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Principal Hardware Engineer, Precision Instrumentation

Astera Institute· Neuro
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Emeryville HQ$250k - $400kFull-timePosted 3mo ago

About the role

Principal-level hardware engineer responsible for end-to-end design and construction of precision instruments for neuroscience experiments, across mechanical, electronics, and optics; leads the design/prototyping facility, mentors engineers, and helps define engineering standards.

Responsibilities

  • Design precision mechanical systems for experiments (e.g., titanium microfixtures, micrometer-precision electrode drives, custom jigs)
  • Build components for custom microscopes and optical systems including alignment and mounting hardware
  • Design and iterate custom laboratory instrumentation and surgical/experimental robotics with scientists
  • Develop electronics and control hardware interfacing mechanical systems with data acquisition and research stack
  • Help build and run the design and prototyping facility (tools, workflows, fabrication capabilities)

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with 12+ years in mechanical, electrical, or biomedical engineering, physics, or related field
  • Track record of building precision hardware relied upon for real work
  • Resourcefulness in machining, 3D printing, and outsourcing as needed
  • Ability to work from rough ideas to working instrument with collaborators
  • Strong fundamentals in mechanical design/fabrication, with working electronics/optics experience
  • Intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and willingness to learn science
  • Experience owning complex instruments end-to-end from concept through fabrication, integration, operation
  • Experience making and defending design tradeoffs across performance, manufacturability, cost, and timeline
  • Experience equipping and running a workshop or prototyping facility
  • History mentoring engineers or setting engineering culture and standards

Skills

Required:Mechanical designElectronics designProject leadership / mentoring
Nice to have:Optics alignmentCAD/CAM and hands-on machiningElectrophysiology familiarity

Benefits

  • Astera provides a comprehensive benefits package (references in description)
Last updated Oct 22, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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