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Principal Mechanical Engineer

DNA Electronics (DNAe)
Carlsbad, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 1/7/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/5/2026

The Principal Mechanical Design Engineer is responsible for leading aspects of mechanical design and

development of our diagnostic platform and associated projects within DNAe.


It is expected that the Principal Mechanical Engineer will perform the following tasks with minimal supervision:

Leading technical development: Create, review, & guide others to develop requirements, designs, documentation, prototypes, test strategies, and analysis/test reports. Proactively identify technical/development risks and offer solutions. Provide clarity and decisiveness to the team, given limited information, while escalating decisions where necessary.

Development planning & reporting: Create and manage realistic project plans that may have a 6 month horizon, and significant uncertainty/risks/issues. This includes defining scope, deliverables, strategies, timelines, resources and budgets. Also guide others to plan & manage less complex projects.

Managing external partners: Where applicable, recommend & work with external development partners to define scope/deliverables, track progress and budget, and ensure their output meets DNAe’s needs.


Technical Skills:

•     Significant experience in end-to end development of complex milli/microfluidic consumables (for diagnostic systems or similar). This includes generating concepts; creating detailed CAD designs that address requirements and consider the needs of all stakeholders; design reviews; risk management; prototyping, testing & test rig design; and transfer to manufacture.

·       Advanced skills in Solidworks computer aided design.

  • Significant experience in design for injection moulding.
  • Able to recommend suitable rapid prototyping techniques suppliers and test methods to match design & development goals.
  • Proficient with root cause analysis & resolving complex technical problems across disciplines.
  • Proficiency with FEA software (preferable Comsol) and hand calculations to analyze design performance.
  • Experience guiding more junior team members in the above and as a reviewer.


Non-Technical Skills:

•      Experience developing within medical device development processes (ISO 13485); can guide

others on good practice, identify gaps and suggest improvements

•   Able to discuss technical subjects with non-technical stakeholders at a level of detail appropriate

to them.

•     (Preferred) Awareness of user, business, regulatory needs associated with sample-to-result

diagnostic systems

•     (Preferred) Basic understanding of assay development methodologies towards medical device

designs

•     (Preferred) Experience overseeing third party work and deliverables


It is expected that the successful candidate for this role is comfortable leading others, reviewing work, and

thinking on a strategic/system level. They can draw on their experience developing similar systems to

identify potential risks and solutions in the designs. They can question the brief they have been given and

offers solutions to the 'job to be done' rather than addressing only the original ask. They may be starting

to think outside of project work towards business process improvements and line managing/career

coaching others.


In order to fulfil this profile (as a guideline only) we believe candidates will typically need a higher degree

in Mechanical Engineering or Design Engineering with 10 years experience, at least 5 of which has been spent developing similar fluidics consumable products.


DNAe is committed to offering staff a competitive remuneration package, alongside compelling benefits. As the primary part of the process, we conduct a rigorous market data review where each role is individually benchmarked using a vast amount of recent data. The estimated base salary range for the Principal Mechanical Engineer role based in Carlsbad, California is: $175,000 to $208,000. Compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s qualifications, location where the role is to be performed, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable salary range may be updated accordingly.


DNAe, Inc. is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity with respect to all employees, interns, and applicants for employment. Consistent with this commitment, our policy is to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws concerning employment discrimination. Accordingly, the Company prohibits discrimination against qualified employees, interns and applicants in all aspects of employment including, but not limited to: recruitment, interviewing, hiring (or failure or refusal to hire), evaluation, compensation, promotion, job assignment, transfer, demotion, training, leaves of absence, layoff, benefits, use of facilities, working conditions, termination and employer-sponsored activities and programs, including wellness, social and recreational programs. Employment decisions will be made without regard to an applicant’s, employee’s, or intern’s actual or perceived: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.


Salary : $175,000 - $208,000

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