Electronic Instrumentation Engineer - 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 Project exemplifies EIT’s dedication to ground-breaking science. It seeks to transform pathogen risk management, detection and response by leveraging Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)-based metagenomic and pathogen-specific analytical tools. The goal is to power metagenomic devices using long-read sequencing technologies by building a comprehensive database of pathogen information to inform response. Enabled by Oracle Inc.’s cloud-computing scale and security, the Pathogen Project is advancing toward certified diagnostic tools for deployment in laboratories, hospitals, and public health organisations worldwide.

Your Role:

The EIT Pathogen Programme – Applied Sequencing team is seeking an Electronic Instrumentation Engineer to help develop next-generation diagnostic technology. In this role, you’ll work alongside experts in microfluidics, microbiology, and data engineering to specify, source and assemble off-the-shelf components into functional instrumentation for a point-of-care device capable of metagenomic sequencing through a microfluidic cartridge interface.

The work will focus on developing control systems for pumps, valves, actuators, and sensors used to manipulate fluids at the microscale - including movement, mixing, thermal control, and data capture. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative healthcare technology with real-world impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and engineer electrical systems for laboratory instrumentation integration and automation, from ELV (<50 V) to benchtop / small scale devices, micro-controllers and signal systems.
• Develop power electronics and control architectures for new experimental setups, integrating instruments, sensors, and automation hardware.
• Specify and select components such as power supplies, connectors, sensors, control hardware, and safety interlocks to meet system and regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with the Applied Sequencing Applications team to turn biological and experimental needs into practical, high-performance engineering solutions.
• Develop detailed system documentation, including ECAD-based schematics, wiring diagrams, and control layouts, to support design reviews and build processes.
• Drive R&D innovation by developing and testing new methods to automate wet-bench workflows and improve experimental reproducibility.
• Communicate design progress and technical findings through structured updates and presentations to project and leadership teams.
• Ensure all systems meet relevant industry standards, safety regulations, and internal quality requirements.

Requirements:
Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Degree or equivalent experience in Electronic, Mechatronic or Prototype Engineering.
• Strong practical understanding of ELV to benchtop electrical system design, including protection, earthing, and control integration.
• Proven experience designing and implementing electrical systems for instrumentation, automation, or laboratory environments.
• Relevant experience in PCB design, firmware development and embedded systems.
• Familiarity with micro-controllers, sensors, actuators, control interfaces, and integration of mixed-signal or Extra-low voltage systems.
• Ability to work effectively across disciplines and communicate technical reasoning clearly.
• Confident using ECAD tools to design, document, and visualise assemblies and control systems.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Practical skills in wiring, assembly, or commissioning prototype systems.
• Experience managing third-party builds, writing specifications, and working with contractors or suppliers.
• Background in laboratory or medical device automation, process control, or regulated systems.
• Experience performing risk assessments and supporting compliance testing.
• Knowledge of fluidic and thermal subsystems, including pumps, valves, motors, and sensors.
• Comfortable working as the sole electronic / Mechatronic engineer within a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience with collaboration tools such as Jira or Confluence.

Key Attributes:

• Team-oriented and collaborative, eager to contribute within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Excellent communicator, able to explain complex technical ideas clearly.
• Creative problem-solver who thrives in an experimental and fast-moving R&D setting.
• Detail-focused and organised, ensuring high standards across all project deliverables.
• Strong time management, balancing multiple priorities effectively.

Benefits:
We offer the following benefits:

• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electrical 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).