VRNDA Labs is a rapid R&D company solving complex challenges in health and life sciences. Founded in 2021, the company brings together engineers, scientists, and clinicians to tackle novel problems: from point-of-care diagnostics to laboratory automation.

The company operates with a lean, fast-moving approach built on rapid iteration from concept to working prototype, real-world testing, and deployment. VRNDA Labs vertically integrates its own technology, running on solutions it has built and proven in the field before they reach clients.

The portfolio spans custom dispensing systems, smart lab benches with context-aware AI, smart infusion pumps for hospitals, and end-to-end point-of-care diagnostic devices. VRNDA Labs does not simply design solutions; it builds, prototypes, and takes them all the way through commercialization.

The company focuses exclusively on novel challenges that push boundaries and require creative problem-solving. Work is conducted in a multidisciplinary environment where perspectives from engineering, science, and clinical practice converge.

Position Overview

This is a 1 year fellowship for a graduate engineering student looking for a part-time engineering role to bridge their thesis work to the R&D industry. The role will involve a broad scope within laboratory automation and offer a high degree of independent ownership. The successful candidate will take projects from early ideation through prototyping and into deployment, with the expectation of driving work forward autonomously rather than in a supporting capacity.

The role centres on a laboratory automation platform that VRNDA Labs is building in-house. The platform combines motion hardware, fluid handling, and sensing into a benchtop system that performs sample preparation and assay steps researchers currently carry out by hand. It runs in an active wet lab alongside the people using it, so it has to hold up under real benchtop conditions rather than in a fixed and isolated setup.

The candidate will contribute to both the hardware/instrumentation side of the automation projects and the wet lab/experimental side. They will be expected to work fluently across both of these domains. A core part of the role involves translating between scientific requirements and technical feasibility.

We aim for this role to serve as a bridge from graduate research into industry work. The part-time schedule allows the student to work alongside any graduate coursework and thesis research that the hire is involved in.



This will enable the candidate to build real world experience in a fast-paced, highly innovative, engineering environment while finishing their degree and research. The candidate will be well supported, working directly with senior engineers and scientists across the entire design and development cycle, including the potential to publish research related to the project. A candidate whose performance and character make a strong case for a permanent role on the team, may be extended a full-time offer at the end of the term, subject to funding and business needs.

NOTE

NOTE: Candidates interested in this chance who are NOT currently in a graduate research program, but are interested in pursuing a MASc or PhD are encouraged to apply and indicate this interest in their cover letter. There is an opportunity for an excellent candidate to be fast-tracked into a graduate research program supervised by one of our advisors who is a mechatronics engineering professor. They would engage in the graduate degree while simultaneously working under this fellowship opportunity.

Responsibilities

• Own automation engineering projects end-to-end, from concept through to validated, deployable solutions
• Collaborate with the science and research team, contributing to and learning from wet lab experimentation and data-driven iteration
• Design, build, and validate electromechanical systems and instrumentation
• Prepare research output for publication, including conference papers and journal manuscripts, with support from senior staff
• Participate in cross-functional problem-solving, bridging engineering and scientific perspectives
• Communicate project status, findings, and technical decisions clearly to teammates and senior staff
• Take on increasing responsibility over the term, including contributing to team-level outcomes

Required Qualifications

• Enrolled in a Masters or PhD program in an Engineering discipline, or in a closely related field, for the duration of the term.
  
  
  
  (OR be a highly motivated engineer interested in pursuing a graduate research degree.)
• CAD : Demonstrated ability to design mechanical parts and assemblies from scratch for real projects (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or equivalent)
• Electronics design and build : Experience taking a circuit from schematic to a functional physical board, including hands-on debugging experience
• Microcontroller firmware development : Firmware development experience on platforms such as Arduino, STM32, ESP32, or similar; experience building systems where hardware and software communicate over SPI, I2C, UART, or equivalent protocols
• Stepper motors and motion control : Hands-on experience driving and tuning stepper motors; familiarity with CNC-based platforms such as 3D printers or CNC routers
• Closed-loop control : Experience implementing or tuning feedback systems (PID or similar) to meet physical targets
• Aptitude for independent learning : Each project undertaken at VRNDA Labs will require the acquisition of new knowledge and skills; candidates must demonstrate comfort and enthusiasm for self-directed learning

Desired Qualifications

• PCB design : Experience laying out a board in KiCad, EasyEDA, or equivalent; understanding of the path from schematic to manufacturable design
• Proficiency in Python, C/C++, or another object-oriented language
• Wet lab or life sciences exposure : Familiarity with experimental workflows, assay development, fluid handling, or lab instrumentation, through coursework, research, or prior work experience
• Complex electromechanical systems : Experience building or operating systems such as custom robots, automated lab instruments, or comparable platforms
• Hands-on prototyping : Experience working in a shop environment with tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, or basic machining equipment
• Git and version control
• AI and machine learning : Experience building models, working with computer vision, or integrating AI APIs into functional systems; VRNDA Labs has a heavily AI-driven long-term roadmap and candidates with this background will have a strong foundation for the work ahead
• Familiarity with simulation or analysis tools
• Prior publications, or a clear interest in publishing engineering research
• Prior internship, co-op, or research experience in hardware, robotics, medtech, or an R&D environment