R&D Systems Engineer for a metabolic health tech company

Location: Austin, TX

The company:
Our client is a late Series A metabolic health technology startup that is developing cutting-edge technology at the intersection of advanced optics and biosensing. This company is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and, to date, has raised $50 million with support from a16z, Trust Ventures, and Shrug Capital.

The position:
The company is looking to hire a skilled research and development systems engineer with strong familiarity with sensitive instruments. This person will be responsible for tying together optics, electronics, mechanics, firmware, and algorithms into a coherent system. The ideal candidate is comfortable speaking the languages of multiple disciplines, can lead small technical efforts, and ensures work is completed through rigorous validation and clear documentation. This on-site role offers a highly competitive salary and full benefits including equity chances and unlimited paid time off.

About you:

• Detail-oriented systems thinker. You connect decisions at the component level to performance at the system level, and you make tradeoffs intentionally.
• Multi-discipline translator. You collaborate fluently across optics, mechanical, electronics, firmware, and data/algorithms.
• Optics-native. You understand optical instruments and the practical realities of building and testing sensitive optical systems. Understanding and experience in the Mid or Long-wave IR a strong plus (8-12 microns).
• Technical leader. You have experience leading teams or complex technical efforts, guiding others through ambiguity and ensuring execution.
• Process leader. You don't just follow the process; you can conceive of the design workflows and tools that are stage and program appropriate to make the team more efficient and reduce errors. You are rigorous about requirements, questioning and considering each to ensure we’re finding the path of least resistance to our goal.
• Builder who "plays" to discover. You enjoy hands-on experimentation ("play for work") to build intuition, but you channel that curiosity into reliable, usable designs.
• Own-to-completion mindset. You take responsibility for outcomes and push work across the finish line, including verification and handoff.

Responsibilities:

• Establish and improve R&D processes. Create and maintain the workflows, checklists, and wikis that allow the team to operate with speed and precision.
• Own end-to-end system performance (e.g., SNR, stability, repeatability, calibration quality), and ensure the system meets measurable requirements.
• Drive system architecture and interface definitions across optics, electronics, mechanical, firmware, and software.
• Partner on electronics and test design, including sensor readout and measurement chains, noise budgeting, and bench measurement strategy.
• Design and implement validation methods that prove performance, catch regressions, and reduce unknown unknowns.
• Lead execution by unblocking others, clarifying decisions, and coordinating cross-functional work.
• Deliver artifacts other people can use: test procedures, calibration steps, checklists, scripts, documentation, and training materials.
• Support manufacturability, reliability, and cost-awareness as designs mature.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree or higher in Physics, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
2. Prior experience as a systems engineer (or equivalent role) on complex physical systems.
3. Has bridged the chasm between early stage prototype hardware and a reliable, delivered system, ideally into volume production.
4. Strong analytical problem-solving and root-cause ability; able to operate under ambiguity.
5. Proficiency with relevant tools (Python and common engineering analysis tooling; optics/mech tools are a plus).