The posting
Job Summary
Join EIT’s AutoLabs team to design, build, and deploy robotic systems that automate scientific work. This is a hands-on role focused on mechanical design and integration, working across electrical systems, software, and control. You will bring these disciplines together to turn scientific requirements and working prototypes into reliable, maintainable machines used in laboratories.
The role requires a strong systems engineering approach: understanding how the complete machine should behave, managing dependencies between subsystems, and verifying performance at system level. You will work with automation scientists and specialist engineers from requirements and concept development through build, commissioning, and operational use.
You will use iterative hardware development practices to test assumptions early, improve designs through practical evidence, and productionise prototypes while maintaining appropriate safety and configuration controls.
We welcome engineers with applied, deployment, or product development experience in industrial automation, robotics, manufacturing, instrumentation, or related fields. Previous laboratory automation experience is valuable but is not essential.
You will be required to work in Oxford 4 days a week for this role.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
- Translate scientific workflows and user needs into system requirements, operating concepts, interfaces, and measurable acceptance criteria.
- Develop integrated robotic and automation system concepts, evaluating trade-offs across mechanical, electrical, software, control, safety, and operational needs.
- Design and develop mechanisms, end-effectors, fixtures, motion assemblies, and machine structures, considering manufacture, assembly, cleaning, and servicing.
- Specify and mechanically integrate sensors, actuators, drives, and control hardware, working with electrical and controls specialists on wiring and interfaces.
- Adapt robot programs and control sequences to support mechanical integration and testing, working with software and controls specialists on equipment coordination, sensing, and fault recovery.
- Plan iterative hardware development through focused prototypes, staged integration, design reviews, and short build–test–learn cycles.
- Maintain system interfaces, design baselines, and configuration records so hardware and software changes remain compatible and traceable.
- Assemble, commission, calibrate, and troubleshoot complete systems in the workshop and at deployment sites, resolving integration issues under operational conditions.
- Contribute to machinery risk assessments and hazard reviews, translating findings into design measures, guarding, interlocks, and safe operating and maintenance arrangements.
- Plan and carry out verification and validation, covering performance, reliability, foreseeable misuse, fault conditions, and recovery from interrupted operation.
- Productionise prototypes and support deployment, working with scientists, technicians, and suppliers to improve usability, repeatability, and maintainability.
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
- Degree or equivalent practical experience in Robotics, Mechatronics, Mechanical, Electrical/Electronic, Control, or a related engineering discipline.
- Experience delivering integrated robotic, automated, or electromechanical systems through build, on-site commissioning, deployment, and troubleshooting in operational environments.
- Practical systems engineering experience, including requirements capture, functional decomposition, interface definition, trade studies, and system-level verification and validation.
- Strong mechanical design capability, with practical understanding of electrical integration, software, and controls.
- Experience applying agile or iterative hardware development practices, using prototypes and test evidence to reduce uncertainty and guide design decisions.
- Experience managing changes across interconnected hardware and software, including configuration control and assessment of system-wide effects.
- Experience designing mechanical assemblies using 3D CAD and producing engineering drawings for manufacture and assembly, with the ability to interpret electrical schematics.
- Ability to develop or modify automation software and control logic using relevant tools, such as Python, C++, PLC programming, or robot programming environments.
- Practical understanding of machinery hazards, risk assessment, and safe design principles, including the distinction between operational software controls and safety-related functions.
- Systematic fault-finding skills and experience testing complete systems against defined requirements.
- Ability to collaborate with scientists, users, and specialist engineers and communicate engineering decisions clearly.
Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
- Experience productionising prototypes or developing machines for sustained operational use.
- Experience with industrial or collaborative robots, custom tooling, precision handling, or multi-axis motion systems.
- Experience contributing to machinery safety assessments, safety-related control design, or conformity assessment with competent specialists.
- Familiarity with failure analysis techniques such as FMEA and their use in design and test planning.
- Experience with design for manufacture and assembly, component sourcing, and supplier coordination.
- Familiarity with communications middleware and industrial protocols connecting equipment, controllers, and automation software.
- Experience with machine vision, calibration, simulation, or automated system testing.
- Experience with modular automation or laboratory processes requiring controlled handling and cleaning.
Key Attributes
- Thinks about the complete system and takes ownership of how its parts work together.
- Practical and resourceful, moving comfortably between design, programming, assembly, and commissioning.
- Balances rapid iteration with safety, engineering discipline, and dependable operation.
- Uses test evidence to make decisions and challenge assumptions.
- Collaborative, curious, and attentive to the needs of scientists, operators, and maintainers.
Benefits
We offer the following salary and benefits:
Enhanced holiday pay
Pension
Life Assurance
Income Protection
Private Medical Insurance
Hospital Cash Plan
Therapy Services
Perk Box
Electric Car Scheme
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Why work for EIT:
At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!
