Open Vacancy
Founding Engineer / Hardware Lead
Lead hardware development and device integration for our portable equine health diagnostic device.
Email us to apply- Location
- Newcastle upon Tyne (in person)
- Type
- Permanent, full-time
- Salary
- £45,000 per year
- Start date
- July 2026
About the role
AnFiTest is an early-stage biotech startup developing field-ready diagnostics and data analytics for equine and livestock health. Our initial focus is a portable testing device for equine laminitis prevention.
This role sits within the R&D team and will act as the technical lead for hardware and device integration, with potential to grow into Head of Engineering as the company scales.
This is not a role where one person is expected to design every subsystem alone. You will work closely with specialist engineering consultancies, the R&D Director, the software/data team, interns and external manufacturing partners.
Key responsibilities
- Lead hardware engineering and device integration for the portable testing device
- Coordinate external engineering consultancies and suppliers across hardware development, sensing integration, sample handling, cartridge/consumable interfaces and prototype delivery
- Translate assay, electrode, cartridge and user workflow requirements into clear engineering specifications
- Drive prototype development, build, testing, troubleshooting and iteration ahead of partner testing and demonstrations
- Proactively identify and help resolve engineering issues that could affect prototype delivery, device performance, usability, or scale-up
- Work with the R&D Director to align engineering activity with the wider R&D roadmap, including assay development, consumables, electrode production and software integration
- Support and supervise engineering interns or junior technical staff
- Contribute to design-for-manufacture, supplier engagement, component sourcing, assembly workflow development and production readiness
- Maintain clear documentation of design decisions, test outcomes, engineering specifications and technical requirements
Essential skills and experience
- Relevant industry experience in hardware engineering, product development, mechanical/electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, scientific instrumentation, or a related field
- Hands-on experience with prototype development, testing, troubleshooting, and iteration
- Practical CAD and prototyping experience, including 3D printing and/or mechanical design
- Ability to translate scientific, technical, or user requirements into practical engineering specifications
- Experience coordinating technical work with external suppliers, consultants, contractors or manufacturing partners
- Strong practical problem-solving skills, with the ability to make progress under time and resource constraints
- Clear communication and documentation skills
- Comfortable working hands-on in a fast-moving startup environment with evolving requirements
- Able to work across disciplines and bring structure to complex, evolving technical projects
Desirable skills and experience
- Experience with biosensors, diagnostics, electrochemical devices, medical/veterinary devices, or agri-tech hardware
- Experience with cartridges, consumables, fluidics, or liquid- and sample-handling systems
- Understanding of electronics, embedded systems, sensor interfaces, or electrochemical measurement systems
- Experience applying design-for-manufacture principles to hardware products
- Experience supporting design transfer, pilot manufacturing, assembly workflows or production scale-up
- Experience working in a startup, consultancy, or early-stage product development environment
- Experience supervising interns, junior engineers, or technical staff
How to apply
Send your CV and a short cover letter to contact@anfitest.co.uk. Applications that include both a CV and cover letter receive priority consideration.
Email us to apply