Product Development Engineer

Vine Medical is the world’s first medical soft robotics company, translating cutting-edge research from leading universities (Stanford, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego) into next-generation medical robots. Our first product is the first-ever comprehensive intubation system, leveraging soft robotic autonomy to deliver unparalleled performance regardless of patient condition, provider expertise, or clinical setting. This technology represents a paradigm shift for interventional medicine across the human body.

You’ll design and run protocols, build fixtures, analyze results, and close the loop with design and manufacturing through design cycles with our Staff Engineer.

• Write and execute verification/reliability protocols with clear acceptance criteria.
• Design, build, and qualify test fixtures and benchtop rigs for repeatable data collection.
• Develop practical test automation and data logging workflows (Python/MATLAB/LabVIEW or similar).
• Run characterization, reliability, and design verification testing across components, subassemblies, and system-level builds.
• Analyze data, generate concise reports, and present findings that drive decisions.
• Identify failure modes, create reproducible issue records, and support root-cause investigations.
• Partner with design, quality, and manufacturing to feed test learnings back into product changes.
• Support traceability and documentation needed to transition into controlled product lifecycle activities.

• 3–7 years in test, verification, or product development engineering (medical device strongly preferred).
• Strong hands-on experience with fixture design/build and bench/lab test execution.
• Proven ability to write high-quality protocols and reports.
• Solid data analysis skills; able to convert noisy test results into clear recommendations.
• Comfortable in fast-moving startup environments; high ownership and follow-through.
• Working knowledge of design controls / regulated product development workflows.
• Experience in high-volume disposables and DFM/DFA tradeoffs.
• Familiarity with 21 CFR 820 / ISO 13485 environments.