Staff Hardware Engineer (Fixed-Term Contract)

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or equivalent practical experience.
• 6 years of experience in rapid prototyping, physical assembly, and electromechanical testing.
• Experience with structural and kinematic systems or CAD design for physical mechanisms.
• Experience with rapid prototyping tools (3D printing, fabrication, CNC) and custom electronics/motor controllers.
• Experience working with actuators, motors, motor drivers, and software simulation.

Preferred qualifications:

• PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  
• Experience working with animatronics or characterful robots.
• Experience working in Human Robot Interaction labs.
• Experience with kitting, wire routing, and board integration in a fast-paced hardware lab environment.
• Expertise in robotics mechanical design, including considerations for dynamic loads, shock/vibration isolation, and thermal management.
• Proficiency in advanced CAD modeling, Finite Element Analysis, and rapid fabrication techniques.

About the job

As a Mechatronics Engineer on a 1-year fixed-term contract, you will focus on modifying platforms, rapid prototyping, and experimenting with new designs to inform our robotics efforts. You will be working in a cross-functional team of designers, AI researchers, HRI scientistics to develop experiential proof points. In this role, you will leverage expertise in 3D design, rapid prototyping tools, actuators, mechanisms, motor controllers, and simulation to rapidly prototype, assemble, and bring up next-generation characterful robots.

Responsibilities

• Lead efforts for the documentation of the hardware design, its implementation, or test/validation results throughout the product life cycle.
• Design and prototype new robot form factors in collaboration with designers and AI researchers, utilizing 3D design tools, fabrication methods (3D printing), motor controllers, and simulation.
• Modify existing small robotic platforms (e.g., Open Duck Mini, Reachy Mini, Microduck) to enhance capabilities for expressivity and AI control, including upgrading servos and hardware components.
• Design, integrate, and test electronic sub-systems, including motor controllers and sensors, to support custom physical mechanisms.