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Mechatronic or Mechanical Engineering Manager - Precision Mechatronics for in-situ electron microscopy systems
Hummingbird Scientific is entering a new era: building next-generation in-situ electron microscopy products, , designed for a world moving fast toward automation, autonomy, and AI-assisted microscopy workflows.
Our instruments are used by national labs and top-10 research universities, and we’re growing capacity, expanding our production floor, and scaling our engineering team to support what’s next.
We’re hiring an Engineering Manager who is a true player-coach: a hands-on precision mechanical/mechatronics engineer who also knows how to build a team, run execution, and deliver. If you love pulling people together, hiring great engineers, and turning complex ideas into reliable, manufacturable products—this role has your name on it.
What you’ll do
Lead and build the team
- Manage and develop a small, high-output engineering group (with real ownership of hiring and performance).
- Recruit, hire, and scale the team as programs expand—setting expectations, coaching, and building an accountable culture.
Own project execution (for real)
- Be the “master of project management” inside engineering: translating goals into plans, schedules, milestones, risks, and daily progress.
- Drive cross-functional alignment between engineering, assembly, machining, and production operations so work flows smoothly and predictably.
Stay hands-on
- Contribute daily to new product development: precision mechanisms, stage hardware, mechatronics integration, and design-for-manufacturing.
- Work directly with machinists and assembly to solve real-world build issues fast—and raise the bar on design quality and throughput.
Shape the next generation of products
- Help lead the development of:
- Next-gen TEM in-situ precision mechanical design
- In-situ and sample prep workflow automation
- Software integration for automated and AI-enabled tools
You’re a great fit if you…
- Have been the direct manager of a small engineering team, with real ownership in hiring (and the maturity to handle performance decisions when needed).
- Are still a current, strong mechanical designer—not someone who left hands-on engineering a decade ago.
- Have deep experience designing precision mechanical systems / mechatronics, and you’ve worked closely with machinists and builders.
- Believe in and practice formal project management (whatever the toolset): plans, milestones, dependency thinking, risk management, communication rhythms, and execution discipline.
- Are energized by growth, pace, and responsibility—this is a “build the next level” role, not a comfort role.
Key qualifications:
- 8+ years in precision mechanical design / product development (scientific instruments, robotics, automation, or similar)
- 3+ years in people leadership (or equivalent), with demonstrated hiring and team-building success.
- Strong system thinking: mechanisms + integration + manufacturing realities
- Comfort working across engineering, machining, assembly, and operations
- SolidWorks proficiency (or equivalent) required
Bonus (not required):
- Experience with vacuum, cryo, microscopy-related systems (TEM/SEM), or high-stability motion/positioning systems
- Familiarity with quality systems, inventory, process improvement, or shop-floor workflows
Why Hummingbird Scientific
- Your work will ship into the hands of researchers at national labs and top-tier universities.
- You’ll lead programs in TEM stages, cryo sample prep, in-situ tools, and automation—with a real roadmap toward autonomy and AI-assisted workflows.
- You’ll have visible impact: team, technology, throughput, and the products themselves.
- We’re growing—capacity, people, and ambition—and you’ll help define what the next phase looks like.
Compensation & benefits
- Hummingbird Scientific offers a generous compensation package based on experience and demonstrated capability, including paid vacation, holidays, sick time, medical and dental benefits, and a company 401(k) plan.
𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: This job is in Lacey, WA
𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: https://zrec.in/4jDGa?source=CareerSite
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What We Do
Hummingbird Scientific builds products for electron, X-ray and ion microscopy with an emphasis on transmission electron microscopes (TEM). In close collaboration with our customers, we design and manufacture all aspects of these complex systems, from mechanical, electrical, and software design to fabrication and assembly. We provide pioneering solutions for applications in nanotechnology, materials science, and biology.
