R&D Engineering Technician

About Subsense

Subsense is a deep-tech company developing the world’s first non-surgical, bidirectional brain-computer interface powered by plasmonic and magneto electric nanoparticles. Our mission is to unlock direct communication between the human brain and AI - starting with medical applications such as stroke recovery and moving toward cognitive enhancement for healthy users. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Subsense brings together leading scientists and engineers to redefine the future of human-machine interaction.

We are seeking a hands-on R&D Engineering Laboratory Technician to support our engineering and research teams across electrical, optical, mechanical, and experimental hardware development. This role keeps the engineering laboratory running: preparing test setups, assembling and modifying prototype hardware, fabricating fixtures, managing equipment and component inventory, and making sure engineers and scientists have the tools and materials they need to execute experiments efficiently.

The ideal candidate is highly hands-on, organized, and detail-oriented — equally comfortable reworking a 0402 resistor under a microscope, aligning a photodiode on an optical bench, and machining or 3D-printing a fixture to hold it all together. You will work directly with electrical, optical, mechanical, and bioengineering teams in a fast-paced R&D environment where priorities shift quickly.

This person will own day-to-day engineering laboratory organization, equipment tracking, and component inventory, while providing direct technical support for prototype assembly, fabrication, soldering, testing, and experimental setup. The position is based on-site, primarily at our Mountain View laboratory.

• Maintain an organized, functional, and safe engineering laboratory across electrical, optical, and mechanical work areas.
• Establish and improve systems for equipment storage, component tracking, and laboratory workflow.
• Support laboratory ESD, safety, and equipment-maintenance practices.

• Assemble, modify, and rework prototype PCBs and electronic assemblies.
• Perform precision soldering and rework of miniature surface-mount components, including 0201, 0402, 0603, fine-pitch ICs, QFN, QFP, connectors, LEDs, and photodiodes.
• Perform or support BGA soldering and rework, including component replacement, inspection, and troubleshooting.
• Use microscopes, hot-air rework stations, soldering stations, preheaters, and other precision equipment.
• Build and modify cables, harnesses, connectors, breakout boards, and test fixtures.
• Assist engineers with PCB bring-up, hardware debugging, electrical measurements, and troubleshooting.
• Operate oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, function generators, logic analyzers, data acquisition systems, LCR meters, optical power meters, and related instrumentation.

• Set up and support optical experiments involving LEDs, lasers, photodiodes, optical sensors, fiber optics, detectors, and filters.
• Assist with optical alignment, mounting, and measurement of prototype systems.

• Perform mechanical assembly and rapid prototyping of experimental hardware.
• Design and fabricate fixtures, jigs, mounts, and enclosures using 3D printing, laser cutting, and basic machining.
• Use hand and power tools safely and accurately.
• Interpret CAD drawings and mechanical documentation; troubleshoot mechanical issues in prototype hardware.
• Build and modify experimental hardware to meet evolving research requirements.

• Set up, run, and tear down experiments for engineers and scientists across disciplines.
• Prepare and stage equipment ahead of planned…