Head of Research and Development Engineering, Debug

About the job

As the Senior Hardware Engineering Manager for Debug in Singapore, you will serve as the regional technical authority for Debug’s hardware and automation initiatives. You will build, lead, and mentor a high-performing mechanical engineering team while driving the architecture, design, deployment, and maintenance of industrial systems used to rear, sort, release, and monitor mosquitoes at scale.

Working in lock-step with a multidisciplinary, global team of biologists, engineers, and operations leads you will balance the technical execution with team leadership, resource planning, and strategic roadmapping across global release programs.

Responsibilities

• Manage, coach, and grow a team of hardware engineers in Singapore; establish engineering standards, foster career development, set performance expectations, and build a high-ownership engineering culture.
• Lead mechanical and electro-mechanical architecture for high-throughput mosquito biomanufacturing, release, and monitoring systems driving the design reviews, and best practices across the organization.
• Plan engineering roadmaps, allocate team resources, and prioritize deliverables across multiple concurrent R&D and deployment projects to meet the operational timelines.
• Architect and design precision mechanisms, servo-driven robotics, pneumatic handling systems, fluidics, custom end-effectors, and thermal/environmental enclosures.
• Partner closely with biological sciences, software/firmware engineering, and operations leadership to convert biological constraints into robust, high-yield automation hardware.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 12 years of experience in mechanical product design, automated machinery, robotics, or electro-mechanical systems.
• 3 years of experience in people management.
• Experience designing industrial or lab automated systems.
• Experience with modeling CAD software such as SolidWorks.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in biotech automation, life sciences equipment, precision sorting machinery, or high-throughput fluidic/pneumatic handling systems.
• Experience in precision motion control, servo/stepper systems, sensor integration, and robotics.
• Experience with rapid prototyping techniques (3D printing, CNC machining, laser cutting, quick-turn sheet metal) and physical benchtop testing.
• Experience growing and managing high performance hardware teams.