Mechanical engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Compensation: $100k – $125k salary + 0.1%– 0.2% equity + benefits

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.

If you're a creative, versatile, experienced technical problem-solver who is willing to wear a wide variety of engineering “hats” and excels at mechanical design, prototyping, hands-on testing and troubleshooting, systems integration, and quality assurance, this is your chance to make a direct impact on a cutting-edge scientific platform.

What You'll Do: The Core Mission

You will be a key technical resource responsible for ensuring the success of our next-generation GutLab hardware as well as providing hands-on support.

• Mechanical Design of Novel Hardware: Devise elegant solutions to mechanical design problems that enable rapid progress toward performance improvements.

• Systems Integration: Combine advanced knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and fluidic systems to design and implement robust, complex products.

• Hardware Build & Test: Perform detailed electrical, mechanical, and fluidic assembly of hardware prototypes and sub-assemblies.

• Troubleshooting & Repair: Diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair complex hardware, software, and firmware issues on prototypes, both in the lab and in the field.

• Testing & Automation: Design, build, and improve test setups and fixtures to optimize assembly and validate new hardware designs. Maintain a clean, organized, and properly inventoried hardware lab.

• Documentation & Quality: Create and refine high-quality documentation (SOPs, manuals) to ensure rapid, high-quality production, and provide critical assembly feedback to the engineering design team.

What You'll Bring: The Must-Haves

• Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering or related field and 5+ years of experience in a hardware role, with a focus on new product development.

• Experience designing complex, novel hardware and test fixtures using CAD.

• Proven ability and willingness to perform hands-on assembly and testing of complex electromechanical hardware.

• Experience with prototyping techniques (e.g., 3D printing, light machining).

• Proven ability to perform detailed wiring, harnessing, and soldering.

• Highly organized, proactive, and independent. Ready to thrive in a startup environment.

• Experience with instrument control software and scripting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience scaling up production of a novel prototype to higher-volume manufacturing.

• Expertise in Design for Assembly (DFA) and Design for Manufacturing.