Mechanical or Biomedical Engineer with CAD/3D printing experience for immediate project

Role details

biodesigns, Inc. is a prosthetic clinical care and human-device interface company in Westlake Village working at the intersection of prosthetics, robotics, and advanced human-device attachment systems.

We currently have an immediate short-term engineering need involving an advanced bionic arm system. We have developed the core interface concepts and clinical approach and need a hands-on engineer who can help translate those concepts into functional hardware, prototypes, and manufacturable designs.

This is a focused near-term project with the potential for additional project work and possible future employment as research grants, product-development funding, and other engineering opportunities become available.

What You'll Do

• Design, CAD, and prototype interfaces, torso mounts, socket systems, and related attachment components
• Support our current advanced bionic arm project with hands-on mechanical design, fabrication, and problem-solving
• Develop and modify CAD models for prosthetic sockets and other custom components
• 3D print and refine prosthetic sockets, prototypes, and mechanical components
• Help optimize and dial in our in-house 3D printers, including materials, slicing, print settings, orientation, supports, tolerances, strength, and overall print quality
• Troubleshoot failed or suboptimal prints and improve accuracy, strength, and repeatability
• Machine, modify, assemble, and hand-fabricate components as needed
• Work directly with prosthetists and patients during fitting and development
• Move quickly from concept to prototype, test, modify, and repeat
• Document designs, iterations, and results

As future research funding becomes available, additional work may include bench and human-subject testing, pressure and load measurement, force sensing, sensor integration, mechanical validation, and documentation supporting research, grants, patents, regulatory activities, and future product development.

What You Bring

• Strong CAD/CAM skills using SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Onshape, or similar professional software
• Your own CAD/CAM software and computer/workstation capable of performing the required engineering and design work
• Strong hands-on experience with 3D printing and additive manufacturing
• Ability to create, modify, prepare, slice, print, and troubleshoot complex 3D-printed parts
• Experience selecting and optimizing materials, print parameters, tolerances, and designs for functional mechanical applications
• Strong mechanical problem-solving and prototyping skills
• Ability to build, modify, troubleshoot, and improve physical hardware
• Comfort working in a clinical environment and interacting directly with patients
• Ability to take a concept from CAD to print to functional physical prototype with minimal supervision
• Strong spoken and written English communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly with patients, clinicians, engineers, vendors, and research collaborators

Preferred

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field
• Experience with prosthetic sockets, orthotics, wearable devices, robotics, or other human-device interfaces
• Experience with force/pressure sensing, FEA, composites, soft goods, or mechanical testing
• Experience with FDA medical-device regulations, design controls, and regulatory documentation
• Familiarity with ISO 13485 or other medical-device quality systems
• Experience helping move a product from prototype through development, validation, manufacturing, and commercial launch
• Experience working cross-functionally with clinical, engineering, manufacturing, regulatory, or commercialization teams

Important

We are primarily a prosthetic clinical care practice, not a traditional engineering facility, so the right person must be technically self-sufficient. We provide the clinical expertise, specialized prosthetic fabrication capabilities, patient access, and three in-house 3D printers. We need an engineer who can bring the CAD/CAM software, engineering expertise, and advanced 3D-printing knowledge necessary to help us move this project forward quickly.

How It Works

• Local applicants only. You must already live within reasonable commuting distance of Westlake Village, California. This is not a remote position, and relocation is not being offered.
• The role begins as a project-based consulting engagement tied to an immediate advanced bionic arm project.
• There is potential for additional projects and possible part-time or full-time employment if future research, grant, or product-development funding is secured.
• We are seeking an individual engineer, not an engineering firm or agency.
• A confidentiality and invention-assignment agreement will be required.

Compensation

$35–$55/hour, depending on experience, capabilities, and portfolio.

Project-based compensation may also be considered depending on scope.

To Apply

Please send your résumé and examples of relevant work, particularly CAD designs, 3D-printed functional parts, prototypes, mechanical systems, fabrication, testing, medical-device development, or product-launch experience.

If your best work is confidential or under NDA, briefly describe the problem, your role, and the result without disclosing protected information.

Pay: $35.00 - $55.00 per hour

Work Location: In person