Sr Mechanical Engineer II – Dynamic Systems

At Element Biosciences, we are passionate about our mission to empower the scientific community with more freedom and flexibility to accelerate our collective impact on humanity. We have built a highly efficient product-driven organization where employees can learn, grow, and thrive in a challenging but encouraging environment. We are committed to scientific integrity, collegiality, honesty, objectivity, and openness.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer II – Dynamic Systems to drive structural architecture and module design, simulation, and optimization for complex scientific instruments. This is a key role within our Instrument Mechanical Engineering group requiring a technical expert with previous experience collaborating closely with cross-functional teammates from R&D and Operations. Strong engineering fundamentals in motion, thermal, and static analysis, rigorous critical thinking skills, and a methodical product development approach are essential attributes. This role will report to our Associate Director, Mechanical Engineering and is a San Diego based role.

If you possess the following and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to explore this role.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Translate market requirements into product requirements, dynamic system architecture, module designs, and component selection
• Design functional modules and mechanical structures to interface with and integrate the dynamic system and other sub-systems into instruments
• Manage internal and external dynamic system development projects
• Simulate, collect, and interpret modal analyses and Bode plots to inform engineering decisions on control schemes and feedback loops
• Negotiate system performance trade-offs and interfaces across structural, motion, thermal, and optical domains
• Develop test protocols, diagnostic tools, and optimization approaches to achieve dynamic system performance targets
• Lead cross-functional root cause analysis involving shock, vibration, noise, thermal gradients, and control loops by applying structured problem-solving methodologies and making data-driven decisions
• Verify and transfer reliable dynamic system and control solutions from R&D to Operations; Support existing product lines as required
• Drive structural system and motion improvement efforts to optimize instrument performance, lifetime, reliability, and robustness against external forces
• Contribute to the company’s product development roadmap by exploring new technologies and design concepts

Education and Experience:

• Minimum BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or Mechatronics and six or more years relevant work experience (or equivalent combination of education and industry experience)
• Proven track record as a dynamic systems engineer on development programs spanning from concept to commercialization
• Strong theoretical and applied understanding of control theory (PID feedback, Bode plots) and control design principles (stage / cradle / isolator design, kinematics, dynamics modeling)
• Expertise with SolidWorks and SolidWorks Simulation (or equivalents like Ansys and SIMULIA) required
• Expertise with data analysis in MATLAB required. Intermediate capability with SimuLink preferred
• Experience with programming in C#, LabView, Python, or .NET preferred
• Scientifically curious, a critical thinker, with a passion for learning new things; Relentlessly seeks to understand the scientific root cause of different aspects of system performance and to steer that understanding towards design improvements
• Ability to navigate uncertainty while developing a deeper understanding of system performance to enable development of better products
• Proactive self-starter who drives action, investigations, and delivers results without task-level structured guidance
• Ability to work in a fast paced, interdisciplinary environment and quickly adjust to rapidly evolving technology and priorities

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently moves boxes weighing up to 20 pounds

Location:

• San Diego

Travel: 

• Less than 10% or as needed

Job Type:

• Full-time/Exempt

Base Compensation Pay Range:

• $111,000 - $145,000

In addition to base compensation noted above, you will be eligible for stock options, discretionary annual bonus, no cost health insurance plans, 401k with company match, and flexible paid time off. 

Please note: Base compensation will depend on multiple factors, including geographic location, qualifications, and experience. 

We foster an environment such that all people are afforded the freedom to pursue their passions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.