R&D Engineering Technician

The Opportunity
We are seeking a hands-on R&D Engineering Laboratory Technician to support our engineering and research teams across electrical, optical, mechanical, and experimental hardware development. This role keeps the engineering laboratory running: preparing test setups, assembling and modifying prototype hardware, fabricating fixtures, managing equipment and component inventory, and making sure engineers and scientists have the tools and materials they need to execute experiments efficiently.
The ideal candidate is highly hands-on, organized, and detail-oriented — equally comfortable reworking a 0402 resistor under a microscope, aligning a photodiode on an optical bench, and machining or 3D-printing a fixture to hold it all together. You will work directly with electrical, optical, mechanical, and bioengineering teams in a fast-paced R&D environment where priorities shift quickly.
This person will own day-to-day engineering laboratory organization, equipment tracking, and component inventory, while providing direct technical support for prototype assembly, fabrication, soldering, testing, and experimental setup. The position is based on-site, primarily at our Mountain View laboratory.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Operations

- Maintain an organized, functional, and safe engineering laboratory across electrical, optical, and mechanical work areas.

- Establish and improve systems for equipment storage, component tracking, and laboratory workflow.

- Support laboratory ESD, safety, and equipment-maintenance practices.

Electrical & Electronics Support

- Assemble, modify, and rework prototype PCBs and electronic assemblies.

- Perform precision soldering and rework of miniature surface-mount components, including 0201, 0402, 0603, fine-pitch ICs, QFN, QFP, connectors, LEDs, and photodiodes.

- Perform or support BGA soldering and rework, including component replacement, inspection, and troubleshooting.

- Use microscopes, hot-air rework stations, soldering stations, preheaters, and other precision equipment.

- Build and modify cables, harnesses, connectors, breakout boards, and test fixtures.

- Assist engineers with PCB bring-up, hardware debugging, electrical measurements, and troubleshooting.

- Operate oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, function generators, logic analyzers, data acquisition systems, LCR meters, optical power meters, and related instrumentation.

Optical Support

- Set up and support optical experiments involving LEDs, lasers, photodiodes, optical sensors, fiber optics, detectors, and filters.

- Assist with optical alignment, mounting, and measurement of prototype systems.

Mechanical Fabrication & Prototyping

- Perform mechanical assembly and rapid prototyping of experimental hardware.

- Design and fabricate fixtures, jigs, mounts, and enclosures using 3D printing, laser cutting, and basic machining.

- Use hand and power tools safely and accurately.

- Interpret CAD drawings and mechanical documentation; troubleshoot mechanical issues in prototype hardware.

- Build and modify experimental hardware to meet evolving research requirements.

Experimental & Research Support

- Set up, run, and tear down experiments for engineers and scientists across disciplines.

- Prepare and stage equipment ahead of planned experiments; reproduce previously documented experimental configurations reliably.

- Support prototype testing and troubleshoot integrated experimental systems spanning electrical, optical, mechanical, and fluidic subsystems.

- Provide direct bench support to scientists and engineers during R&D experiments.

Instrumentation & Integrated Systems

- Operate and maintain scientific instrumentation, sensors, and data acquisition systems.

- Support pneumatic and fluidic systems used in experimental setups.

- Integrate mechanical and electrical subsystems into working test platforms.

- Support equipment calibration, preventive maintenance, and basic equipment repair.

Inventory & Equipment Management

- Maintain accurate inventories of test instruments, tools, fixtures, cables, adapters, and laboratory equipment; track location, availability, maintenance, and calibration status.

- Manage electronic, optical, and mechanical component inventory, including semiconductors, passives, connectors, sensors, LEDs, photodiodes, optics, hardware, and prototyping materials.

- Work with engineers to identify required components and flag shortages early.

- Receive, inspect, label, organize, and store incoming materials; maintain stock levels of commonly used components and consumables.

Documentation & Continuous Improvement

- Maintain clear documentation of equipment, inventory, test setups, prototype configurations, and laboratory procedures.

- Help develop and improve laboratory procedures, organization, and best practices.

- Collaborate with engineers and scientists to troubleshoot experimental hardware and improve laboratory workflows.

- Support additional engineering laboratory activities as priorities evolve.

Subsense is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.