Your Purpose in the Role
As aHardware and Firmware Engineerspecialising in developing awearable, non-invasive MedTech platform, you will play a pivotal role in designing, testing, and maintaining the electronic systems behind our cutting-edge health monitoring technologies. You will contribute to full life-cycle product development, from concept design, circuit design and PCB development to firmware programming, system integration, and prototype testing. You will ensure the product adheres to regulatory requirements (including MHRA, FDA, CE) and work closely with cross-functional teams to bring innovative, reliable, and safe wearable health-monitoring devices to market. You will also contribute to optimizing the device design for manufacturability and to support regulatory submissions with necessary documentation. In addition, you will work alongside and collaborate closely with our subcontractor product developers. Your work will ensure the seamless creation of a novel wearable platform that incorporates biosensors for real-time, non-invasive health monitoring.
Key Responsibilities
- Circuit Design & PCB Development for Wearable Devices:
- Design and develop analogue and digital circuits optimised for wearable biosensor platforms, prioritising performance, functionality, size, power consumption, and flexibility.
- Create, simulate, and optimise PCB layouts, ensuring performance, manufacturability, and compliance with stringent MedTech standards.
- Conduct schematic capture and layout design for miniaturised, multi-layer boards, ensuring compactness and durability for wearable applications.
- Develop test boards and fixtures.
- Firmware Development for Wearable Systems:
- Develop, test, and maintain firmware in C/C++ for embedded systems, focusing on low-power, real-time processing for continuous health monitoring.
- Implement firmware that interfaces with biosensors and communication modules (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy) for seamless data collection and transmission to mobile or cloud platforms.
- Optimise firmware for energy efficiency to ensure long battery life and reliable operation in wearable devices.
- Board-Level and System-Level Testing for Wearable Platforms:
- Conduct comprehensive functional and performance testing of electronics platforms at both the board and system level, ensuring compatibility with our novel biosensor patches.
- Develop and execute test plans for an integrated platform system.
- Apply systematic fault-finding and debugging processes to resolve hardware/firmware integration issues specific to wearable applications.
- Prototype Assembly & Device Integration:
- Support lab-based assembly of wearable device prototypes, including surface-mount soldering, board-level assembly, and sensor integration.
- Develop and test prototypes.
- Collaborate with electronics and mechanical engineering subcontractors to ensure seamless integration between electronic components and the overall wearable design.
- Wearable Device Testing & Validation:
- Set up and configure electronic test environments for wearable products, ensuring accuracy and repeatability in biosensor data readings and system response times.
- Utilize a range of electronics test equipment to validate signal quality and data transmission performance in wearable applications.
- Apply electrochemical techniques to test and validate the performance of prototypes.
- Collaboration with Subcontractor Product Developers:
- Work closely with external subcontractors involved in product development, providing technical guidance and ensuring alignment with project goals.
- Review and approve subcontractor designs, offering constructive feedback and solutions to maintain design integrity, product performance, and compliance.
- Support subcontractors through clear communication and collaboration, ensuring the successful integration of their components and technologies into the overall wearable platform.
- Monitor subcontractor progress, addressing challenges and ensuring deadlines are met, while maintaining product quality and adherence to specifications.
- Collaboration & Documentation:
- Work closely with cross-functional teams to understand user requirements to translate these into design optimisation.
- Provide technical expertise to support all phases of product development, including product testing procedures.
- Maintain comprehensive technical documentation and design controls for all hardware and firmware components, ensuring regulatory compliance and traceability.
- Continuous Improvement & Innovation in Wearable Technology:
- Stay informed about emerging technologies, trends, and best practice in wearable electronics, biosensor integration, and non-invasive medical devices.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of hardware and firmware develop, with a focus on improving device performance, user comfort, and battery life.
- Innovate in the areas of low-power consumption, flexible electronics, and miniaturisation to meet the unique challenges of wearable devices.
Skills & Experience
Minimum Requirements
- Experience: 3+ years of experience in hardware and firmware engineering roles, ideally within the MedTech or wearable technology space.
- Education: HNC/HND or Bachelor/Masters degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- Wearable Device Design: Strong understanding of the design of miniaturised, low-power circuits for wearable applications.
- PCB Layout: Hands-on experience with PCB design software (e.g., Altium) for multi-layer and compact layouts suitable for wearable devices.
- Firmware Development: Proficiency in embedded C/C++ programming, with a focus on low-power, real-time control and processing for health monitoring applications.
- Testing & Debugging: Proven experience in testing and debugging hardware and firmware systems, with an understanding of the unique challenges in wearable platforms.
- Assembly & Prototyping: Strong skills in electronics assembly, including surface-mount soldering and wearable prototype development.
- Communication Protocols: Familiarity with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and other wireless communication protocols commonly used in wearable health devices.
- Subcontractor Collaboration: Experience in interacting with external subcontractors, ensuring alignment with design specifications, quality standards, and timelines.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced Circuit Design: Experience with electronics design, ultra-low-power microcontrollers, and high-sensitivity biosensor integration for wearables.
- Firmware Optimization: Expertise in power management techniques for wearables, including sleep modes and energy harvesting technologies.
- Wearable Prototyping: Hands-on experience with miniaturization, waterproofing, and creating robust electronics for wearable devices.
- MedTech Regulatory Standards: Knowledge of medical device regulatory standards (e.g., ISO 13485, FDA) and experience in compliance testing.
- Sensor Integration: Familiarity with various biosensor technologies, including electrochemical sensors used in wearable health devices.
- Wearable Data Transmission: Practical experience in optimising wireless data transmission in real-time health monitoring environments.
Who You Are
- A highly motivated individual and passionate about using your engineering skills to improve healthcare outcomes through cutting-edge wearable technology.
- A problem solver with a focus on innovation, especially in designing compact, reliable, and user-friendly wearable devices.
- A collaborative team player who enjoys working with interdisciplinary colleagues, including mechanical engineers, industrial designers, and healthcare professionals.
- A proactive communicator who can effectively guide and collaborate with external subcontractors to achieve shared product goals.
- A self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where product development cycles are rapid and iterative.
- A person who values diversity and inclusion, bringing a range of ideas and approaches to the team.
Benefits
We offer a competitive benefits package, including:
- 24 days holiday + bank holidays and a Christmas closure.
- Connections to the Universities of Bath and Bristol.
- Matched pension.
- Collaborative and inclusive work environment.
- Entry into the vibrant Science Creates ecosystem.
While there may not be a perfect candidate, if this description resonates with you, we would be eager to see your application. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
Start date: Jan 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Primary Location:Bristol, UK
Application process: Please send a letter of interest, CV and the name of 2 referees to
About the company
Our Vision
Transdermal Diagnostics, a spin-out from the University of Bath, is pioneering the development of bio-wearables with a primary focus on enhancing the prevention, diagnosis, and management of chronic conditions. Our revolutionary technology enables non-invasive, continuous co-monitoring of health biomarkers to catalyse a transformative shift in patient care and elevate overall quality of life.
Our Mission
To create the world's first 100% needle-free (and pain-free) Continuous Glucose Monitor. This innovative device is designed to empower individuals living with diabetes, pre-diabetes, and obesity by providing them with personalized biological insights and enabling them to make informed decisions for a healthier lifestyle.
