Principal Mechanical Engineer

Bring more to life.

Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology? 

At Cepheid, one of Danaher's 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives—and we're all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact.  

You'll thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. And by harnessing Danaher's system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact – innovating at the speed of life.

At Cepheid, we are passionate about improving health care through fast, accurate, molecular diagnostic systems and tests. As a member of our team, you'll get to make an immediate, measurable impact on a global scale, within an environment that fosters career growth and development. Our mission drives us to develop groundbreaking solutions for the world's most complex health challenges. Together, we bring MORE change to the world.

Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible.

We are seeking a highly experienced and creative Principal Mechanical Engineer to be a technical leader within our product development team.

This is a senior, hands-on role for an expert who can architect and design sophisticated mechanical and mechatronic systems for our next-generation medical devices. You will be responsible for the entire mechanical design lifecycle, from initial concept to high-volume manufacturing. As a key technical authority, you will solve our most complex mechanical challenges, mentor a talented team of engineers, and ensure our designs are robust, manufacturable, and compliant with all medical device regulations.

This position reports to the Director of Hardware Engineering and is part of the R&D department, located in Bengaluru, IDC, India, and will be based on-site.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Demonstrate ability to lead mechanical architecture for complex IVD or medical devices, including precision mechanisms, fluidic systems, thermal control components, and ergonomic enclosures
• Perform in SolidWorks for 3D modeling and 2D drafting, with applied use of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools for structural and thermal simulations, and tolerance analysis using GD&T
• Design for high-volume manufacturing using injection molding, CNC machining, and sheet metal, applying DFM/DFA and selecting ISO 10993-compliant materials validated for sterilization and disinfectant resistance
• Execute design activities within an ISO 13485-compliant Quality Management System, including documentation aligned with FDA 21 CFR Part 820 and IEC 62366 for usability engineering
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to other engineers on the team. Lead formal design reviews and act as the key mechanical stakeholder in cross-functional project meetings

The essential requirements of the job include:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline, conferred by an accredited institution
• Minimum 15 years of mechanical product design and development experience, including full lifecycle ownership from concept through commercialization
• Documented experience in the medical device or life sciences instrumentation industry, with at least one FDA- or ISO-regulated product successfully launched to market
• Expert-level proficiency in 3D CAD software, specifically SolidWorks, with a portfolio demonstrating complex part and assembly design for injection molding
• Advanced application of simulation tools for Finite Element Analysis (FEA), such as Ansys or SolidWorks Simulation, including stress, thermal, and modal analysis validated against physical testing

It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:

• Experience with designing mechatronic systems, including motors, actuators, and robotics
• Experience with microfluidics or opto-mechanical systems
• Familiarity with risk management processes (ISO 14971)
• Strong understanding of root cause analysis and problem-solving methodologies
• Excellent communication and leadership skills

Join our winning team today. Together, we'll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow's science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.

For more information, visit