Sr. Intestinal Tissue Engineer

Overview:
Draper is an independent, non‑profit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross‑fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation.

Job Description

Summary:

The Bioengineer (SMTS) is focused on developing and deploying multidisciplinary solutions at the convergence of biology and engineering to address critical needs in national security and healthcare while fostering a thriving culture and developing the next generation of innovators. The Bioengineer will apply their foundational knowledge and experience to a broad range of interdisciplinary efforts. Our culture fosters innovation, a supportive team environment, intellectual freedom and creativity, and an emphasis on career development.

Duties are performed with limited supervision.

• Drive solutions to complex problems with limited direction.
• Contribute to the development of innovative bioengineering solutions, propose ways forward, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements.
• Provide insight and suggest design modifications based on analysis outcomes.
• Actively mentor less experienced bioengineers and provide thoughtful, constructive feedback.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Strong foundation in biology and/or engineering principles.
• Must be a team player, dedicated, collaborative, observant, and motivated.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and verbal and written communication skills.
• Creative problem‑solving skills and a passion for innovation.
• Excellent time‑management skills with the proven ability to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks.
• Enthusiasm for learning and participation in mentorship.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Applications.

A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Cell Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics or related fields is required; a PhD is preferred.

Must have 5+ years of Bioengineering or related engineering experience.

• Develop, optimize, and characterize intestine microphysiological (MPS) and organ‑on‑chip models for toxicity, permeability, and disease‑state studies.
• Apply cell biology, developmental biology, and tissue engineering fundamentals to establish cell and tissue‑based assays within Draper’s in‑vitro tissue culture systems under a variety of use‑case scenarios.
• Plan, conduct, and lead technical experiments with Draper’s advanced in‑vitro tissue culture technologies in a BSL‑2 laboratory.
• Culture, maintain, and manipulate human primary cells and tissues – propagate human intestinal organoids and isolate and differentiate human monocytes.
• Perform a broad suite of molecular, biochemical, and cellular assays (immunostaining, ELISA, Luminex, flow cytometry, DNA and RNA extraction, qPCR, multi‑omics) and biostatical data analysis.
• Acquire bright‑field, fluorescent and high‑content confocal microscopy data; process and analyze image sets within automated pipelines to extract quantitative biological insights.
• Create, version control, and maintain SOPs and analytical methods that are fully compatible within Draper’s platform technologies.
• Collect, interpret, and summarize data; deliver clear and concise presentations to project leads, internal management, external sponsors/customers, and for peer‑reviewed publication.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to execute project plans; mentor and train bench‑level colleagues and foster a collaborative, safety‑first lab culture.
• Troubleshoot experimental challenges in partnership with teammates and project leadership; drive rapid, data‑backed decisions to keep projects on schedule.
• Complete all required training, adhere to institutional,…