Lead Microfluidic Chip Engineer

We are looking for a

• Lead Microfluidic Chip Engineer to own the architecture, development, integration and small-scale production & QC of Rivercell's microfluidic chip. You will coordinate a team of engineers, scientists and technicians responsible for the thin-film materials stack, surface coating, characterization, and assembly, and ensure that their work converges into a robust device meeting technical and functional specifications. You will work hand-in-hand with our thin-film materials engineers, surface scientist, characterization engineer, microfluidics & biofluids engineer, assembly team and an interdisciplinary team spanning genetic engineering, AI and software, bio-laboratory automation, optics, electronics, and biology. You will be an integral part of an ambitious and exciting startup project from its inception. Define the overall chip architecture, including electrodes, photoconductor, dielectric and hydrophobic stacks, fluidic chamber, optical path, electrical interfaces, and operating conditions
• Build and maintain the chip-development roadmap, identify critical technical dependencies, and allocate internal and external resources against the highest-priority risks.
• Manage a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, technicians and suppliers specialized in thin-film engineering, microfabrication and device characterization
• Create and maintain the bill of materials, approved supplier list, batch records, traceability system, inspection methods, and acceptance criteria Translate product-level requirements into measurable specifications for each layer and subsystem Define the chip’s quality strategy and acceptance criteria, and ensure the implementation of technical and functional testing throughout development and production. Establish process baselines, acceptance criteria, yield targets, and traceability systems for prototype and small-scale production
• Lead technical trade-offs across thin films, optics, electronics, microfluidics, packaging, and biological compatibility Plan and lead prototype fabrication campaigns with internal teams, external cleanrooms, research partners, and equipment vendors
• Lead root-cause analyses for cross-functional failures such as insufficient actuation, non-uniform switching, dielectric breakdown, charge drift, fluidic leakage, or coating damage
• Document architecture decisions, interface specifications, design rules, and process baselines Interface with the leads responsible for optics, electronics, sample handling, and system integration to define and validate the chip’s interfaces with the complete instrument. Establish and implement the chip IP strategy (patents, know-how, trade-secrets). Opportunity to work on a cutting-edge project in the field of biotech Opportunity to join an ambitious team and impactful startup among the first employees Competitive salary and equity package Exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth within the team

an engineering degree or equivalent advanced degree in nanoelectronics, electrical engineering, materials science, microfluidics, or a related field.

• You have 7+ years of relevant experience in the development and integration of complex microfabricated devices, ideally involving several of the following: thin-film devices, electrical actuation, optics, microfluidics, MEMS, or lab-on-chip systems.
• You have experience in the management of a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers.
• You combine strong technical judgment with a willingness to work hands-on in the laboratory and solve practical problems.
• You are autonomous, committed, enthusiastic, and comfortable working with a can-do, creative, and challenging mindset.
• You are rigorous in experiment design, documentation, data interpretation, and communication of uncertainty.
• You have excellent communication skills and are fluent in English; professional proficiency in French is helpful but not required.
• You have previous experience or knowledge in one or more of the following areas: Device physics and electrical modeling of multilayer structures Microfabrication process integration and design of experiments Digital microfluidics, electrowetting, optoelectrowetting, MEMS, lab-on-chip devices, or related systems Technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams Management of external cleanrooms, foundries, or research partners Please let us know in your application if you specifically have experience with one or several of the following: EWOD, dielectric liquid interfaces, or high-field thin-film devices Droplet-based cell biology Photoconductors, insulators, or fluoropolymer coatings Large-area substrate processing and process scale-up Reliability engineering and failure analysis

Throughout the recruiting process, you will meet 4 to 6 team members of Rivercell. Introductory call (up to 30mn, videocall) Technical interview (up to 90mn) Performance interview (up to 90mn, in person) Culture interview (up to 60mn, in person)