Sr. R&D Engineer (Medical Device)

About the Company

Spirair is a venture capital-backed medical device startup founded by two Stanford Biodesign and Innovation fellows. The company focuses on improving patient outcomes and experience through practical innovation, working alongside respected ENT advisors and experienced industry professionals to create treatment options that are highly effective while remaining minimally invasive.

Role Overview

Spirair is looking for a Senior R&D Engineer to lead product design, development, and manufacturability efforts. In this role, you will help ensure products satisfy customer expectations and manufacturing constraints, collaborate across internal functions, and may work directly with suppliers and physicians. This is an opportunity to contribute to a fast-growing startup at a formative stage.

Key Responsibilities

• Take new product ideas from early concept through market launch, ensuring they solve real market and customer needs.
• Create and introduce new materials, methods, and processes that support development and the transition into manufacturing.
• Contribute actively to ideation sessions, brainstorming, and intellectual property development.
• Use data-driven analysis to support design-change decisions.
• Develop test setups and assembly fixtures for both development work and manufacturing operations.
• Maintain compliance with design control standards, manage development schedules, and work with cross-functional teams to move devices toward commercialization on time.
• Operate effectively under tight deadlines, keeping leadership informed about progress, risks, and blockers.
• Evaluate designs through testing to confirm intended performance and refine products to better address market needs.
• Carry out verification testing to confirm that devices meet defined design inputs.
• Plan and conduct feasibility work throughout development, including external animal and cadaver studies when needed.
• Create supporting tools for marketed products when required.
• Prepare thorough documentation throughout the R&D lifecycle.
• Partner with manufacturing teams to support a smooth handoff into commercial production.
• Take on additional projects and assignments as needed.
• Provide technical input to regulatory, clinical, or sales functions when required.
• Record invention disclosures to help expand the company’s IP portfolio.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or an equivalent qualification.
• Minimum of 5 years of R&D experience in the medical device industry.
• Strong command of SolidWorks for 3D modeling and dimensioned drawings.
• Clear written and verbal communication, along with strong documentation habits.
• Comfort using computers and electronic data capture tools.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities and adapt easily in a startup environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off.
• 401(k) retirement plan.

Work Authorization and Equal Opportunity

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The company is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Employment eligibility and identity verification will be required at hire. Spirair is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds without discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Compensation

The expected base salary for this position is $115,000 to $150,000 per year. Final pay will depend on factors such as experience, qualifications, and internal equity. This role is located in South San Francisco, California.