R&D Intern

Company Summary:

VQ Biomedical, based in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina, is an early-stage medical device company focused on developing an innovative central venous catheter which delivers oxygen directly to the bloodstream in critically ill ICU patients suffering from lung injury and respiratory failure.   VQ is developing the first minimally-invasive alternative to mechanical ventilation and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) that can deliver supplemental oxygen independent of the injured lungs allowing them to heal, rest, and recover.   

Position Summary:

The Research and Development Intern will play a key role in supporting the design, development, verification and validation of new products from concept through regulatory clearance and into production. Reporting to the Senior R&D Engineer, the ideal candidate will be a self-starter with a strong work ethic, integrity, and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team. They must be proactive and thrive in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.  This is an exciting opportunity to join an accomplished team during an early phase of 1^st generation product design.   

The specific roles and responsibilities include those listed below.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Contribute on a new product development team to develop a central line venous catheter and catheter accessories
• Write formal protocols
• Assemble and test prototypes
• Design, assemble and test fixtures   
• Create and maintain design control related documentation such as risk and usability assessments, user needs, and design inputs. Comply with requirements of design controls and other regulatory bodies
• Support engineering changes and prototype builds
• CAD Modeling and test fixture development
• Help with identifying and procuring parts and supplies used in the catheter design and testing
• Generate and process Engineering Change Orders
• Support report writing for in-house and academic studies
• Participate in lab and animal testing by ordering supplies and setting up test benches
• Collect, process and report test data
• Support quality and design improvement projects
• Other duties as required

 Skills/ Qualifications: 

• Student pursuing BS/MS in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical or BME preferred)
• Data analysis and database management experience (collect, analyze and summarize data)
• Demonstrated ability to effectively balance multiple priorities
• Independent self-starter
• Ability to write in a clear, concise and objective manner using proper grammar and English
• Strong organizational skills when analyzing data and focus on record keeping and record integrity
• Familiarity with SolidWorks, CAD, Mechanical Design, and Statistical Analysis
• Ability to program in Python or C++ a plus

• Focus on collaboration: between co-workers, customers and hospital staff
• Strong customer-service work ethic with a “patient first” mentality
• Ability to shift focus in a rapidly changing environment
• Good prototyping skills - formulation of creative ideas to demonstrate idea feasibility and ability to assemble and test prototypes 

Other Requirements and Details: 

• Part-time, hourly role based in Raleigh-Durham North Carolina

VQ Biomedical is interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.

VQ Biomedical is an equal opportunity employer. As such, we provide employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, military service, or other characteristics protected by law.