Hardware Test Engineer (Robotics)

Location: Watertown, MA; on-site

Company

Builds and deploys AI-powered robots for palletizing and case picking in warehouses and factories across the US, with a manufacturing facility in Watertown, MA.

What you will do

• Define and build production test environments covering components, subassemblies, bring-up, end-of-line testing, and Factory Acceptance Testing.
• Develop test procedures, pass/fail criteria, test coverage, fixtures, automated scripts, and diagnostic tools for critical robot components.
• Build returned-component testing and failure-analysis processes, confirming failures, identifying root causes, and coordinating corrective actions with suppliers, Engineering, and Manufacturing.
• Analyze manufacturing and field failure data, identify repeat-failure trends, and provide recommendations to Manufacturing and Engineering.
• Debug robots on the production line and improve processes to prevent defects from escaping to customer sites.
• Ensure test results are recorded in the MES and linked to robot and component serial numbers for traceability.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, or Mechatronics Engineering.
• Typically 3–6 years of experience in test, reliability, quality, or production engineering for electromechanical hardware.
• Hands-on debugging with oscilloscopes, meters, and diagnostic tools across power systems, PCBAs, motors, sensors, and communication interfaces.
• Experience writing test procedures, defining pass/fail criteria, and building test fixtures or automated tests.
• Experience with failure analysis and root-cause methods including 8D, 5 Whys, fishbone, and FMEA.
• Ability to work with failure data, identify trends, and make recommendations.
• Daily hands-on use of AI tools such as Claude in engineering work.
• Willingness to work on the production floor and build processes where none previously existed.

Nice to have

• Experience in robotics, industrial automation, or startups.
• Python experience for test automation and data analysis.
• Reliability engineering experience with life testing, HALT/HASS, or MTBF analysis.
• Experience with RMA, MRB, or supplier corrective action (SCAR).
• Experience with MES and traceability systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Build the test and reliability system for a new generation of robots from the ground up.
• See the direct impact of testing and reliability work on robots operating at customer sites.
• Work closely with the Head of Manufacturing and hardware and production engineering teams.
• Values include ownership, hands-on problem solving, urgency, continuous learning, mutual trust, forward movement, and customer focus.