Founding Prototyping Engineer

Founding Prototyping Engineer

Location: Redwood City CA (On-site only)
Position Type: Full-Time (Permanent)
Work Policy: In-house only
Start Timeline: ASAP

Compensation

Base Salary: $120000 - $150000 (flexible based on seniority and skillset)

Equity: 1 - 1.5%

About
We develop validate and deploy battlefield-ready biotechnology. The company moves beyond theory transforming breakthrough science into decisive capabilities that strengthen those who operate at the edge.

Role summary
As a Founding Prototyping Engineer youll serve as both engineer and operator translating mission needs into working prototypes that integrate chemistry biology and nanotechnology. Youll own validation from benchtop to battlefield operate advanced instrumentation collaborate with field testers and defense stakeholders and communicate findings to drive real-world impact.

Why join

• Transformative Mission: Revolutionize military medicine by translating cutting-edge biotechnology from the lab to the battlefield.

• End-to-End Ownership: Lead projects from conception to deployment with full technical and operational ownership.

• Dynamic Work Environment: Blend lab and fieldwork with up to 30% travel for live demos and feedback loops.

• Agile Team: Work in a small collaborative high-caliber team with quick decision-making and real impact.

• Cutting-Edge Tech: Work on projects from portable diagnostics to nanomaterial-based trauma care using advanced tools like AFM SEM FTIR UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopy.

Tech environment

• Advanced Instrumentation: AFM SEM FTIR UV-Vis Raman

• Focus Areas: Portable diagnostics nanomaterial-based trauma care battlefield biotech prototypes

Responsibilities

• Translate operational gaps into high-impact technically feasible engineering initiatives

• Lead end-to-end prototyping and iteration of battlefield biotech (e.g. diagnostics trauma care tech)

• Operate and interpret results from advanced instrumentation (AFM SEM FTIR UV-Vis Raman)

• Coordinate cross-functional teams to execute under tight timelines

• Communicate experimental outcomes through white papers proposals and visual briefs

• Travel up to 30% to run field demos capture operator feedback and iterate prototypes

Must-have qualifications

• 2 years of experience as a builder/hacker (e.g. MIT student hacking enzymes in their dorm)

• Demonstrated hands-on expertise in biology nanotechnology and chemistry through independent projects

• Advanced instrumentation experience (e.g. AFM SEM FTIR)

• B.S. in Chemistry or Biomedical Engineering or equivalent demonstrable capability

• Lab-based experience preferred over computational-only backgrounds

• Strong communication skills (client-facing with government agencies)

• Hacker/builder mindset and a bias toward fast hands-on execution

• Willingness to work long hours in-person with a high degree of ownership

Preferred qualifications

• Education from a top STEM institution (MIT Stanford Caltech Harvard etc.)

• Past projects in areas such as seizure detection systems artificial gills enzyme growth or nanoparticle R&D

• Literature review capability and rapid experimental iteration

• Desire for autonomy and high-impact work

• Frustrated academic background or dissatisfaction with slow institutional pace