Optical Hardware Engineer, Foundry
TLDR
Drive the hardware engineering of AutoOpenRaman for biological research, optimizing and preparing it for commercial deployment.
We are Arcadia Science, an evolutionary biology company founded and led by scientists. Our mission is to turn natural innovations into real-world solutions by developing systematic and quantitative approaches to leveraging biology for therapeutics R&D. We share our research as openly as possible to accelerate discovery and make our work broadly useful.
The Optical Hardware Engineer will be part of the Foundry, Arcadia's division at the interface between R&D and commercial deployment. The goal of this division is to take scientifically validated tools and capabilities from the research team and productionize them for broader use. The Foundry's first focus is Raman spectroscopy. This role will report directly to the CEO.
You will start with an effort around optimizing and scaling AutoOpenRaman, an open-source, automated Raman spectrometer we developed for biological research. Now we want to professionalize it for expanded internal and external deployment by optimizing the instrument (e.g., increasing the signal-to-noise, adding laser lines) and making the hardware production-ready, designing and building user-friendly operating and analysis software, and delivering a set-up intuitive enough for a typical life science researcher to use without significant training.
As the Optical Hardware Engineer, you will help drive the hardware engineering side of the project end-to-end: optics, enclosure design, performance improvements, and electronics integration. You will work closely with a software engineer, assay developers, and the scientists who will use the instrument every day. From there, you will help define what external deployment looks like, working with our partners who want to integrate these capabilities inside their own labs and companies.
Lead the design of AutoOpenRaman into a compact, integrated benchtop instrument
Design and prototype an enclosure that achieves Class 1 laser safety and that's manufacturable at scale
Consolidate the current electronics (stage controller, shutter, calibration light source, laser) into a single integrated system
Work with a software engineer to define the hardware–software interface and ensure the instrument behaves predictably under automated control
Define the bill of materials and assembly protocol for reproducible builds with an eye toward eventually scaling to 10- or 50-unit production runs
Engage vendors, fabrication shops, and laser safety review as needed
You'll be well-suited for this role if you have:
PhD or equivalent hands-on experience designing and building optical instruments (spectroscopy, microscopy, laser systems, or similar)
Familiarity with laser safety standards and experience designing enclosed laser systems
CAD proficiency
Experience with electronics integration at the level of specifying and wiring up stepper controllers, microcontrollers, or similar embedded systems
Experience partnering with software engineers to co-develop instrument control GUIs and user workflows that enable intuitive, reliable operation for scientific users
Ability to communicate with biologists and understand what actually matters for a life science instrument and a wide range of users
Experience taking optical hardware from prototype to a robust, usable state, with attention to the full user experience and future commercial scalability
Interest and participation in open-source hardware and science
Direct experience with Raman spectroscopy, either instrument development or hands-on use
Familiarity with µManager or similar microscopy control software
Experience with design for manufacturability and transitioning from prototype to small-scale production
Experience with relevant experimental workflows and sample preparation techniques
Application Process:
Please submit a resume and fully answer all application questions addressing your interest in and qualifications for the position. The review process will involve in-person interviews and a short, practical work test. Employment offers are contingent on reference and background checks.
Arcadia is an equal opportunity workplace; we welcome people from all backgrounds and communities. We provide competitive compensation and practical benefits to keep you happy and healthy so that you can do your best work.
Arcadia Science is an evolutionary biology company that harnesses natural innovations to create practical solutions in therapeutics R&D. By utilizing systematic and quantitative methods, we aim to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world applications. Our commitment to open research facilitates collaboration and accelerates advancements within the scientific community.