Mechatronic or Mechanical Engineering Manager

Mechatronic orMechanical Engineering Manager —Precision Mechatronics for in-situ electron microscopy systems

Hummingbird Scientific is enteringa new era: building next-generation in-situ electron microscopy  products, , designed for a world movingfast toward automation, autonomy, and AI-assisted microscopy workflows.

Our instruments are used by nationallabs and top-10 research universities, and we’re growing capacity,expanding our production floor, and scaling our engineering team to supportwhat’s next.

We’re hiring an Engineering Managerwho is a true player-coach: a hands-on precision mechanical/mechatronicsengineer who also knows how to build a team, run execution, and deliver.If you love pulling people together, hiring great engineers, and turningcomplex ideas into reliable, manufacturable products - this role has your name onit.

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
  
  

• 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
  
  

• 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
  

• 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
  

• 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.
  
  

• 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
  
• SolidWorksproficiency (or equivalent) 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

Hummingbird Scientific offers agenerous compensation package based on experience and demonstrated capability,including paid vacation, holidays, sick time, medical and dental benefits, anda company 401(k) plan