Graduate Engineer

About the Company

PAQ Laboratories, known publicly as The Experiment Company, focuses on specialist honey analysis to help New Zealand beekeepers lift the value of their product. The business developed New Zealand’s first diagnostic kit for confirming Kanuka honey potency and authenticity using distinctive chemical markers. Its mission is to make scientific analysis easier to understand and more usable for the honey sector, with the long-term goal of setting the worldwide benchmark for AGP and antibacterial testing for honey producers and packers.

Role Overview

This opportunity is for a motivated, practical Graduate Mechatronics Engineer to help evolve an internally developed imaging prototype into a market-ready automated system. The role covers the full product journey for a compact, benchtop, high-precision camera-based instrument that rapidly examines custom antimicrobial inhibition assay plates for honey quality control and functional food testing.

It is aimed at a recent Master’s or PhD graduate who wants broad, end-to-end exposure to prototype development, embedded systems, mechanical integration, and product validation while contributing to an innovative New Zealand project in food science and nutritional immunomodulatory testing.

Prototype Design and Development

• Create, refine, and improve the device’s mechanical elements, including the enclosure, precision drawer or tray system for assay plates, camera mount, LED lighting assembly, and button interface.
• Improve the plate-loading mechanism so it is dependable, repeatable, and simple for users to operate.
• Partner with external contractors on 3D printing, CNC work, and designs that can transition into injection-moulding production, moving the current 3D-printed concept toward a finished and manufacturable product.
• Make sure the design suits laboratory use, including chemical resistance, easy-to-clean surfaces, compact size, ergonomic operation, and an IP54+ level of protection.

Embedded Systems Integration

• Build and implement embedded hardware and firmware for the complete system, covering camera control, high-precision imaging, multi-spectrum LED control, QR code scanning, motor and servo operation for the drawer mechanism, touchscreen interaction, and data capture.
• Connect sensors, actuators, and communication interfaces such as USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi so the device works smoothly with the user interface and LIMS or cloud systems.
• Develop real-time control software that supports automated steps such as plate detection, image capture, lighting optimisation, and passing data into the analysis software.

Testing, Validation, and Proof of Concept

• Plan and run thorough prototype testing across mechanical reliability, imaging repeatability, lighting consistency, thermal behaviour, and resilience in varied environments.
• Check system performance using custom assay plates, measuring binding zones and inhibition zones against manual techniques and reference standards.
• Diagnose and resolve hardware and software integration issues, then guide the system toward a reliable proof-of-concept stage suitable for pre-production.
• Keep detailed records of designs, tests, and validation work to support regulatory and manufacturing transfer.

Collaboration and Continuous Improvement

• Work side by side with the software and AI team, assay development scientists, and industrial designers.
• Bring forward ideas that improve usability, appearance, cost, and manufacturability.
• Assist with technical documents, user manuals, and intellectual property submissions.

Requirements

The employer is looking for a candidate with a Master’s degree or PhD in Mechatronics Engineering from a New Zealand university, and the degree must have been completed in 2026.

Technical Background

• Solid grasp of mechatronic systems, combining mechanical design, embedded electronics, and control systems.
• Ability to work in CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or Onshape.
• Hands-on experience with embedded platforms like Arduino, ESP32, STM32, Raspberry Pi, or similar, plus firmware coding in C/C++.
• Understanding of sensors, actuators, motor control, and camera integration.
• Basic programming ability, preferably in Python, for testing and data analysis.
• Familiarity with 3D printing and rapid prototyping methods.

Personal Attributes

• A strong problem-solving approach with a practical, results-oriented mindset.
• Enthusiasm for creating physical prototypes and seeing them move from concept to reality.
• Clear documentation habits and strong communication skills.
• Comfort working independently and also contributing to a small agile team.
• Interest in food technology, honey science, or health and nutritional products would be an advantage.

What’s Offered

• Responsibility for a complete hardware product, from prototype through proof of concept.
• Exposure to commercialisation topics such as aesthetics, manufacturability, and user experience.
• Guidance from experienced engineers and scientists.
• A competitive graduate-level salary and benefits in Auckland.
• The chance to work on a product that combines advanced engineering with meaningful real-world impact in functional foods and honey quality control.
• Opportunities to collaborate with the science community at Future House, Outset Ventures, a hub for New Zealand deep-tech innovation.

Application Instructions

Applicants should send a CV, cover letter, and portfolio, or links to mechatronics and embedded projects, prototypes, or GitHub repositories, to the company email address provided in the original listing.

The employer welcomes applications from candidates who may not satisfy every requirement. People who are keen on building real products, experimenting with electronic components, writing some code, and helping make science more accessible are encouraged to apply.

In the cover letter, applicants should describe a mechatronics project they have completed, the project’s outcome, what they learned, and how they would improve it.