Mechanical Engineer, Scientific Instrumentation

Arcadia Science•Emeryville, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Arcadia Science, an evolutionary biology company, is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join its Foundry division. This division focuses on productionizing scientifically validated tools and capabilities for broader use, with an initial focus on Raman spectroscopy. The Mechanical Engineer will be responsible for transforming an open-source automated Raman spectrometer (AutoOpenRaman) into a compact, safe, and manufacturable benchtop instrument. This involves designing a Class 1 laser enclosure, defining the mechanical architecture, and creating a reproducible build process. The role requires close collaboration with optical and software engineers, as well as scientists. The position will also contribute to defining the external deployment of the product, aiming for quick and affordable placement in partner labs and companies.

Requirements

BS or MS in mechanical engineering or a closely related field, with hands-on experience designing and building scientific or analytical instruments.
Experience designing enclosures or housings for regulated or safety-critical hardware (laser systems, high-voltage electronics, or similar).
Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or equivalent) including tolerancing, assembly modeling, and drawing packages for fabrication.
Experience with sheet metal design, vendor sourcing, and iterating through fabrication cycles.
Ability to collaborate tightly with optical and software engineers, understanding that mechanical design decisions affect optical alignment stability, thermal behavior, and software-controlled motion.
Familiarity with electromechanical integration: specifying and installing stepper motor stages, limit switches, interlocks, or similar embedded systems.
Ability to communicate with biologists and understand what actually matters for a life science instrument: ergonomics, sample loading, serviceability, and ease of use are part of the design problem.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with laser systems or enclosed laser instrumentation, including Class 1 or Class 3B/R safety design.
Familiarity with optical bench layouts, cage systems, or Raman/spectroscopy instruments.
Experience with design for manufacturability and transitioning from prototype to small-scale production.
Experience with relevant experimental workflows and the physical realities of laboratory environments (vibration, humidity, bench space constraints).

Responsibilities

Define the mechanical envelope of the InstantRaman enclosure, working within the constraints of the optical path, motorized stage, and Class 1 laser safety requirements.
Design and prototype an enclosure that achieves Class 1 laser safety certification and is manufacturable at small-scale production runs (10–50 units).
Own the mechanical bill of materials, tolerancing, and assembly documentation for reproducible builds.
Consolidate the current electronics (stage controller, shutter, calibration light source, laser) into a single integrated mechanical system with clean cable routing and accessible service points.
Work with the optical instrument engineer to co-develop a compact optical path that fits within the enclosure envelope, where enclosure design drives the layout.
Engage fabrication vendors, sheet metal shops, and laser safety review as needed.
Develop design-for-manufacturability (DFM) documentation ahead of any transition from prototype to production.