus will be on developing and optimizing hardware and software that orchestrates robotic arms, embedded controllers, and microfluidic systems to enable high-throughput, high-precision biological workflows.

This role requires expertise across hardware and software, but primarily hardware.  From high-level motion control and machine vision to robotics programming and embedded firmware. You’ll work extensively with existing Python (less so with, C#, and C++) codebases, ensuring seamless system integration and performance.

You are a mechanical design expert.  Things like kinematic docking, 440 vs 316, FEA, and error budgets are very familiar to you.  Your friends include McMaster-Carr, Misumi, and Grainger. 

Collaboration is key—you’ll engage with mechanical engineers, biologists, immunologists, AI scientists, and process engineers to design and refine automation workflows that drive breakthroughs. We’re looking for a problem solver comfortable working across multiple domains, thriving in a fast-paced, high-innovation environment that values continuous learning and technical excellence.

This is a full-time, onsite role in San Francisco, where you’ll be designing, building, and testing some of the most advanced automation and high-throughput biology systems in the world.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and implement advanced automation systems, ranging from automated microfluidic manufacturing to high-precision mammalian cell culture platforms—all of which are mission-critical and highly visible both internally and externally.
• Develop hardware and software systems that acquire and process data reliably, ensuring smooth handoffs to production through rigorous documentation, data acquisition, and analysis.
• Embrace the dynamic nature of a rapidly growing startup, working across multiple projects and disciplines.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product leads, tissue engineers, microfluidics specialists, and AI researchers etc. to gather requirements, set technical objectives, and integrate new features into our robotics platforms.
• Design and implement resilience mechanisms to ensure system robustness, enabling fault detection, fault recovery, and minimal downtime, while maintaining data integrity.
• Proactively identify optimization opportunities, selecting priorities through engineering analysis and data-driven decision-making.
• Communicate progress and findings to internal stakeholders—including mechanical engineers, data scientists, and senior leadership—through data-laden presentations and technical reports.

Requirements and Expectations

Technical Expertise & Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree (M.S. or Ph.D. preferred) in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on microfluidics, tissue engineering, or lab automation at least six years of directly relevant industry experience.
• Broad experience in hardware and, preferable, software design for automation, spanning off-the-shelf solutions and custom-built systems—you have developed complex automation workflows for production-level environments.
• Proficiency in key hardware and software tools, including SolidWorks (expert-level, CAM experience is a plus), and at some exposure to Python/Matlab/C++/C#/Javascript/etc.
• Hands-on experience with commonly used automation hardware, such as vision/camera systems (optics and/or optomechanical expertise is a plus), motion control, liquid handling, and pick-and-place robotics.
• Highly knowledgeable in various Manufacturing Technologies, you know how things are made and which approaches fit a particular application
• Industry-specific expertise is highly valued:
• Biotech/lab automation or semiconductor robotics experience is a strong advantage.
• Knowledge of microfluidics and fluid handling systems.
• Experience integrating robotics with high-content imaging and confocal microscopy systems, optimizing workflows for advanced imaging pipelines.
• Biology background or familiarity with cell and tissue engineering concepts is a significant plus, especially in handling biological samples.
• Bonus points for experience with:
• Electronics/PCBA design or basic knowledge (reading schematic, troubleshooting interconnects), statistical analysis/data collection to inform design performance rigorously

Problem Solving & Ownership

• You take an outcome-driven approach, translating project goals and technical challenges into systematic, resilient robotics solutions.
• Strong ownership mentality, ensuring the timely delivery of high-reliability features and improvements.
• Growth-oriented, continuously seeking ways to enhance automation processes, optimize robotic operations, and drive innovation.

Collaboration & Communication

• A team player, capable of working with engineers, scientists, and external stakeholders to define requirements, refine designs, and communicate project progress effectively.
• Clear communicator, able to explain complex robotics concepts to cross-functional teams, from software engineers to biologists.
• Interdisciplinary mindset, integrating feedback from various fields to develop thoughtful, iterative design improvements.

Innovation & Leadership Mindset

• Passionate about staying at the cutting edge of robotics, bringing fresh ideas from emerging technologies, best practices, and research to the team.
• Comfortable taking initiative in uncharted territories, whether it’s developing new motion-planning algorithms or integrating novel sensors and hardware.

Why Vivodyne?

• High-Impact Mission – Play a pivotal role in transforming drug discovery and human therapeutics through advanced robotics and automation.
• Multi-Disciplinary Exposure – Work alongside leading experts in robotics, AI, biology, and microfluidics, expanding your expertise in a truly collaborative setting.
• Growth Opportunities – A fast-growing startup environment with significant autonomy, ownership, and influence over best practices in the intersection of biotech and robotics.
• Innovative Culture – Join a team that prioritizes continuous learning, rigorous engineering and scientific standards, and bold problem-solving.

If you're excited about revolutionizing automation in organoid engineering and biotech—while pushing the boundaries of robotics, AI, and advanced systems—let’s connect! Please submit your resume and a brief statement of interest. We look forward to exploring the opportunity together.

Vivodyne, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Vivodyne complies with all laws respecting equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants with regard to any protected characteristic as defined by federal, state, and local law.