Mechatronic or Mechanical Engineering Manager

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.

Requirements

**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 tool

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

**Job Location:**This job is located on-site in Lacey, WA, USA

Apply here with your resume and cover letter.

Benefits

Compensation:

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