Founding Engineer (Hardware)

$200,000 - $200,000/Yr

Recruiting From Scratch - Palo Alto, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Remote - Palo Alto, CA

Administrative and Support Services

About the position

The position is for a hardware engineer at a robotics startup focused on developing an automated delivery platform. The role involves designing and building key components of robotic systems, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and supporting the transition from prototype to production. The ideal candidate will have a strong mechanical engineering background and a passion for innovation in the logistics industry.

Responsibilities

• Develop key parts of robotic systems from initial concepts to scaled manufacturing.
• Gain firsthand knowledge of logistics challenges by participating in actual deliveries and customer tests.
• Brainstorm new designs and features to address customer problems in collaboration with the CTO and software team.
• Utilize CAD, rapid prototyping, and other engineering tools to design, test, and iterate on product designs.
• Create functional requirements, test plans, engineering analysis, and maintenance guides for developed designs.
• Lead pilot builds and support the transition of designs into production.
• Assist in sourcing and managing new team members and contractors as the company grows.

Requirements

• BS or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of hands-on experience developing complex mechanical products from concept to production.
• Mastery of engineering fundamentals and first principles.
• Strong mechanical intuition and skills in crafting proof-of-concept prototypes using hand tools, 3D printing, and milling.
• High proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo, etc.) including complex assemblies and FEA.
• Experience with failure avoidance methods such as FMEA and knowledge of tolerance and vibration analysis.
• Familiarity with lab test instruments and strong understanding of electronics and programming fundamentals.
• Experience building embedded projects in C++ and Python using platforms like Arduino and Raspberry Pi.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience building and deploying robot hardware to production.
• Familiarity with robot EOAT and manipulators such as vacuum pickup or soft robotics.
• Experience with software stack technologies like Docker, Kubernetes, and Git.

Benefits

• Healthcare plan
• 401k
• PTO
• Parental leave
• Equity options