Senior PAPRs Systems Engineer
About the Role & Team Technology is advancing biological risk faster than biodefense has kept pace, and ProEquip was built to close that gap. Our BioProtection platform defines and delivers the protective equipment required to maintain critical operations when it matters most. We are focused on respiratory protection for the workers society depends on, including power generation and distribution, law enforcement and first responders, key manufacturing, healthcare, and more. We are seeking a Senior PAPR Systems Specialist with deep, bench-level command of how complete PAPR systems work to help us identify, rigorously evaluate, and where necessary improve the most capable platforms available. This person will help design and direct technical evaluations across multiple manufacturing partners, develop the quality standards we require of our suppliers, and build the frameworks needed to manage high-performance equipment over multi-year stockpile horizons. It is a role for a rare kind of technical expert, one who has spent a career mastering these systems and is now looking for a mission worthy of that expertise. The Senior PAPR Systems Specialist will not be constrained to one company's platform or a single product roadmap. You will bring your full depth of knowledge to bear across a range of systems, with the independence to make conclusions and the organizational backing to act on them. The workers we protect, those who keep the power on, maintain order, and sustain critical infrastructure when everything else is at risk, deserve equipment that has been evaluated with exactly this level of rigor. If that mission compels you, we want to hear from you. This is a full-time position based in Berkeley, CA (remote considered with frequent travel), reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer.
What You Will Do
No two days look exactly alike, but here's the core of what you'll own: System Evaluation and Partner Assessment Help design and direct structured technical evaluations of PAPR systems from multiple OEM and manufacturing partners Assess strengths, weaknesses, and suitability of each system for ProEquip's target use cases, including healthcare, law enforcement, power generation, and key manufacturing environments, among others Develop comparative evaluation frameworks across all major subsystems: headtop and breathing tube design, fan and motor design, battery and power management, electronics and controls, filter media compatibility, pressure drop performance, and injection molded components and housing Produce concise technical assessment reports suitable for executive, partner, and regulatory audiences Test Plan Development and Lab Execution Design and direct test plans to validate or stress-test system performance claims, using ProEquip's Berkeley lab infrastructure including flow rate stands, battery and runtime systems, and EN 12941/12942 breathing resistance equipment Define pass/fail criteria and measurement protocols aligned with NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84, EN 12941, and EN 12942 Identify failure modes, performance gaps, and design risks across evaluated systems before they become field problems Collaborate with the applied research and lab operations teams to execute test protocols efficiently and with scientific rigor Quality Systems and Supplier Oversight Define the quality systems and standards ProEquip requires of third-party PAPR suppliers, and assess whether existing supplier quality programs meet those requirements Develop quality management frameworks for ProEquip's own operations, including long-term stockpile management protocols for complete PAPR systems, batteries, and consumable components Establish shelf-life, inspection, and maintenance standards appropriate for multi-year stockpile deployments in varied storage environments Improvement Direction and Partner Engagement Translate test findings and quality assessments into specific, actionable improvement recommendations for partner manufacturers Serve as a credible technical voice in discussions with OEM partners, helping ProEquip negotiate performance requirements and design changes from a position of deep domain knowledge Contribute to ProEquip's broader PAPR research agenda, including source control, transmission science, and reusability studies What We’re Looking For 10+ years of hands-on engineering experience with PAPR systems, spanning development, testing, and technical leadership. Deep working knowledge of PAPR subsystems: airflow dynamics, filtration media and efficiency, fan and blower design, headtop and breathing tube geometry, power systems, electronics integration, and manufactured component design. Fluency with relevant standards, including NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84, EN 12941, EN 12942, and related test method references within the CFR. Experience designing and executing test plans for respiratory protective equipment, with the ability to translate results into defensible technical conclusions. Practical understanding of quality systems and supplier qualification in a regulated or safety-critical manufacturing environment. Ability to evaluate systems made by others with objectivity and independence, regardless of brand or prior affiliation. Strong technical communication skills: able to write clear assessments and present findings credibly to non-specialist audiences. Background in industrial hygiene, human factors, or field deployment of PAPR in complex environments is a plus.
Nice to Have
Prior experience at a major respiratory protection manufacturer strongly preferred Education A bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline is required. A master’s degree in a relevant field, including Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health and Safety, or Aerosol Science, is preferred. Candidates with equivalent hands-on experience designing, testing, or evaluating PAPR or respiratory systems will be considered in lieu of a formal degree.