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.