Autonomy Mechatronics Engineer (Hardware & Test)

Neros Technologies; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Highly competitive equity grants

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

A leading defense technology company in California is seeking an Autonomy Mechatronics Engineer. In this role, you will design and test mechanical systems crucial for autonomous drones, handling responsibilities from concept creation to deployment. Candidates should have 2+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, with a strong grasp of CAD tools like SolidWorks and hands-on testing expertise. Competitive salary and equity grants are part of the compensation package.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional experience in mechanical engineering or robotics.
• Strong proficiency in mechanical design and CAD, including tolerance analysis.
• Hands-on experience with hardware test campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Own autonomy-critical mechanical subsystems from concept through testing.
• Design, build, and execute test infrastructure and field experiments.
• Diagnose and resolve cross-disciplinary failures across systems.

Skills

Mechanical design

CAD proficiency

Hands-on testing

Debugging complex systems

Rapid prototyping

Structural analysis

Familiarity with robotics

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Job description

Autonomy Mechatronics Engineer (Hardware & Test)

Who we are

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands‑on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.

As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.

What you will be doing

As an Autonomy Mechatronics Engineer (Hardware & Test), you will own the physical stack that enables autonomy at Neros. You will design, integrate, and test mechanical systems that directly enable autonomous behavior, then prove them under realistic operating conditions. This role spans early‑stage concept work through field testing, with direct ownership of both the hardware and the experimental loop. We are looking for engineers who are comfortable moving between CAD, code, in‑field testing, and production, and who have demonstrated exceptional ability across the full robotics stack.

Responsibilities

• Own autonomy‑critical mechanical subsystems from concept through testing and deployment
• Design, build, and execute test infrastructure and field experiments to validate real‑world performance
• Diagnose and resolve cross‑disciplinary failures across mechanics, autonomy, sensing, and manufacturing

You should have the following

• 2+ years of professional experience in mechanical engineering, robotics, or mechatronics roles, with direct ownership of shipped hardware systems
• Strong proficiency in mechanical design and CAD (e.g., SolidWorks, NX, or equivalent), including tolerance analysis and production drawings
• Hands‑on experience designing and executing hardware test campaigns, including lab, environmental, and field testing
• Demonstrated ability to debug complex, cross‑disciplinary issues involving mechanical systems, sensors, controls, and embedded software
• Experience with rapid prototyping methods (CNC, sheet metal, composites, additive manufacturing) and iterative design cycles
• Working knowledge of structural, thermal, or dynamic analysis using FEA or first‑principles calculations
• Familiarity with autonomy or robotics systems (UAVs, UGVs, or similar), including an understanding of how mechanical design impacts sensing and control performance
• Experience supporting manufacturing and scale‑up, including build procedures, fixtures, and collaboration with contract manufacturers or suppliers

Nice to have

• Experience running a test qualification campaign for a robotic or drone product
• Experience characterizing sensors

US Salary Range

$100,000 - $130,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros’ total compensation package.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.