Director of Engineering

BiomeSense•Chicago, IL

7d•$150,000 - $200,000

About The Position

BiomeSense is a pioneering life sciences startup focused on harnessing the power of the gut microbiome to revolutionize personalized medicine. With our breakthrough technologies GutLab and MetaBiome, we are setting new standards in microbiome data analysis and interpretation, enabling unprecedented insights to understand & leverage the microbiome for human health. We partner with leading institutions and researchers including UCSF, UCSD, NIH, and the University of Chicago, and are backed by investors such as LabCorp Ventures, Bluestein Ventures, Seerave Foundation, and Emil Capital Partners. Role Summary We are looking for a Director of Engineering to join our leadership team and take full ownership of the technical development, integrity, and scaling of our GutLab at-home sampling technology. This position offers a unique opportunity to combine hands-on engineering expertise with strategic leadership in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment. You will step directly into on-going hardware development and own the complete hardware lifecycle for both existing GutLabs and a new generation build. Key functions include system architecture and subsystem integration, resourcing, manufacturing, validation, and deployment readiness for a product with a large and complex Bill of Materials (BOM). You will be the final technical authority for system performance, fleet stability, and next generation production. Success in this role requires equal strength in hands-on engineering depth, structured validation rigor, disciplined production planning, and team leadership. You’ll combine operational precision with strategic judgment, ensuring the GutLab platform performs reliably in the field and scales efficiently into manufacturing. If you’re ready to lead from the front and build with us, we’d love to talk!

Requirements

8+ years’ experience in hardware development and/or manufacturing for complex electromechanical systems
Deep proficiency with complex CAD assemblies, tolerance analysis, prototyping, testing methodologies, and manufacturing processes
Demonstrated ownership of full product lifecycle – from concept to production
Experience leading manufacturing transfer and production scale-up
Proven ability to build and manage technical teams
Strong systems-level troubleshooting capability across mechanical, fluidic, and electronic domains
Structured, decisive, and execution-oriented with high accountability
A strategic thinker who thrives under pressure in fast-paced environments

Responsibilities

System Ownership & Development: Own GutLab architecture (electromechanical and fluidic components); Lead design, testing, and refinement, utilizing your expertise in CAD, prototyping, and manufacturing to deliver high-quality hardware solutions
Validation & Deployment Readiness: Own validation framework, pass/fail gates, documentation control and traceability across revisions, firmware, and field performance. Lead field troubleshooting, diagnostics, and closed-loop fixes to eliminate systemic failure modes
End-to-End Execution: Drive high standards for quality and performance. Manage all aspects of hardware development, including procurement, manufacturing transfer, sustaining engineering, and operations setup
Manufacturing Scale-Up: Drive DFM, design freeze, pilot builds, supplier alignment, cost targets, and manufacturing strategy + execution for the new generation of GutLabs
Team Leadership: Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing hardware team to align resources, timelines, and execution to production milestones in support of commercial goals
Strategic Problem Solving: Address complex procurement challenges such as fluid tariff issues and supply chain constraints while identifying cost-effective solutions
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with other leaders to align hardware development with broader company strategy and goals