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