Senior Hardware Engineer, Robotics

Location: On-site in San Carlos, California, United States

Base pay: $160,000–$200,000 per year, depending on skills, qualifications, and experience

Company

Build smart, collaborative, robust, safe, flexible, and autonomous warehouse robots in an early-stage robotics and AI startup.

What you will do

• Design, prototype, and iterate custom robot PCBs from schematic capture through board layout.
• Perform hands-on hardware bring-up, debugging, testing, bench modifications, and rapid prototyping across the current robot fleet.
• Help define electrical architecture and inform next-generation robot design.
• Generate design documentation and lead design reviews.
• Collaborate with mechanical, firmware, and software engineers to meet performance requirements and optimize hardware/firmware interfaces.
• Support firmware integration, testing, debugging, and the transition of boards from prototype to production with fabrication houses and contract manufacturers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of experience in electrical or hardware engineering.
• Strong electrical and embedded systems fundamentals.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout; Altium is preferred.
• Proven experience releasing boards to production with designs meeting EMC compliance requirements.
• Hands-on experience debugging complex electromechanical hardware with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and DMMs.
• Familiarity with USB, I2C, SPI, UART, RS485, and similar communication protocols.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, early-stage startup environment and pivot as priorities change.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to technical and cross-functional audiences.

Nice to have

• Firmware development in C.
• Python scripting and comfort working in Linux environments.
• Proficiency with microcontrollers, preferably the STM32 family.
• Familiarity with BLDC motors and motor control.
• Background in robotic or mechatronic systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative, fast-paced early-stage startup environment with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.
• Stock options and growth opportunities.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Flexible vacation and sick leave practices.
• Paid parental leave.