Position Overview. Sunflower Therapeutics is currently recruiting a motivated and highly organized individual to support its mission to deliver protein manufacturing solutions that anyone can use for creating innovative new medicines, food products, and other bio-based products. Sunflower is advancing “right-sized” and efficient approaches to democratize protein manufacturing using strain engineering, integrated process development, and automated small-footprint facilities. Reporting to the Director of Engineering Operations, the Senior Hardware Engineer will be responsible for supporting engineering operations at Sunflower Therapeutics to enable the advancement of Sunflower’s protein manufacturing equipment. This individual will assist in the design, building, testing, and continuous improvement of benchtop and pilot-scale manufacturing systems for recombinant proteins. A successful candidate will be able to interpret product and process requirements and ensure the design of the hardware meets specified and operational standards. This individual will diagnose technical problems across system functions, as well as suggest and carry out creative and timely solutions. As Sunflower grows, the Senior Hardware Engineer will contribute to the advancement of Sunflowers’ automated multi-product protein manufacturing systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contributes to the integration of mechanical, electrical, and automation design of Sunflower protein manufacturing systems
• Provide mechanical and electrical design and assembly support for both new product development activities and existing products including hardware building and testing, documentation, failure analysis, reliability assessment, and human factor studies
• Supports common biomanufacturing fluidic device characterization, integration, and application to Sunflower’s equipment such as flow meters, process sensors, and pumps
• Diagnoses technical problems with prototype operations and provides timely and innovative solutions, develops test procedures, and collects data to identify failures and solutions
• Understands, analyzes, and suggests design improvements to existing prototypes, both at a unit operation and overall system level
• Works with cross-disciplinary teams to advance system designs 
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineering staff to advance hardware development
• Champions innovation and drives implementation thereof to reduce the time and cost to develop processes for the manufacturing of biologics for patients around the world
• Supports writing of reporting documents, technical documents, and any other necessary documentation

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

We believe the experience and capabilities outlined below will lead to success in this position. We recognize, however, that our mission to enable more proteins to reach patients and consumers worldwide is a significant challenge and will require innovative solutions. As such, we welcome all arguments for how the diversity of your training can help us reach this mission. 

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline with 10 years of relevant experience in an industrial setting or Master’s degree in an engineering discipline with 5 years of relevant experience in an industrial setting
• Aligned with Sunflower’s mission
• Ability to use Solidworks and other relevant software for mechanical design or analysis of systems
• Demonstrated understanding of engineering and problem-solving principles, concepts, tools, and techniques 
• Knowledge of biologic drug development technology preferred
• Experience coordinating and working with machine shops, welders, fabrication technicians, and other engineering staff
• Experience with PCBA design preferred 
• Willingness to travel
• Willingness to be a hands-on problem solver
• Proven track record of strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, including meticulous attention to detail and multi-tasking capabilities
• Enthusiastic, collaborative, and proactive attitude
• Ability to easily adapt to rapidly changing company and program needs