Background:

Description of the role:

Key role focus areas:

• Product design & development: Develop mechanical and physical product solutions for Cerca’s wearable OPM-MEG system, taking concepts through detailed design, prototype build, testing and release.
• Full lifecycle design ownership: Produce and maintain 2D/3D CAD models, manufacturing drawings, design specifications, tolerance analysis, material specifications and design-for-manufacture outputs.
• Requirements & design inputs: Work with engineering, research and commercial teams to understand product requirements and translate them into clear, practical design solutions.
• Design evaluation & testing: Develop and support test plans, test procedures, design evaluations, prototype testing, inspection activities and technical reports to demonstrate that designs meet requirements.
• Design for Manufacture & Assembly: Apply DFMA principles to ensure designs are practical, repeatable, cost-effective and suitable for low-volume or scalable manufacture.
• Supplier & manufacturing support: Work with internal teams and external suppliers to assess manufacturing feasibility, resolve technical issues and support build activities.
• Engineering documentation: Create and maintain clear design documentation, including drawings, specifications, calculations, test reports and design rationale.
• Product improvement: Support design changes, problem-solving activities and continuous improvement as products and processes evolve.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with engineers, scientists, software specialists, manufacturing, quality and commercial colleagues to deliver integrated product solutions.

Required skills & experience:

• Engineering degree (e.g., BSc/HND in Mechanical Engineering) or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrable experience in product or mechanical design engineering, including concept development, 3D CAD, detailed drawings, prototyping, testing and design improvement.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software, ideally Onshape, Siemens NX or similar.
• Ability to produce high-quality engineering documentation, including design specifications, manufacturing drawings, calculations, test plans, test reports and design rationale.
• Good understanding of Design for Manufacture and Assembly, including tolerance analysis, material selection, manufacturing processes and supplier engagement.
• Experience designing with a range of materials and manufacturing processes, balancing performance, durability, weight, cost and manufacturability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with confidence working across technical, manufacturing and supplier-facing activities.
• Self-motivated, pragmatic and comfortable working in a small, fast-moving engineering team.

Desirable (nice to have):

• Experience with FEA or other analytical tools, structural analysis, tolerance stack-up analysis or mathematical modelling.
• Experience with advanced manufacturing techniques, low-volume manufacturing, specialist materials or precision assemblies.
• Experience in magnetic shielding, sensing, low-noise environments, neuroimaging, scientific instrumentation or complex electromechanical systems. 
• Familiarity with quality documentation practices or working within a structured QMS under ISO 9001.

What you will bring to Cerca:

• Product development ownership — the ability to take ideas from concept into robust, documented and manufacturable designs.
• Practical engineering judgement — balancing technical performance, manufacturability, usability, cost and reliability.
• Attention to detail — producing clear, accurate design outputs that support manufacture, testing and future development.
• Problem-solving ability — approaching complex technical challenges with creativity, structure and pragmatism.
• Collaborative energy — working closely with engineers, scientists, software specialists, manufacturing colleagues and suppliers to deliver effective solutions.
• Passion for impact — helping make advanced brain-imaging technology more accessible, usable and impactful.