Microfluidic Chip Manufacturing Engineer Rivercell
Data generation infrastructure for AI Virtual Cell models in drug discovery.
Permanent
Paris
No remote
Salary: Not specified
Skills we're looking for
Mechanical skills
Windows
Assembly
Polymer
You'll be part of
Intelligence artificielle / Machine Learning
Pharmaceutique / Biotechnologique
Rivercell’s mission is to change how medicines are discovered by teaching AI to understand the human cell. Developing a single drug still takes years with an 90% failure rate in human. Predicting how cells respond to treatment before going to the lab would make it faster, and open up possibilities that are out of reach today.
That’s the promise of AI Virtual Cells: world models that learn the underlying rules of how cells respond to drugs and genetic changes, much as AlphaFold learned to predict protein structure. What holds them back is data. The vast, diverse, multimodal and time-resolved perturbational data they need doesn’t exist at scale, so we are building the infrastructure that generates it.
Our platform applies chemical and genetic perturbations to large cell populations and reads out their molecular and morphological responses at single-cell resolution, across millions of perturbation and context combinations. We then use that data to train our own world model of the cell.
Doing this takes a truly multidisciplinary team, where experts in thin films, microfluidics and instrumentation work side by side with experts in machine learning, computational biology and cell biology.
You'll be working on
We are looking for a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to own the physical realization of Rivercell's microfluidic chip, from the technical sourcing of glass substrates and precision-machined components through assembly, quality control, and small-scale production.
You will translate the chip architecture into a reliable supply chain and a repeatable manufacturing process. You will work directly at the bench while building the supplier network, tooling, documentation, process controls, and production methods required to manufacture up to 500 chips per year.
You will work hand-in-hand with our Lead Microfluidic Chip Engineer, Thin-Film Materials Engineer, Surface Engineering Scientist, Characterization Engineer, Microfluidics & Biofluids Engineer, and Assembly Technician, as well as 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.
Own the chip manufacturing and packaging architecture, including glass substrates and covers, spacers, chamber geometry, drilled holes, fluidic ports, electrical contacts, sealing interfaces, and mechanical features
Develop the manufacturing roadmap from manual prototype builds to a robust semi-automated small-scale production process, improving yield, cycle time, cost, capacity, and reproducibility
Define technical specifications for glass components. Identify, select, and qualify suppliers for glass components and processing
Develop repeatable assembly and packaging processes for early devices, including alignment, spacer placement, bonding, sealing, fluidic interconnection, electrical contacting, sterilization and final inspection
Select and qualify adhesives, gaskets, spacer materials, bonding methods, and packaging components compatible with thin films, fluoropolymer surfaces, biological media, optics, and high-voltage operation
Design jigs, fixtures, alignment tools, error-proofing features that improve accuracy, repeatability, throughput, and operator ergonomics
Define and control critical tolerances such as chamber height, substrate parallelism, lateral alignment, hole and port position, bond-line thickness, fluidic volume, and electrical-contact geometry
Establish incoming, in-process, and final quality controls for substrates, machined components, assembled chips, leaks, dimensional conformity, cleanliness, and cosmetic or functional defects
Create and maintain the bill of materials, approved supplier list, batch records, traceability system, inspection methods, and acceptance criteria
Lead failure analysis for leaks, delamination, cracked or warped glass, drilling defects, particle contamination, misalignment, poor electrical contact, chamber-height variation, and assembly-induced damage
Recruit, train and supervise assembly technicians on standard processes, quality requirements, equipment, documentation, and safe handling of fragile or coated components
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
We're looking for
You have an engineering degree or equivalent advanced degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, microengineering, materials engineering, precision engineering, microfluidics, or a related field.
You have 4+ years of relevant experience in precision-component manufacturing, supplier development, microfluidic or MEMS packaging, laboratory-device production, or manufacturing-process development.
You are comfortable moving between engineering drawings, supplier discussions, incoming inspection, process development, and hands-on assembly in the laboratory.
You combine strong technical judgment with a pragmatic approach to solving sourcing, manufacturing, quality, and assembly problems.
You are autonomous, committed, enthusiastic, and comfortable working with a can-do, creative, and challenging mindset.
You are rigorous in documentation, tolerance management, experimental design, 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:
Technical sourcing and qualification of precision glass, ceramic, silicon, polymer, or coated components
Glass cutting, dicing, drilling, laser or ultrasonic machining, sandblasting, polishing, cleaning, or dimensional inspection
Precision assembly, alignment, bonding, dispensing, sealing, leak testing, and visual inspection
Supplier qualification, incoming quality control, non-conformance management, and design for manufacturability
Development of fixtures, jigs, tolerance stacks, process controls, work instructions, and traceability systems
Transition from manual prototypes to pilot-line or small-scale production
Please let us know in your application if you specifically have experience with one or several of the following:
Borosilicate glass, fused silica, ITO-coated glass, display substrates, optical windows, wafers, or other fragile precision substrates
Microfluidic cartridges, lab-on-chip devices, MEMS packaging, or diagnostic consumables
UV-curable adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, thermal or plasma-assisted bonding, laser-cut spacers, gaskets, or precision dispensing
Dimensional metrology for flatness, hole position, alignment, chamber height, and bond-line thickness
Development or operation of pilot-line, semi-automated, or outsourced manufacturing processes
How we hire
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)