Founding Engineer / Hardware Lead
4 days ago
Newcastle upon Tyne
Lead hardware development and device integration for our portable equine health diagnostic device. AnFiTest is an early-stage biotech startup developing field-ready diagnostics and data analytics for equine and livestock health. Our initial focus is a portable testing device for equine laminitis prevention. This is not a role where one person is expected to design every subsystem alone. You will work closely with specialist engineering consultancies, the R&D Director, the software/data team, interns and external manufacturing partners. • Lead hardware engineering and device integration for the portable testing device, • Coordinate external engineering consultancies and suppliers across hardware development, sensing integration, sample handling, cartridge/consumable interfaces and prototype delivery, • Translate assay, electrode, cartridge and user workflow requirements into clear engineering specifications, • Drive prototype development, build, testing, troubleshooting and iteration ahead of partner testing and demonstrations, • Proactively identify and help resolve engineering issues that could affect prototype delivery, device performance, usability, or scale-up, • Work with the R&D Director to align engineering activity with the wider R&D roadmap, including assay development, consumables, electrode production and software integration, • Support and supervise engineering interns or junior technical staff, • Contribute to design‑for‑manufacture, supplier engagement, component sourcing, assembly workflow development and production readiness, • Maintain clear documentation of design decisions, test outcomes, engineering specifications and technical requirements, • Relevant industry experience in hardware engineering, product development, mechanical/electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, scientific instrumentation, or a related field, • Hands‑on experience with prototype development, testing, troubleshooting, and iteration, • Practical CAD and prototyping experience, including 3D printing and/or mechanical design, • Ability to translate scientific, technical, or user requirements into practical engineering specifications, • Experience coordinating technical work with external suppliers, consultants, contractors or manufacturing partners, • Strong practical problem‑solving skills, with the ability to make progress under time and resource constraints, • Clear communication and documentation skills, • Comfortable working hands‑on in a fast‑moving startup environment with evolving requirements, • Able to work across disciplines and bring structure to complex, evolving technical projects, • Experience with biosensors, diagnostics, electrochemical devices, medical/veterinary devices, or agri‑tech hardware, • Experience with cartridges, consumables, fluidics, or liquid‑ and sample‑handling systems, • Understanding of electronics, embedded systems, sensor interfaces, or electrochemical measurement systems, • Experience applying design‑for‑manufacture principles to hardware products, • Experience supporting design transfer, pilot manufacturing, assembly workflows or production scale‑up, • Experience working in a startup, consultancy, or early‑stage product development environment, • Experience supervising interns, junior engineers, or technical staff #J-18808-Ljbffr