Hardware Engineer (founding)

Needl; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan

Relocation support

Job summary

A stealth robotics startup in San Francisco seeks a Founding Hardware Engineer to design and build autonomy systems for heavy industrial machines. Ideal candidates will have a proven ability to prototype hardware from scratch and thrive in fast-paced environments. Key responsibilities include integrating sensors, developing control systems, and leading real-world testing. The role offers a competitive base salary range of $250-380k along with equity, full health benefits, and a supportive workspace.

Qualifications

• Experience in designing and building hardware systems.
• Capability in integrating sensors for tele-operation.
• Strong troubleshooting skills in chaotic environments.

Responsibilities

• Design remote operation and autonomy systems for industrial machines.
• Integrate various sensors and communication interfaces.
• Lead hardware bring-up and on-site debugging.

Skills

Prototyping

Sensor Integration

Wiring Design

Debugging

Tools

CAD tools

Testing equipment

Job description

Base pay range

$250–380k

Needl Owner - Helping tech startups scale

Founding Hardware Engineer (Stealth Robotics Startup)

About Us

We’re a tiny, fast-moving team building autonomous systems for heavy industrial machines. We retrofit existing equipment with a plug-and-play autonomy kit that taps directly into machine controls and layers on a full perception + connectivity stack: multi-sensor vision, LiDAR, high-precision GNSS, IMU, and a low-latency tele-operation network.

In just a few months, we’ve gone from first prototype to real machines operating on active job sites, with early recurring revenue and a growing pipeline of paid pilots. We’re backed by top-tier early-stage investors along with a group of founder-operators who know what it takes to build in the real world.

Our founding team has built and shipped hardware, software, and robotics systems before. We thrive where physical machinery, harsh environments, and rapid iteration collide.

Why Join Us

• You want to work on problems that actually matter — fixing how the world builds things. Construction is the backbone of civilization, and it’s currently broken. We’re here to change that.
• You don’t want a cushy robotics lab job. You want to build robots in the mud, on real sites, under real constraints. You’d rather spend a week living out of a dusty RV next to a machine you’re debugging than polishing a slide deck.
• You want to see your designs move 20–50 tons of real hardware. You want to feel the stakes.
• You want teammates who operate at founder-level intensity and ownership.

About You

• You’re a hacker at heart — the kind of person who gets a prototype working before most people finish their planning doc.
• You’ve built something from scratch: a company, a product, a robot, a system — success not required, agency absolutely required.
• You work extremely hard, laugh often, and don’t mind chaos. You prefer “figure it out now” to “wait for perfect requirements.”

What You’ll Own

As a founding Hardware / Mechatronics Engineer, you’ll design and build the core systems that enable remote operation, sensing, and autonomy assistance on industrial machines. You’ll work across mechanical, electrical, and embedded disciplines, often all in the same day.

System Design & Prototyping

• Architect and build tele-operation hardware systems, including power, compute, and control modules for machine retrofits.

Sensor Integration

• Integrate and calibrate cameras, LiDAR, radar, GNSS, IMUs, and other sensors using interfaces like GMSL, CAN, and Ethernet.

Electrical & Mechanical Integration

• Design robust wiring harnesses, brackets, mounts, and enclosures that survive real-world abuse.

Communication Interfaces

• Implement and validate CAN, LIN, J1939, Serial, and Ethernet connections with both existing ECUs and custom control hardware.

Manufacturing & DFM

• Work with vendors to bring designs from scrappy prototypes to reliable production, including DFM, testing, and validation.

Testing & Validation

• Lead machine bring-up, HIL testing, and on-site debugging alongside software and autonomy engineers.

Documentation & Design

• Produce schematics, harness drawings, CAD models, assembly docs, and anything else needed to build and scale the hardware.

Compensation & Support

• Base: ~$250–380k
• Equity: ~1–3%
• Full health/dental/vision, relocation + visa support, downtown SF workspace with full electronics/mech prototyping tools, 401(k), high-spec laptop, and budget for any gear you need.

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Engineering and Information Technology

Industry

Construction