Electrical Engineer - HRI

apptronik; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Booster is looking for a Junior Electrical Engineer to join our team in Austin, Texas. In this role, you will support the design and development of audio and display systems for our Apollo robot. You'll collaborate with senior engineers to create prototypes, ensuring high-quality user experiences through effective human-robot interfaces.

The ideal candidate should have a degree in Electrical Engineering and at least 3 years of experience in audio electronics. Knowledge of PCB tools and electronics testing is essential. This is a direct hire position.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of industry experience in audio electronics.
• Experience in acoustic electronics design.
• Proficiency with mixed-signal PCBAs and design documentation.

Responsibilities

• Support design and prototyping of HRI-specific circuitry.
• Implement and test PCBAs for audio and display interfaces.
• Collaborate with firmware and UX teams on hardware-software interactions.

Skills

PCB Tools proficiency

Bench Testing proficiency

Knowledge of audio systems

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Altium Designer

Digital multimeters

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond. We operate at the cutting edge of embodied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a Junior Electrical Engineer to support the design and development of audio and display systems for our next-generation Apollo robot. In this role, you will focus on the practical implementation and testing of the human-robot interface (HRI) electronics. You will work closely with senior engineers to turn concept requirements into functional prototypes, ensuring high-quality visual and auditory user experiences from an electrical engineering perspective.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Support the design and prototyping of HRI-specific circuitry, including LED drivers, display backlight controllers, and audio front-ends.
• Assist in the selection of components for visual displays (LCD/OLED) and audio systems (microphones, speakers) based on project specifications.
• Implement and test multi-layer mixed-signal PCBAs, focusing on signal integrity for audio and display interfaces like I2S and MIPI.
• Execute validation and test plans (DVT) for HRI subsystems, using specialized equipment to measure audio fidelity and display performance.
• Collaborate with the firmware and UX teams to troubleshoot hardware-software interactions for user feedback mechanisms (e.g., audio alerts, visual status indicators).
• Maintain detailed documentation of design changes, test results, and assembly procedures.
• Ensure designs follow established EMI/EMC best practices under the guidance of senior staff.
• Support 3rd party relationships with vendors, contract manufacturers, and external design services.
• Supports senior and staff engineers on project execution, receiving inputs of deadlines, requirements, and feedback.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• PCB Tools: proficiency with modern schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium Designer).
• Bench Testing: proficiency with common electronics testing equipment including oscilloscopes, power supplies, signal generators, and digital multimeters.
• Preferred: knowledge of microphones, speakers, audio amplifiers, I2S, signal conditioning and filtering, A/D and D/A converters, and digital signal processing (DSP).
• Nice to have: understanding of Thiele/Small parameters, lumped element modeling, and non-linear distortion mechanisms.
• Nice to have: exposure to simulation tools (COMSOL, LEAP, or equivalent).
• Nice to have: exposure to audio systems.
• Nice to have: exposure to adaptive filtering (LMS/RLS), array processing, and speech enhancement algorithms.
• Nice to have: familiarity with the signal processing requirements for Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) engines and wake-word systems.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• At least 3 years of industry experience in the area of audio electronics, with focus in acoustic electronics design (smart speakers, headphones, or robotics).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
• Hearing and speech to communicate

*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.