Description
Only candidates that are eligible to work in the UK and can reliably commute to Edinburgh will be considered.
Based at the Edinburgh Observatory, Metacarpal started as a Strathclyde University project designing a prosthetic hand and was incorporated in 2020. What makes us unique compared to competitors is that we are updating body-powered upper-limb prosthetics, a technology loved by users, but overlooked by prosthetics development, in favour of electronic designs. This point of difference is Metacarpal’s greatest asset and is what will improve amputees’ lives. We have tested our concept with potential customers internationally. We have ambitious growth plans to expand quickly across Europe and North America, then will look to work with charities in the developing world.
We are currently at a proof-of-concept stage in product development and looking to hire a Senior Design Engineer, and a Junior Design Engineer to work alongside a design consultancy and Metacarpal co-founder and Managing Director, Fergal Mackie.
We are looking for someone with an understanding and genuine interest in engineering, mechanical systems and making things. Candidates should demonstrate a can-do attitude, readiness to try different things, and determination to make the project a success, playing an instrumental role in that success.
Work Activities will centrally include:
Lots of Brainstorming, designing, prototyping and testing of mechanical components leading to an agreed pathway and planLots of CAD modelling to achieve the outcomes agreed as a teamMonitoring design progress and writing technical documentation alongside development processes to comply with medical regulations and our quality management systemTrialling prototypes with amputees and prosthetistsWork in conjunction with outsourced manufacturers, product designers competent and materials suppliers to ensure things are progressing in accordance with allocated objectivesIt is expected that the right candidate will have the flexibility to be thrown into the deep end in lots of tasks related to an early-stage start-up, like writing grant applications and sections of business plans, networking contacts, and managing relationships with other businesses like distributors and manufacturers. Experience in these is great, but not essential.
An ideal candidate will have:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering or similar.
Over 5 years of experience in:
- Product development, and have brought products to manufacture, and on the market
- CAD modelling (preferably using Fusion 360, Inventor Solidworks or similar) with the ability to quickly produce 3D models, and assemblies, and create part drawings suitable to be sent for manufacture
- Planning and structuring the design process
- Worked within a regulated framework such as ISO 9001 preferably medical regulations (ISO 13485) and quality management system,
- Experience with rapid prototyping, typically 3D printing, assembling prototypes, and running experiments to test them and then scaling to full manufacture
- Managed design projects themselves and understand how to work collaboratively
If you are an engineer who is committed to joining something new, where you can have an incredible impact within the company, having ownership of the success that it achieves, AND are motivated by being able to improve the lives of amputees then please consider applying; we would love to hear from you.
There is significant room for progression in this role, particularly as the team grows over time, and in the shorter term, when the Managing Director begins fundraising and doing other business-related activities, it is expected that this position will step up and start to lead tasks. We are offering a package (competitive salary, with share options) depending on your specific and relevant experience.
If you are interested, please get in touch by sending your CV, cover letter, and a portfolio, if possible, to info@metacarpal.co.uk