Fluidic System Engineer

About the Company

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas: Health, Food Security, Climate Change, and AI & Robotics.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and improve microfluidic systems and cartridge architectures for use within automated instrumentation
• Translate biological assay requirements into practical microfluidic designs suitable for automation
• Define and refine interfaces between cartridge and instrument, including fluidic, mechanical and thermal interactions
• Collaborate with instrumentation, electronics and firmware engineers to ensure cartridge designs work effectively with automated systems
• Support integration of microfluidic cartridges into prototype systems through hands-on testing and troubleshooting
• Prototype and test microfluidic designs using soft lithography, machining and rapid prototyping
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate cartridge performance, including yield, efficiency and repeatability
• Document designs, test results and iteration outcomes clearly and systematically

Requirements

• BSc or BEng in Engineering, Physics, Bioengineering, or related field
• 4+ years’ experience in microfluidics, lab-on-chip systems, or related areas
• Experience designing and developing microfluidic systems or devices
• Understanding of fluid behaviour at small scales (mixing, flow control, multiphase systems)
• Experience working with biological or chemical assays
• Practical experience in prototyping and testing devices
• Experience designing for integration with external systems like actuators or pumps
• Familiarity with CAD or similar design tools
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing microfluidic systems for automated platforms
• Knowledge of sample preparation workflows (nucleic acid extraction, host depletion)
• Familiarity with bead-based workflows or cell lysis techniques
• Experience working with complex biological samples like blood or sputum
• Understanding of contamination control and sample handling
• Experience considering manufacturability and scale-up of microfluidic designs