Automation & Prototyping Engineer
- Role Title: Automation & Prototyping Engineer
- Target Level: Entry to Mid-Level (1–3+ years of experience, including student design teams, university research labs, personal builds, or industry roles)
- Organization: Hardware Automation, Robotics & Physical Intelligence Validation
- Location: San Jose / Mountain View, CA (On-Site Labs)
- Engagement Type: Full-Time Contract (On-Site)
🌟 About the Role
Join our robotics and hardware automation engineering team to help scale automated testing platforms, build new hardware prototypes, validate next-generation XR devices, and build infrastructure for agentic workflows.
Our lab pairs AI agents with real-world physical machines such as high-precision robotic arms and custom electromechanical test rigs to interact with wearable devices the way real people do.
We are looking for a curious, hands-on all-rounder engineer with a strong software foundation who also enjoys getting their hands dirty with embedded boards, wiring, basic circuits, and physical prototyping. Be aware upfront that this is a high-intensity, full-time on-site lab role where hardware and software move fast every day. You will collaborate in a multi-disciplinary robotics, software, and hardware lab on prototypes and automation platforms built to scale to thousands of units worldwide, with room to take on broader technical deliverables across new test rigs and robotic platforms as you ramp up.
🎯 Responsibilities
Scale Automated Testing Platforms:
- Write, maintain, and debug clean Python software and scripts that control robotic test stations, actuators, cameras, audio hardware, and automated validation sequences for next-generation XR devices.
- Help deploy, calibrate, and bring up multi-unit fleets of automated testing stations so they run reliably at scale.
Build Infrastructure for Agentic Physical Intelligence:
- Help build the software bridges, hardware interfaces, and test harnesses that connect AI agents to physical sensors, microcontrollers, and automated test rigs in closed-loop workflows (with opportunities to interface with broader lab platforms such as robotic arms and humanoid robots as projects expand).
- Collect logs, sensor telemetry, and run data to help engineers diagnose failures and measure system performance.
Hands-On Prototyping, Embedded Bring-Up & Bench Debugging:
- Help build, wire, solder, and assemble new electro-mechanical test prototypes and sensor fixtures in a multi-disciplinary robotics, software, and hardware lab.
- Bring up and interface with basic embedded systems and single-board computers (such as ESP32, Raspberry Pi, or Arduino) over USB, serial, or GPIO/I2C.
- Troubleshoot hardware and software issues on the workbench, including debugging basic circuits (checking power rails, common grounds, continuity, logic levels, and serial/I2C lines) and isolating mechanical vs. electrical vs. software bugs.
- Pitch in on rapid 3D CAD bracket tweaks, 3D printing, or electronics rework.
📋 Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science (CS), Electrical Engineering (EE), Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE), Robotics, or equivalent practical experience gained through hands-on extracurricular engineering activities.
- Hands-On Experience: 1 to 3+ years of practical experience building software-connected hardware, robotics, or engineering projects (experience on student engineering design teams, university research labs, or personal maker builds counts directly; prior corporate work experience is not required).
- Strong Software Foundation: Solid programming skills in Python (with C/C++ as a plus for microcontroller work), comfort working in a command-line ( CLI) environment, and familiarity with Git.
- Basic Embedded Systems: Working understanding of basic embedded platforms and single-board computers (such as ESP32, Raspberry Pi, or Arduino) and interfacing them with sensors or actuators.
- Basic Circuit Debugging & Bench Willingness: Understanding of basic circuit fundamentals (power rails, common grounds, continuity) with the ability to debug basic circuits using a multimeter and willingness to learn hands-on soldering and wiring on-site.
- End-to-End Project Execution: Demonstrated track record of seeing a technical project through from concept to working result (for example, building and debugging a subsystem or tool on a student design team, university research lab project, capstone, or personal build).
- Willingness to Learn & On-Site Presence: Strong willingness to learn on the job across software, electronics, and mechanical prototyping, and ability to work full-time on-site primarily in San Jose, CA with regular work at our nearby Mountain View, CA lab.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Design Teams & Research Labs: Experience in collegiate engineering design teams (such as Formula SAE, robotics competitions, rover/autonomous vehicle/aerospace clubs) or university research labs showing self-driven initiative to learn and grow.
- Robotics Background: Coursework, research, competition, or project background in robotics, mechatronics, servo/motor control, or physical AI systems.
- Hands-On Soldering, CAD & EE Skills: Experience with soldering and wire-harness assembly, 3D CAD (SolidWorks, Onshape, or Fusion 360), 3D printing, or schematic/PCB design (KiCad, Altium, or EasyEDA).
- Learning Mindset & Communication: Eagerness to pick up unfamiliar domains quickly and strong communication skills for collaborating clearly in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary lab.
