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Mechanical Engineer, Scientific Instrumentation

Emeryville, CA

A Bit About Us

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.
 

About the Role

The Mechanical 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 to transform AutoOpenRaman, an open-source, automated Raman spectrometer we developed for biological research, into a compact, safe, manufacturable benchtop instrument. That means designing a Class 1 laser enclosure, defining the mechanical architecture of the integrated system, and creating a build process reproducible enough to scale. You will work closely with optical and software engineers and the scientists who will use the instrument every day. From there, you will help define what external deployment looks like, contributing to a product that can be quickly and affordably placed in partner labs and companies.

What You'll Work On 

  • Define the mechanical envelope of the InstantRaman enclosure, working within the constraints of the optical path, motorized stage, and Class 1 laser safety requirements
  • Design and prototype an enclosure that achieves Class 1 laser safety certification and is manufacturable at small-scale production runs (10–50 units)
  • Own the mechanical bill of materials, tolerancing, and assembly documentation for reproducible builds
  • Consolidate the current electronics (stage controller, shutter, calibration light source, laser) into a single integrated mechanical system with clean cable routing and accessible service points
  • Work with the optical instrument engineer to co-develop a compact optical path that fits within the enclosure envelope, enclosure design drives the layout, not the other way around
  • Engage fabrication vendors, sheet metal shops, and laser safety review as needed
  • Develop design-for-manufacturability (DFM) documentation ahead of any transition from prototype to production

What We Look For

You'll be well-suited for this role if you have:

  • BS or MS in mechanical engineering or a closely related field, with hands-on experience designing and building scientific or analytical instruments
  • Experience designing enclosures or housings for regulated or safety-critical hardware (laser systems, high-voltage electronics, or similar)
  • Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or equivalent) including tolerancing, assembly modeling, and drawing packages for fabrication
  • Experience with sheet metal design, vendor sourcing, and iterating through fabrication cycles
  • Ability to collaborate tightly with optical and software engineers, you understand that your mechanical design decisions affect optical alignment stability, thermal behavior, and software-controlled motion
  • Familiarity with electromechanical integration: specifying and installing stepper motor stages, limit switches, interlocks, or similar embedded systems
  • Ability to communicate with biologists and understand what actually matters for a life science instrument: ergonomics, sample loading, serviceability, and ease of use are part of the design problem

Nice to have

  • Direct experience with laser systems or enclosed laser instrumentation, including Class 1 or Class 3B/R safety design
  • Familiarity with optical bench layouts, cage systems, or Raman/spectroscopy instruments
  • Experience with design for manufacturability and transitioning from prototype to small-scale production
  • Experience with relevant experimental workflows and the physical realities of laboratory environments (vibration, humidity, bench space constraints 

Compensation

Successful applicants can expect to be compensated between $150,000–$185,000 with benefits and a competitive equity offering, depending on experience level. The position will require the individual to be on-site at our Emeryville, California headquarters. 

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. 

 

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