Senior Field Deployment Engineer

About the company

Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biotechnology with light. Our first-of-its-kind optogenetic platform delivers unprecedented control, precisely guiding cellular behavior when and where it matters most. Unlike existing tools used to control biology, our technology enables dynamic, tunable control over virtually any cellular function in any cell type. We're enabling partners to unlock robust efficiency, quality, and reproducibility advantages across the most complex pharmaceuticals and therapeutic proteins. Prolific is supported by leading investors, including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mayfield and SOSV.

Your tasks

This is a hands-on engineering role that offers the opportunity to build deep expertise in optical systems, robotic calibration and automation, and the characterization of light interactions with biological systems. This role will own the execution and continuous improvement of optical calibration processes for illumination systems and the characterization of hardware system optical properties and biological optical properties. You will work closely with the Lead Optical Engineer to enable optical simulations, modeling, prototyping, and experiments that inform system design and performance. This individual will collaborate with Hardware, Data, Biology, and Bioprocess Engineering teams on projects aimed at understanding the complex relationship between light delivery methods, bioreactor conditions, and cell culture performance. The work will span laboratory experimentation, optical characterization, data analysis, simulation, and system development, helping translate fundamental insights into reliable engineering solutions. Over time, this role will develop increasing ownership of optical subsystems and technical projects that ultimately enable faster and cheaper therapeutics manufacturing and expand the range of applications made possible by Prolific’s illumination technology. Success in this position requires strong systems thinking and comfort operating both as a scientist and as an engineer. The ideal candidate enjoys working in person, operating close to real-world systems, and is comfortable applying and developing skills to pioneer solutions in an area where academic research is sparse. This role will be primarily based on-site in Emeryville, CA.

• Lead hands-on installation, integration, startup, and commissioning of alpha, beta, and deployed systems.
• Troubleshoot and quickly fix complex system-level issues across optical, mechanical, electrical, software, controls, using experiments, diagnostics, and historical data. Often in time-critical situations, with remote-only support from SMEs, in new configurations or environments, and with limited reference documentation.
• Own major deployments from site readiness and planning through commissioning, handoff, and ongoing support.
• Develop deployment plans, site requirements, commissioning procedures, system tests, and acceptance criteria.
• Work directly with customers and partners during deployment, including technical training, scheduled maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Serve as a key technical collaborator in defining Prolific's hardware field deployment strategy, using field experience to inform system architecture, installation, serviceability, and operational workflows.
• Own and improve deployment documentation, including facilities checklists, training materials, SOPs, and field procedures.
• Partner cross-functionally to identify root causes, resolve field issues, and translate deployment learnings into product and process improvements.
• Develop tools and processes that improve deployment reliability, repeatability, efficiency, and scalability.
• Perform engineering upgrades to field deployed equipment, owning the end-to-end process.
• Mentor junior engineers and field technicians in systems integration, commissioning, troubleshooting, and field engineering practices.
• Perform test engineering functions (developing, executing, documenting, and improving tests) on deployable and prototype systems and subsystems.

Requirements

• BS or MS with 5+ years of relevant engineering experience, or equivalent experience owning the deployment of complex engineering systems required for the Sr. Engineer level. Additional experience expected at the Staff Engineer level.
• Experience deploying, commissioning, integrating, and supporting prototype systems in laboratory, manufacturing, or customer environments.
• Experience transitioning R&D systems into manufacturing or production environments.
• A customer-focused mindset with a proven track record of achieving internal as well as external project success with delighted customers.
• Strong systems engineering mindset with the ability to troubleshoot interactions across mechanical, electrical, optical, software, controls, and process systems.
• Experience independently leading technical projects or engineering workstreams, including commissioning, validation, acceptance testing, or qualification.
• Strong experimental and analytical skills, with the ability to design tests, analyze data, isolate failure modes, and develop practical engineering solutions.
• Experience with sensors, instrumentation, data acquisition, and automated test equipment; ability to read mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and system documentation.
• Strong technical communication and documentation skills, with experience working directly with customer engineering, facilities, manufacturing, or operations teams.
• Willingness to travel regularly to customer and deployment sites (domestic and international) and work hands-on with hardware in a dynamic startup environment. Travel estimated to be 30-40%.

• Experience deploying laboratory automation, bioprocessing equipment, manufacturing systems, robotics, optical systems, or complex scientific instrumentation.
• Experience with bioreactors, cell culture, pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotech equipment, or laboratory automation.
• Experience with optical systems, LEDs, spectrometers, photodiodes, or optical measurement equipment.
• Experience with industrial controls, PLCs, motion systems, robotics, or automation.
• Experience with commissioning and qualification in regulated or highly controlled environments.
• Familiarity with GxP, GMP, or GLP environments.
• Experience with structured root-cause analysis methods such as FMEA, fault-tree analysis, or 5 Whys.
• Experience with CAD, mechanical prototyping, or 3D printing.

• Enjoy taking complex systems from development through successful real-world deployment.
• Comfortable being hands-on with hardware and working directly with systems in the field.
• Highly experienced engineering generalist or specialist in electronics with a background in troubleshooting complex systems under time pressure with limited additional support.
• Naturally think across disciplines and enjoys solving problems spanning mechanical, electrical, optical, software, and biological systems.
• Take ownership of problems through resolution.
• Have a service mindset and take pride in delighting customers
• Comfortable troubleshooting ambiguous problems and developing experiments to determine what is actually happening.
• Thrive in a dynamic startup environment with evolving requirements.
• Communicates clearly with engineers, scientists, operators, and customers.
• Look for opportunities to turn one-off solutions into repeatable processes, tools, and engineering practices.
• Excited to help shape how Prolific's hardware is deployed and supported as the company scales.
• Enjoy mentoring other engineers and sharing technical knowledge.

What we offer

Benefits: Generous equity package in an early stage company, retirement plan with company contribution, flexible PTO with healthy time off minimums, company-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, career coaching, mental health support, free team lunches everyday, great snacks, and companywide social events! Diversity: Prolific Machines values diverse perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where all employees can bring their authentic selves to work and have equal opportunities to succeed. Prolific Machines is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Location: The San Francisco Bay Area (Emeryville, CA)