Mechanical Engineer Hardware and Instrumentation

Mechanical Engineer – Hardware and Instrumentation

Location: Madison, WI

Contract to Hire

Automated Systems, Inc. (ASI) is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer to support design, development, implement, hardware and instrumentation with equipment used to manufacture cancer-diagnostic products and process patient samples in our client’s laboratories located in Madison, WI.

Representative equipment may include collection-kit assembly and packaging lines, reagent formulation and dispensing systems, automated specimen-handling equipment, mixers and shakers, centrifuges, liquid-handling systems, robotic workcells, conveyors, machine-vision stations, test fixtures, and custom laboratory instruments.

This is a hands-on engineering position responsible for taking equipment and mechanical systems from initial requirements through design, prototyping, fabrication, testing, installation, commissioning, qualification, and ongoing production support.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with laboratory operations, scientists, manufacturing, quality, automation, software, facilities, and supply-chain personnel to translate operational needs into equipment requirements and practical mechanical designs.
  


• Develop the mechanical scope, functional requirements, technical approach, schedule, and cost estimates for assigned equipment projects.
  


• Design automated equipment and mechanical subsystems, including frames, enclosures, guarding, fixtures, conveyors, robotic end-of-arm tooling, motion systems, sample-container interfaces, fluid-handling components, thermal-control systems, and operator workstations.
  


• Create and maintain CAD models, engineering drawings, component specifications, bills of materials, tolerance analyses, prototypes, and production documentation.
  


• Build and test prototypes to evaluate design concepts, component performance, cycle time, accuracy, repeatability, and equipment reliability.
  


• Specify and procure custom equipment and components from machine builders, contract manufacturers, and automation integrators.
  


• Review vendor designs, drawings, component selections, and test plans. Participate in vendor testing and factory acceptance testing.
  


• Coordinate equipment installation and execute site acceptance testing, commissioning, qualification, and transfer into routine laboratory or manufacturing use.
  


• Provide hands-on troubleshooting and engineering support for equipment failures, recurring downtime, product-quality problems, and operational bottlenecks.
  

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
  


• At least five years of mechanical, equipment, product-development, or hardware-engineering experience.
  


• Experience designing or implementing automated equipment, laboratory instrumentation, medical devices, diagnostic equipment, manufacturing machinery, or comparable electromechanical systems.
  


• Proficiency with three-dimensional CAD, engineering drawings, tolerances, material selection, component specification, design for manufacturability, and equipment testing.
  


• Experience developing mechanical systems containing motors, actuators, bearings, linear motion, pneumatics, fluid-handling components, sensors, fixtures, guarding, and fabricated or machined components.
  


• Ability to perform hands-on equipment assembly, testing, installation, adjustment, troubleshooting, and commissioning.
  


• Experience producing controlled engineering documentation within a regulated or quality-controlled environment.