Principal Engineer – R&D (Optics & Hardware)

Company Description

Adiuvo Diagnostics is a techno-social enterprise focused on developing state-of-the-art platform technologies in optoelectronics. Our mission is to aid early disease detection and to enable advanced healthcare diagnostics in low-resource settings. We strive to bring cutting-edge diagnostic technologies to the places they are needed most.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly driven Principal Engineer & Head of R&D (Hardware & Optics) to lead the development of next-generation medical diagnostic devices. This role requires a unique blend of hands-on technical expertise, cross-disciplinary knowledge, and leadership skills. The ideal candidate will not only design and execute cutting-edge R&D projects but also build and mentor a strong engineering team to deliver seamless innovation from concept to commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end R&D activities in hardware, optical systems, and device integration.
• Design, prototype, and validate novel hardware and optics solutions for imaging and diagnostic platforms.
• Translate product requirements into scalable technical designs in close collaboration with software, clinical, and regulatory teams.
• Build, guide, and mentor a multi-disciplinary team, fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
• Oversee data-driven design decisions, ensuring precision, robustness, and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Drive experimental design, testing, and validation, including wet-lab support and cross-functional collaborations.
• Develop and maintain documentation required for regulatory submissions (FDA, CE, CDSCO).
• Manage project timelines, resource planning, and vendor coordination while staying hands-on with technical problem solving.
• Represent R&D leadership in discussions with external partners, investors, and collaborators.

Key Qualifications

• Masters or PhD in Electronics, Optics, Physics, Biomedical Engineering, or related field.
• Strong technical expertise in hardware systems, optical instrumentation, sensors, and imaging technologies.
• Proven experience in leading experimental design, prototyping, and lab-based validation.
• Ability to manage and mentor engineers/scientists, while remaining hands-on in solving complex technical problems.
• Familiarity with regulatory documentation (e.g., ISO 13485, IEC 60601, FDA/CE submissions).
• Strong analytical mindset with ability to assimilate and interpret data.
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to collaborate across clinical, regulatory, and commercial teams.
• Prior experience in medical devices, diagnostics, or imaging platforms is highly desirable.

Why Join Us

This is not a manager-only role it is a hands-on leadership position at the heart of innovation. You will directly shape cutting-edge products, learn continuously across disciplines, and play a pivotal role in building a high-performance R&D organization.