Hardware Engineering Tech Lead

About You:

You are a seasoned Hardware Engineer who enjoys owning complex systems end to end—from architecture and requirements through design, integration, and release. You’re comfortable leading small, multidisciplinary hardware teams, and you know how to balance hands‑on technical work with coordination, planning, and mentorship. You communicate clearly, make tradeoffs explicitly, and work well with peers across software, assay, and manufacturing. You’re energized by building first‑of‑kind diagnostic instruments in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment.

• Own the hardware architecture for key subsystems of the Vital One platform, spanning mechanics, electronics, and system integration.

• Translate product and system requirements into clear hardware specifications, interfaces, and design plans.

• Lead a small team of hardware and mechanical engineers, providing day‑to‑day technical guidance, code/design review, and support on execution.

• Drive design, bring‑up, and integration of hardware modules, working closely with firmware, software, assay, and systems teams to meet performance, reliability, and usability targets.

• Plan and oversee hardware testing and verification activities, including test plans, protocols, data review, and iteration on failures.

• Support design‑for‑manufacturing (DFM) and design‑for‑assembly (DFA), collaborating with Manufacturing and suppliers to scale from prototypes to production builds.

• Maintain high‑quality documentation: requirements, design records, drawings, BOMs, test reports, and change histories.

• Help organize and run hardware design reviews, clearly framing options, risks, and recommended paths.

• Contribute to roadmap planning and program execution by estimating effort, identifying dependencies, and highlighting risks early.

• Mentor junior engineers on technical skills, documentation, and Vital’s ways of working.

• B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline.

• Significant experience (typically 7+ years) in hardware development for complex systems such as medical devices, diagnostics, robotics, or lab instrumentation.

• Proven track record taking hardware from concept and prototyping through verification and transfer to manufacturing.

• Strong systems thinking, with the ability to reason across mechanics, electronics, firmware interfaces, and system‑level behavior.

• Proficiency with core hardware tools (e.g., CAD for mechanical, schematic/BOM review for electronics, common lab and test equipment).

• Experience working within or alongside quality systems and design controls (requirements, risk analysis, verification/validation).

• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to summarize complex technical topics for non‑specialists.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence: coordinating work, setting expectations, and keeping teams aligned to milestones.

• Experience with point‑of‑care or benchtop diagnostic instruments.

• Background in microfluidics‑adjacent hardware (pumps, valves, thermal systems, optics, or motion stages).

• Familiarity with risk tools (FMEA, fault trees) and reliability engineering for hardware.

• Experience collaborating with contract manufacturers or external design partners.

• Prior experience in a startup or growth‑stage company where processes and tools are still evolving.

• An appreciation for puns and helping to build a high‑bar, low‑ego team culture.

• Lead the hardware that makes our diagnostic platform real—what moves, measures, and controls the core of our assays.

• You’ll work side by side with assay scientists, software and firmware engineers, and manufacturing teams, with a clear line from your decisions to instrument performance and clinical impact.

• You’ll have the chance to shape hardware architecture, guide a growing team, and help define how we design, test, and scale future generations of the platform.

The salary range for this position is $145,000-$165,000 annually. Compensation will be determined based on the individual’s demonstrated experience, education, training, relevant certifications or licensure, and other…