R&D Engineer - Lab instrument development in Eindhoven

Help shape the future of preclinical drug development with nature-inspired fluid control.

About ARTIC: ARTIC Technologies is a life sciences enabling technology company and a spin-off from Eindhoven University of Technology. We envision drug development that is more predictive, efficient and human-relevant, bringing better treatments to patients faster while reducing the reliance on animal testing.

Our platform combines a familiar multi-well plate format with our proprietary Magnetic Artificial Cilia (MAC): tiny, nature-inspired structures that generate gentle, precisely controlled fluid flow through contactless magnetic actuation, without pumps or tubing. This makes physiological flow scalable, reproducible and easy to use in routine pharmaceutical and life sciences research.

We are an ambitious, growing team of scientists, engineers and business developers. As a young company, we value initiative, ownership and the willingness to go beyond your own role. Joining ARTIC means shaping not only our technology, but also the company we are building together.

Why this role matters: Our platform consists of an array of tiny magnetic cilia (MAC), a microfluidic plate (MACplate) and a magnetic actuation system that drives the movement of these cilia (MACnet). MACnet has already demonstrated its core working principles through several prototype iterations. The next challenge is to turn this electromechanical prototype into a robust, reliable and manufacturable product that can run continuously inside a cell culture incubator.

Important decisions remain around mechanical design, motors, electronics, controls and ease of use in a life science environment. You won't make these alone: you will be supported on system architecture, design choices and development strategy both from internal and external experts. In a small, dedicated team, your work will really make a difference in moving our mission forward.

Tasks: Your focus will be on developing and industrializing our MACnet magnetic actuation system, which entails:

• Design, build and iterate functional prototypes, with an emphasis on mechanical design, housing and assembly; identify failure modes and improve performance, reliability and serviceability.
• Integrate motors, drivers and control electronics, and make the system robust for continuous use in a cell incubator environment (37 °C, high humidity).
• Define technical specifications and verification tests, prepare design decisions, and work with suppliers on design for manufacturing, assembly and reproducible production.

You will work closely with our R&D Manager, CTO, MACplate engineers, our engineering partner and external manufacturing partners to ensure that MACnet works reliably with MACplate. You will combine hands-on engineering with structured product development and practical technical communication.

What success would look like: A robust MACnet prototype that meets agreed requirements, runs reliably in an incubator and can be consistently used for testing. Clear design decisions, documented specifications and verification results, with effective collaboration across MACnet, MACplate and suppliers. A manufacturable MACnet design and a practical plan for repeatable assembly, testing and production.

Requirements: Required qualifications:

• BSc or MSc (university or HBO, or international equivalent) in mechatronics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or a related discipline.
• At least 3 years of relevant industry experience in electromechanical product development, including building prototypes yourself and involvement in the transition towards manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical design, prototyping and manufacturing methods, and the ability to assess trade-offs in cost, performance and reliability.
• Practical experience integrating motors, electronics, sensors and wiring into mechanical systems.
• Strong analytical and practical problem-solving skills; able to define requirements, test systematically and make pragmatic engineering decisions.
• Good communication skills and fluency in English; able to collaborate across disciplines and with external suppliers.

Preferred:

• Experience developing laboratory equipment, scientific instruments or other products for life sciences.
• Experience with products for demanding environments, such as high humidity or sealed enclosures.

What fits our startup culture well? You are:

• Passionate about working for an impact-driven startup company.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment where priorities evolve, and able to bring structure to it.
• A real team player: you know where your expertise ends and seek input from specialists early.
• Proactive, and you like to take responsibility for important technical tasks.
• Committed to continuous learning, on both soft skill and hard skill levels.

Benefits: Our team's well-being is a top priority for us. Therefore we offer:

• A competitive salary and holiday allowance.
• Opportunities for professional growth via our personal development scheme, which can be enriched with training, learning resources and other support for your career development.
• Flexible working hours and arrangements, including the option to work from home when the nature of the work allows it.
• Team events to unwind and get to know each other on a personal level.
• Working in one of the tech innovation centres of Europe (Brainport region).
• Great colleagues and a supportive culture with little hierarchy.
• Cutting-edge lab equipment and a workshop to build and test your prototypes.
• Good coffee/tea guaranteed!
• And all colleagues sing for you on your birthday!

Position details: Full-time, 40 hours per week. We start with a 7-month contract, with a clear intent to extend when both sides experience a good match. Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands, including occasional travel abroad. Expected start date: to be discussed. Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.