Director of Engineering

BiomeSense

Chicago, Illinois

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Bill of Materials (BOM), Biology, Business Strategy, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), Computer Engineering, Computer Firmware, Cross-Functional, Documentation, Electromechanical Systems, Electromechanics, Hardware Development, Identify Issues, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Cost, Manufacturing Systems, Medicine, Mentoring, Problem Solving Skills, Product Lifecycle, Prototyping, Purchasing/Procurement, Startup, System Integration (SI), Systems Engineering, Team Lead/Manager, Technical Leadership, Test Design, Traceability, Vehicle Fleets
LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois
POSTED
20 days ago
Director of Engineering
Compensation: $125K– $200K salary, up to 1.0% equity stock options
Full benefits, including health coverage, PTO & parental leave

About BiomeSense
BiomeSense is a life sciences startup applying gut microbiome technologies (GutLab, MetaBiome) to advance personalized medicine. We partner with UCSF, UCSD, NIH & the University of Chicago & are backed by LabCorp Ventures, Bluestein Ventures, Seerave Foundation & Emil Capital Partners.

Role Summary
Own the full hardware (HW) lifecycle for GutLab, from architecture & subsystem integration through manufacturing, validation & deployment for a complex electromechanical device & BOM. Act as final technical authority for GutLab system performance, fleet stability & next generation GutLabs (Gen3) production, combining hands-on engineering depth with strategic judgment to ensure current systems perform reliably in the field & Gen3 scales into manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities:
  • System Ownership & Development: Own GutLab architecture (electromechanical & fluidic); lead design, testing & refinement via CAD, prototyping & manufacturing
  • Validation & Deployment Readiness: Own validation, stage gates, documentation & traceability across revisions, firmware & field performance. Lead troubleshooting, diagnostics & closed-loop fixes to eliminate systemic failure modes
  • End-to-End Execution: Set & execute high standards for all aspects of HW development: procurement, transfer, sustaining engineering & operations
  • Manufacturing Scale-Up: Drive DFM, design freeze, pilot builds, supplier alignment, cost targets & manufacturing strategy + execution for Gen3
  • Team Leadership: Mentor & lead a HW team; align resources, timelines & execution to production milestones
  • Strategic Problem Solving: Address any and all procurement challenges while identifying cost-effective solutions
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with other leaders to align hardware development with broader company strategy & goals

Qualifications
  • 8+ years’ experience in hardware engineering for complex electromechanical systems
  • Deep proficiency in CAD, tolerances, prototyping & manufacturing
  • Product lifecycle ownership (concept through transfer & scale-up)
  • Proven ability to build & manage technical teams
  • Systems-level troubleshooting expertise across mechanical, fluidic & electronic
  • Structured, decisive & execution-oriented with high accountability
  • A strategic thinker who thrives under pressure in fast-paced environments

About the Company

B

BiomeSense