Mechanical Engineer
Department: Lab
Reports To: CTO
Location: On site, San Carlos, California
Employment Type: Full Time, Exempt, Salary
Compensation: $120,000 - $150,000 USD + equity options
About the Company
Sapho Bio is a revenue-generating biotechnology company developing a rapid microbiology release platform designed for the precision medicine era. We are a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers committed to transforming the lot release process through innovation, speed, and accuracy.
Our culture emphasizes agency, innovation, and continual learning. Following the successful validation and launch of our first proprietary assay, we now have over 30 customers and are growing quickly.
About The Role
We are looking for a Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and maintain the hardware our lab runs on. You will work directly with our lab and operations teams in San Carlos, turning manual bench processes into reliable automated systems.
This is a hands-on role. You will spend time at a workbench and in the lab. If you like owning a problem from sketch to working hardware, this is a good fit.
You are a good fit for this role if you are rigorous, smart, and above all hard-working.
Application Requirements:
- Your cover letter should give clear examples of the following:
- An instance in which you demonstrated an exceptional work ethic
- Something you designed and built yourself
- What you worked on during your industry internship, and what you delivered
- This job is not 9-5
- This is an opportunity to work very hard, learn a lot, and develop skills that will serve you well throughout your career
- This is not an opportunity to focus on work life balance
Who You Are:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or an equivalent field
- At least one engineering internship in industry
- Ability to work independently while maintaining safety standards
- Excellent documentation, organization, and communication skills
- Live within a 30 minute commute of San Carlos
Nice to Haves:
- Proficiency with CAD such as SolidWorks or Fusion 360
- Experience with machining, 3D printing, and design for manufacturing
- Lab automation, liquid handling, or robotics experience
- Python scripting or embedded programming ability
- Prior experience in biotech or another regulated environment
- Prior experience at a startup
Responsibilities:
- Design mechanical systems, fixtures, and tooling that support lab operations
- Build, test, and iterate on prototypes
- Install, maintain, and troubleshoot lab instrumentation and equipment
- Produce and maintain drawings, bills of materials, and design documentation
- Work with vendors and machine shops to source parts and manage fabrication
- Partner with the lab team to identify manual processes worth automating
- Whatever else is needed for the company to succeed
Details:
- This is a full-time in-person role in San Carlos, CA
- The compensation range for this role is $120,000-150,000 along with equity options in the company and benefits
Life at Sapho Bio
- High-Impact Work: Help transform pharmaceutical testing and accelerate patient access to life-saving therapies.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Financial Security: 401(k) with company matching and company-paid life insurance.
- Time to Recharge: Unlimited PTO and company-recognized holidays.
- Connection & Community: Team lunches, office events, and offsite gatherings.
- Competitive Compensation: Market-leading salary and meaningful equity participation.
- Fast-Paced Environment: Join a team that moves quickly, learns continuously, and executes with purpose.
- World-Class Team: Work alongside experienced scientists, engineers, and operators.
- Prime Location: Sunny, collaborative workspace in San Carlos.
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