Mechanical Engineer, Hardware Systems - Card Lab

Primary Work Address: 100 Haven Avenue, New York, NY 10032. About the role Dr. Gwyneth Card’s lab at the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University seeks a creative, experienced, independent Mechanical Engineer to support groundbreaking research in the neural circuits underlying visually‑guided decision‑making in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Responsibilities Provide engineering support for existing behavioral assay systems, including a custom robot for maintaining fly stocks. Design and fabricate new experimental setups for behavioral and neurophysiological experiments in fruit flies. Coordinate hardware and software systems using microcontrollers. Adapt machine‑vision algorithms to extract fly behaviors in real time and offline. Develop computational tools and analysis pipelines for processing and interpreting behavioral assay results. Perform complete project cycles from design to fabrication, with support from university fabrication and machining facilities. Maintain mechanical and database support for the fly‑stock maintenance robot. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in engineering, math, or physics. Comfort designing and building small mechanical and electronic devices. Experience writing code in Python and C++ (MATLAB preferred). Experience with MySQL databases, including creation, querying, and troubleshooting. Experience in data analysis and visualization. Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and precision. Interest in neuroscience and collaboration with biologists. Strong problem‑solving, collaboration, and interpersonal skills. Ability to assimilate new knowledge rapidly, including optics, machine‑vision, and software/hardware integration. Effective communication of engineering principles and coding to biologists. Capacity to multitask and support multiple projects concurrently. Preferred Skills Knowledge in electrical engineering (PCB design, circuit design, soldering). Familiarity with CAD (Autodesk/SolidWorks). Experience with Python, C++, MATLAB, and MySQL. Physical Requirements Remain seated or standing for extended periods. Reach and grasp objects with hands or arms. Use a keyboard and moderate dexterity. Communication using spoken word. Normal vision and hearing. Move materials weighing up to several pounds. Exposure to low‑dose radiation, chemicals, or hazardous substances is possible. Reasonable accommodations considered under ADA. Benefits Competitive compensation and health, welfare benefits. Opportunities for professional development and growth. Collaborative, intellectually stimulating environment. Equal Opportunity Employer HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position is open to all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. #J-18808-Ljbffr Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)