About Us We are a team of passionate individuals, developing ground-breaking biological technologies designed to sustainably, and safely control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock. We do this work to improve lives and livelihoods around the world in the face of the growing threats that pests pose to human health and the global food supply. Whilst what we do relates to developing pest control technologies, Oxitec is about people and is in service to people. We are strongly committed to a set of values, principles, and behaviours, and foster a culture of trust, respect, creativity, and accountability. Click here to learn more, and here to read our CEO’s blog about trust and our culture. Purpose of the Job The Mechanical Engineer will play a key role in contributing technical expertise to the design, development, manufacture, and maintenance of innovative automated insect rearing equipment. This role is integral to achieving company objectives and advancing cutting edge technology and solutions in insect production. In this position it will be essential to collaborate with biologists, data scientists, and the wider Engineering team, working on projects from initial concept generation and requirements definition through to final deployment. Creativity, adaptability and a willingness to take on new challenges are essential to tackle diverse projects, often outside of one’s comfort zone. As a valued member of the Engineering team, there will be opportunities for professional growth while directly impacting the development of high-quality, mission-critical products. A self-starter attitude, familiarity with agile methodologies, and the ability to meet deadlines are key to success in this role. Additionally, strong communication skills and a passion for Oxitec’s mission will be essential, with the ability to work independently whilst maintaining a strong team ethos, ability to adhere to best workshop practices, and following health and safety and containment protocols. Responsibilities Create, design, assemble and refine versions of the next state-of-the-art insect rearing system. Prepare and present proof of concepts, proposals and templates. Develop end to end engineering projects, from generating concepts, 3D models, and prototypes for testing and manufacturing for final assembly. Collaborate with project managers, scientists and engineers to complete projects on time. Ensuring all work meets industry standards and complies with health and safety and containment regulations and protocol. Effectively co-ordinate and communicate project timelines to the R&D Team Leads and Group Leads. Ensuring fabrication and assembly of custom equipment meets high-quality standards. Identifying and troubleshooting system issues, providing necessary repairs. Provide technical input to R&D, data science, field, regulatory and quality teams to ensure alignment with project goals. Adapt to changing project requirements and deadlines, delivering solutions in a dynamic environment. Skills, Experience, and Education Requirements Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or related field or exceptional technical abilities appropriate for the role. 2-5 years of hands-on experience in mechanical engineering is preferred but not essential, and preferably in biotech, life sciences, or agricultural industries. Demonstrated experience with the full product lifecycle, including conceptual design, prototyping, manufacturing and deployment. Experience in regulated environments and compliance with health, safety and containment standards. Proficiency in CAD software (specifically SolidWorks) to create working models and materials for the wider team. Confident in a workshop environment and able to assemble own designs from starting materials. Confidence and ability to work outside of comfort zone and be able to rapidly become familiar with new materials, processes, and technologies, often by self-directed learning. Strong problem-solving skills and critical-thinking abilities for innovative solutions and development. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for collaboration with cross-functional teams. Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks to a high-quality standard whilst meeting rigid deadlines. Strong attention to detail to ensure accurate recording of data is maintained. Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Behavioural Requirements Committed to and passionate about Oxitec’s mission and values. Responsive to the needs of an international business working across different time zones, adapting working patterns in-line with business requirements. Positive, humble, co-operative, and professional. Employ a flexible approach to problem-solving. Resilient and persistent in an innovative and constantly changing environment.