Engineering Co-op - Fluidics (May /… at DropletPharma · Inglewood

DropletPharma is funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to build breakthrough microscale systems that transform radiopharmaceutical discovery and production. Our goal is to dramatically accelerate the development of life-saving cancer therapies and improve patient outcomes at scale.

This is not a typical internship — what you build will go directly into real systems actively being developed for clinical and research use. Our past interns have presented directly to ARPA-H program managers overseeing multi-million-dollar project portfolios, and we make a deliberate effort to ensure you have the same opportunity.

You will gain hands-on experience building real hardware in a fast-moving startup environment, with significant ownership and visibility into system-level design. You will contribute directly to systems designed to accelerate the development of life-saving therapies.

As a Fluidics Engineering intern on our team, you will be tasked with taking ownership and implementing core improvements to fluidic systems for our flagship platforms. This is a highly hands-on, in-person role based in Los Angeles, CA from May 2026 until December 2026.

What work you’ll be doing during your internship:

• Designing, implementing, testing, and characterizing mechanical, pneumatic, and fluidic subsystems for our radiopharmaceutical production and discovery systems
• Fabricating microscale consumables including plastic manufacturing, assembly and bonding
• Building, assembling, and integrating microfluidic chips into mechanical, pneumatic, electronic, and fluid-handling subsystems within prototype instruments
• Designing and building custom test fixtures, diagnostic tools, and instrumentation to rapidly evaluate chip prototypes and subsystem performance
• Developing and performing QC protocols to evaluate chip yield, bonding strength, channel integrity, dimensional accuracy, and overall manufacturing performance
• Analyzing microfluidic behavior to identify failure modes, optimize geometries, and improve fluidic, pneumatic, and thermal performance
• Conducting chemical compatibility testing on chip materials and fabrication procedures to ensure reliable operation with radiochemical reagents, solvents, acids/bases, and buffers

Requirements

What we’re looking for:

• Pursuing B.S. degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or similar
• Fabrication and assembly of complex systems (mechanical, electromechanical, fluidic, pneumatic)
• Device design experience using Solidworks or another CAD tool
• Familiarity with real-time control systems for pumps, valves, sensors or other fluidic components
• Experience testing and troubleshooting system operation and performance
• Comfortable with material processing and safe handling of chemicals

Experience that would be great, but not required:

• Hands-on experience with microfluidic chip fabrication, bonding and assembly
• Machine shop or microfabrication facility experience (3D printing, Laser Cutting, CNC Milling, Microfabrication)
• Experience with electronics and microcontrollers
• Working knowledge of design of experiments and statistical analysis tools such as ANOVA, significance analysis, etc.

Qualities we look for in your work (We strongly encourage you to highlight personal, club, or research projects):

• At least one exceptional project or accomplishment you are proud of
• A first-principles, deeply logical approach to engineering problems
• Demonstrated curiosity and drive to understand how systems actually work
• Clear examples of overcoming technical challenges or roadblocks
• Experience collaborating across disciplines (electrical, software, mechanical, biological)
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment and deliver under tight timelines
• Comfort taking ownership in a startup setting, including proposing impactful improvements
• Strong communication skills across written, verbal, and presentation formats

Benefits

Compensation & Logistics:

• Hourly rate: $25–35/hour, depending on experience and education
• This is a full-time, in-person role in Los Angeles, CA
• We are unable to sponsor visas for this position; applicants must be authorized to work in the United States

Ensuring purpose and belonging at our company:

Cancer and other debilitating diseases don’t discriminate, and neither do we. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. DropletPharma is committed to providing the best possible environment to ensure that our team members feel valued and have purpose in the work they do.