Senior Mechatronics Engineer
Sharper Sense is an early-stage neurotechnology company (spun out of Columbia and Cornell; backed by Joyance Partners, SOSV, and ComcastNBC). We develop wearable, noninvasive neuromodulation patches that use electrical stimulation to optimize brain state, cognition, and sensory processing. Following successful pilot clinical studies, we are hiring to support the design and testing of the skin adhesives used in our self-contained patch hardware.
Open Position: Electrical / Software / Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics)
Location: In-person at our offices in Newark, NJ + remote when possible (hybrid) .
Role: Design, build, test, and support the electrical, software, and mechanical systems behind our wearable neurostimulation products from prototype through production.
Skills: Hands-on mechatronics experience across electronics, embedded systems, mechanical design, fabrication, 3D printing, testing, manufacturing, and product support.
Type: Option for full-time, part-time, or project-based work depending on availability, fit.
Pay: $60K-$100K per year + stock options + benefits.
We are seeking a Mechatronics Engineer to join our team and support development, from prototype to production, of our self-contained wearable neurostimulation patch. This role can flex from junior to senior depending on capability, but the best fit is someone who can bridge electrical engineering, software engineering, mechanical engineering, fabrication, manufacturing, and product support. You will work closely with our existing team that includes mechatronics, biomedical, and neural engineers and scientists to improve whole-system performance, accelerate time to market, reduce risk and cost, and help turn working prototypes into reliable products.
Key Responsibilities
• Design, prototype, test, and improve integrated electrical, software, and mechanical systems for wearable neurostimulation products.
• Support circuit design, PCB bring-up, embedded firmware, enclosure design, flex-board integration, patch construction, and system-level troubleshooting.
• Build and modify prototypes using practical fabrication methods such as soldering, rework, bench testing, CAD, 3D printing, adhesives, fixtures, and vendor-manufactured mockups.
• Translate prototype learnings into manufacturable designs, including DFM feedback, assembly process development, test planning, quality checks, and supplier communication.
• Help evaluate and select components, materials, batteries, adhesives, hydrogels, films, coatings, PCBAs, and manufacturing partners based on performance, cost, lead time, reliability, and supply-chain risk.
• Test products on bench and human-use scenarios for stimulation performance, battery life, comfort, adhesion, sweat exposure, safety, reliability, usability, and manufacturing consistency.
• Improve the product based on customer, clinical, demo, manufacturing, and internal team feedback across the full product lifecycle.
• Document design decisions, test results, manufacturing processes, change logs, build instructions, and support learnings clearly enough for others to reproduce and improve the work.
• Collaborate across disciplines with hardware, software, mechanical, biomedical, neuroscience, business, regulatory, clinical, and manufacturing stakeholders.
Required Education and Work Experience
• Degree preferred in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, mechatronics, robotics, product design, manufacturing engineering, or related field. Equivalent applied experience will be weighed heavily.
• 5+ years of relevant hands-on experience in product design, development, manufacturing, fabrication, test, support, and systems engineering.
• Experience shipping and supporting at least one product through a meaningful portion of its full lifecycle, from concept or prototype through manufacturing, release, customer feedback, iteration, and support.
• Demonstrated ability to work across all three: electrical engineering, software/embedded systems, and mechanical engineering with interest in biomedical and neural.
• Practical experience with PCBAs, microcontrollers, embedded firmware, sensors, batteries, power systems, wired or wireless communication, mechanical packaging, CAD, fixtures, and/or product test equipment.
• Ability to debug whole systems rather than isolated features, including tradeoffs between performance, size, cost, manufacturability, reliability, usability, aesthetics, supply chain, and schedule.
• Comfort working directly with prototypes, vendors, manufacturing data, BOMs, assembly processes, documentation, and hands-on bench or shop work.
• Other beneficial, but not required, experience could include wearable electronics, neurostimulation, neuromodulation, biosignal recording, mixed-signal circuits, flexible PCBs, adhesives, hydrogels, medical or wellness devices, robotics, consumer electronics, or startup hardware development.
Qualities of Good Candidates
• Good interpersonal skills: affable, communicative, motivated, accountable
• Organized and able to self-manage time and progress across multiple subprojects in parallel
• Self-motivated and able to self-educate as need arises for new skills
• Comfortable with open discussion and debate
• Passionate about neurotechnology and its potential to benefit society
• Legally authorized to work in the United States
• Able to commute to our office in Newark, NJ and can start work within 30 days of being hired.
Benefits Offered
• Competitive compensation based on experience.
• Office space at SOSV HAX includes a gym, kitchen, and regularly scheduled social and learning events. With over 40 other hardware startups in the building there’s extensive networking opportunities.
• Exposure to our exclusive network of investors, advisors, and academic and corporate supporters.
• Reimbursement of commuting expenses and ability to work a mix of remotely and in person.
• Ability to influence major design decisions and create significant positive impact.
• Health insurance (available only for full-time employees).
• Employee stock options (available only for full-time employees).
How to Apply: Please email resume or CV to Careers@SharperSense.com