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Hardware Engineer, Precision Instrumentation

Astera Institute· Neuro
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Emeryville HQ$200k - $300kFull-timePosted 4d ago

About the role

Hardware Engineer responsible for designing and building precision mechanical, electronic, and optical systems for neuroscience experiments, collaborating closely with scientists from concept through fabrication and iteration.

Responsibilities

  • Design precision mechanical systems for experiments, such as titanium microfixtures, micrometer-precision electrode drives, and custom machined jigs.
  • Build components for custom microscopes and optical systems, including alignment and mounting hardware.
  • Design and iterate custom laboratory instrumentation and surgical or experimental robotics alongside scientists.
  • Develop electronics and control hardware that interface mechanical systems with data acquisition and the rest of the research stack.
  • Help build the design and prototyping facility — tooling, workflows, and fabrication capabilities.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in mechanical, electrical, or biomedical engineering, physics, or related field, with experience building precision hardware in high-precision industries or equivalent experience.
  • Experience designing and building hardware that others rely on for real work and keeping it running.
  • Resourcefulness in rapidly prototyping (machining, 3D printing, outsourcing).
  • Ability to work from rough ideas and collaborate to reach working instruments.
  • Strong fundamentals in mechanical design and fabrication with electronics or optics experience.
  • Intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and willingness to learn around the science.
  • Track record of owning complex instruments end-to-end from concept to operation.
  • Experience making and defending design tradeoffs among performance, manufacturability, cost, and timeline.
  • Experience equipping and running a workshop, makerspace, or prototyping facility.

Skills

Required:Mechanical design and fabricationElectronics and control hardware3D printing and CNC millingProject ownership

Benefits

  • Astera provides comprehensive benefits package and total compensation competitive with experience level.
Last updated Oct 22, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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