Senior Engineer, Microfluidics & Applications

Role

Our robotics systems in San Francisco form the cornerstone of Vivodyne's "human tissue on-a-chip" platform, enabling fully automated, massively scaled experimentation. We integrate advanced robotics hardware (including Kuka arms), precision microfluidics, sophisticated software controls, and biological applications to handle and analyze 3D human tissue constructs. Our team works at the intersection of mechanical, biological, and computer engineering, driving next-generation automation in biotech.

The microfluidic device is where Vivodyne's biology and robotics meet. As a Senior Engineer on the Microfluidics & Applications team, you will fabricate and assemble those devices, run the quality control that keeps them reproducible, and execute the biological workflows that prove they work on our automated platform.

This is a hands-on role that spans two disciplines that are usually separated. On the manufacturing side, you will execute high-precision fabrication and assembly processes for PDMS and thermoplastic microfluidic devices, and contribute to the design and improvement of those processes and the quality systems around them. On the applications side, you will run cell culture, perfusion, and assay workflows on the devices you make, so that manufacturing decisions are validated against biological function rather than in isolation.

You will work day-to-day with hardware and software engineers, tissue biologists, and automation specialists, and you will own your assigned processes and experiments end to end. Senior staff set the platform architecture and roadmap; you are expected to execute reliably within it, surface problems early with data, and propose improvements grounded in what you observe on the bench.

Responsibilities

Microfluidic Fabrication & Manufacturing

• Execute precise manufacturing processes to produce high-quality microfluidic devices, adhering to established protocols and quality standards.
• Contribute to the design, validation, and documentation of new and revised fabrication processes, including soft lithography, molding, bonding, and assembly of PDMS, thermoplastic, or glass-based devices.
• Operate and maintain high-precision fabrication and metrology equipment in a cleanroom or cleanroom-like environment.
• Perform in-process measurements and analyze them to classify and reduce manufacturing error; help implement automated measurement and test fixtures.

Quality Control & Continuous Improvement

• Execute quality control procedures and acceptance testing; participate in developing new QC methods and troubleshooting workflows.
• Track and document QC metrics, irregularities, and deviations; investigate root causes and drive fixes to closure.
• Manage inventory of device components, consumables, and finished goods throughout the manufacturing process.
• Identify opportunities to make fabrication faster, simpler, and more precise, and carry approved improvements through implementation.

Biological Workflow Execution

• Execute biological workflows on the devices you manufacture, including mammalian cell culture, microfluidic cell seeding and manipulation, perfusion, and assays.
• Help translate biologists' SOPs into automation-compatible protocols; run validation experiments to confirm that manufacturing changes do not compromise biological performance.
• Use automation hardware and scripting (Python preferred) to control fluid flow, run perfusion systems, and integrate device handling on the robotic platform.
• Support bring-up and internal release of new high-throughput capabilities alongside senior engineers and biologists.

Data, Documentation & Collaboration

• Collect, analyze, and clearly report data on manufacturing and biological performance; form and test hypotheses about sources of variability.
• Author and maintain SOPs, process documents, and quality reports; keep documentation current as processes change.
• Communicate status, risks, and results clearly to your team and stakeholders in meetings, Slack, and written formats.
• Share what you learn; help onboard and train technicians and newer engineers on fabrication, cleanroom practice, and device handling.

Requirements and Expectations

Precision & Craft You excel in high-precision work that demands meticulous attention to detail. You follow detailed protocols without deviation, notice when reality diverges from the protocol, and say so. You consider no detail too small to improve and no imperfection too minor to correct.

Biological Fluency You have good "lab hands." You are comfortable and consistent in mammalian cell culture and can be trusted to run a biologist's workflow faithfully. You understand at a working level how device geometry, surface chemistry, and process residue affect cells.

Data-Driven Rigor You make decisions from data. You form hypotheses about sources of error, design clean experiments to test them, and document results in enough detail that someone else can reproduce them.

Ownership & Communication You own your work from start to finish and don't wait to be asked for status. You communicate clearly with engineers and biologists alike, ask good questions, and are open to feedback and to learning new techniques.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field; M.S. is a plus.
• 3–5 years of relevant industry experience in precision manufacturing of microfluidic, semiconductor, or cartridge-based products, or in biological lab automation, with meaningful exposure to the other.
• Hands-on experience fabricating microfluidic devices (PDMS, thermoplastics, or glass), including soft lithography and device assembly/bonding; exposure to CNC micromachining, laser ablation, or injection molding is a plus.
• Experience working in a cleanroom or cleanroom-like laboratory or manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and standard biological lab equipment.
• Familiarity with liquid handlers, perfusion systems, or other precision automation.
• Working proficiency in Python or a similar language for scripting, data acquisition, and analysis.
• Experience tracking in-process measurements and QC metrics for quality assurance and continuous improvement.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and quantitative skills; ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including SOPs, process documents, and quality reports.

Why Vivodyne?

• High-Impact Mission — Play a direct role in transforming drug discovery through advanced robotics, automation, and human tissue models.
• Multi-Disciplinary Exposure — Work alongside experts in robotics, AI, biology, and microfluidics in a truly collaborative setting.
• Growth Opportunities — A fast-growing startup with real ownership from day one and a clear path to Staff and Principal roles.
• Innovative Culture — A team that prioritizes continuous learning, rigorous engineering and scientific standards, and bold problem-solving.

If you're excited about building the devices that grow human tissue and proving they work at scale, let's connect. Please submit your resume and a brief statement of interest.

Vivodyne, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Vivodyne complies with all laws respecting equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants with regard to any protected characteristic as defined by federal, state, and local law.