Founding Prototyping Engineer

ACT Consulting has an immediate need for a Founding Prototyping Engineer with our direct client.

Please take a moment to review the job description.

If this is something you are interested in, please send a copy of your resume to (url removed) or contact us at (phone number removed) for additional details.



Job Title: Founding Prototyping Engineer

Location: Redwood City, CA

Employment Type: Direct Hire





Salary - $120,000-$150,000+ Benefits



Summary

Serve as both engineer and operator, translating mission needs into functioning prototypes that integrate biology, chemistry, and nanotech.

This includes validation from benchtop to battlefield, advanced instrumentation operation, and coordination with defense stakeholders to iterate on real-world solutions.



Responsibilities

• Translate operational gaps into technically feasible engineering initiatives


• Lead end-to-end prototyping and iteration of battlefield biotech (e.g., diagnostics, trauma care)


• Operate and interpret results from AFM, SEM, FTIR, UV-Vis, Raman


• Coordinate cross-functional teams to execute under tight timelines


• Communicate experimental outcomes via white papers, proposals, and briefs


• Travel up to 30% for demos, operator feedback, and field iteration

Must Have

• 2+ years of builder/hacker experience (e.g., self-initiated biotech projects)


• Demonstrated hands-on expertise in biology, nanotechnology, and chemistry


• Advanced instrumentation experience (e.g., AFM, SEM, FTIR)


• B.S. in Chemistry or Biomedical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on capability


• Preference for lab-based backgrounds over computational-only profiles


• Strong communication skills with client-facing experience


• Hacker/builder mindset with fast execution bias


• Willingness to work long hours, on-site, with high ownership

Preferred Qualifications

• Education from a top STEM institution (MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Harvard, etc.)


• Past work on seizure detection, artificial gills, enzyme growth, or nanoparticle R&D


• Strong literature review and rapid experimental iteration capability


• Desire for autonomy and meaningful, real-world impact


• Frustrated by slow academic systems or rigid institutional environments

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Thanks & Regards

Paul Joseph



ACT Consulting













Talent Acquisition Lead

Phone: (phone number removed)

Fax: (phone number removed)

(url removed)








Visit ACT Consulting at (url removed) to view our open positions.