Microfluidics Engineer / Scientist - Pathogen

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society. Explore more at www.eit.org.

Welcome to the Pathogen Project:

Within this ecosystem, the Pathogen Mission exemplifies EIT’s commitment to transformative science. It aims to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases by leveraging whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based metagenomic and pathogen-specific analytical tools. This remit includes the development of a decentralised, sample-to-answer sequencing diagnostic platform for infectious diseases, enabling rapid and accurate analysis of patient samples without prior assumptions. Supported by Oracle Inc.’s cloud-computing scale and security infrastructure, the Pathogen Mission is progressing towards certified diagnostic products for deployment in laboratories, hospitals, and public health organisations worldwide.

Your Role:

At EIT we are seeking an experienced and detail orientated Microfluidics Engineer / Scientist to help develop next-generation diagnostic technology. In this role, you’ll work alongside experts in microfluidics, microbiology, electronics and firmware to design, build and iterate prototype instrumentation for a point-of-care device capable of metagenomic sequencing through a microfluidic cartridge interface.

You will take a hands-on role in translating microfluidic workflows into robust, system-ready implementations, working at the interface between cartridge design and automated instrumentation. This will involve designing and running experiments, supporting integration of microfluidic systems with actuation and control hardware, and resolving real-world challenges related to fluid behavior, timing, sealing and system interaction. You will contribute directly to the development of decentralised diagnostic systems aimed at improving infectious disease detection in hospitals and public health settings worldwide.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop and improve microfluidic systems and cartridge architectures for use within automated instrumentation.
• Translate biological assay requirements into practical microfluidic designs suitable for automation.
• Define and refine interfaces between cartridge and instrument, including fluidic, mechanical and thermal interactions.
• Collaborate with instrumentation, electronics and firmware engineers to ensure cartridge designs work effectively with automated actuation and control systems.
• Support integration of microfluidic cartridges into prototype systems, including hands-on testing, troubleshooting and system-level validation.
• Prototype and test microfluidic designs using appropriate fabrication techniques, such as soft lithography, machining and rapid prototyping.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate cartridge performance, including yield, efficiency and repeatability.
• Identify and help resolve fluidic, mechanical and assay-related failure modes.
• Contribute to improving robustness, manufacturability and ease of use of cartridge designs.
• Document designs, test results and iteration outcomes clearly and systematically.
• Contribute to design reviews and technical decision-making within the microfluidics domain.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

We welcome applicants with a range of experiences and career paths. You may have gained relevant expertise in industry, applied research or academia.

• BSc or BEng (or equivalent) in Engineering, Physics, Bioengineering, or related field with specialisation in microfluidics, MEMS, or lab-on-a-chip systems

• 4+ years’ experience in microfluidics, lab-on-chip systems, or related areas (industry or applied research).
• Experience designing and developing microfluidic systems, devices or closely related technologies.
• Understanding of fluid behaviour at small scales, including areas such as mixing, flow control or multiphase systems.
• Experience working with biological or chemical assays, ideally within microfluidic or closely related systems.
• Practical experience in prototyping and testing devices or experimental systems.
• Experience designing for integration with external systems, such as actuators, pumps or thermal systems.
• Ability to design and run structured experiments to evaluate system performance.
• Experience troubleshooting and improving performance in complex systems.
• Familiarity with CAD or similar design tools.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a practical approach to experimental work.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams spanning engineering, biology and software.

We recognise that candidates may not meet every listed criterion. If your experience aligns with most of the requirements and you are motivated by the mission, we encourage you to apply.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Experience designing microfluidic systems for automated or semi-automated platforms.
• Knowledge of sample preparation workflows, such as nucleic acid extraction, host depletion or amplification.
• Familiarity with bead-based workflows, particle separation or cell lysis techniques.
• Experience working with complex biological samples, such as blood, sputum or environmental samples.
• Understanding of contamination control and sample handling in diagnostic systems.
• Experience considering manufacturability and scale-up of microfluidic designs.
• Familiarity with cartridge-based or disposable device design.
• Exposure to integration of microfluidics with sensors or detection systems.
• Experience working in research and development or product development environments.

Key Attributes:

• Enjoys hands-on experimental and engineering work, including building, testing and iterating real systems.
• Comfortable working in an R&D environment where priorities can evolve.
• Approaches technical challenges thoughtfully and systematically.
• Collaborative and team-oriented, working effectively with engineers, scientists and software developers.
• Able to translate scientific concepts into robust engineering solutions.
• Detail-oriented and methodical in experimental design, testing and documentation.
• Able to work independently within their area of expertise while contributing to wider team goals.
• Communicates technical challenges and solutions clearly across disciplines.

Our Benefits:

• Salary: Competitive + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Working Together – What It Involves:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. In certain cases, we can consider sponsorship, and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
•  You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate).
• You must be eligible to work in the UK with occasional travel (1-3 trips per year).