Hardware Engineer (Robotics/Automation)

Formulate Labs; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Ownership over hardware systems

Real-world robotics impact

High-autonomy, fast-paced environment

Modern tools, lab equipment, AI-driven

Job summary

Formulate Labs seeks a Hardware Engineer to design and build robotic hardware for our Gen 3 manufacturing platform. You’ll prototype, test, and iterate on actuators, sensors, and safety systems, collaborating with controls, firmware, and software teams to ensure robust interfaces.

You will work in California, with in-person collaboration in Mountain View, delivering manufacturable, scalable hardware solutions that integrate with AI-enabled workflows.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in robotics, automation, or electromechanical system design.
• Strong fundamentals in mechanical engineering and/or electrical integration.
• Experience with motors, actuators, motion control, sensors, or industrial automation components.
• Comfortable working hands-on in a lab or shop environment.
• Ability to move quickly from concept → prototype → iteration.
• High agency mindset — you identify problems and solve them without waiting for instruction.
• Strong first-principles thinking and comfort operating in ambiguity.
• Experience using modern AI tools to accelerate design, debugging, and documentation workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design and prototype mechanical and electromechanical systems for robotics-driven manufacturing.
• Develop automation assemblies including motion systems, dispensing mechanisms, structural frames, and tooling.
• Select and integrate motors, actuators, sensors, load cells, controllers, and safety components.
• Collaborate closely with controls, firmware, and software engineers to define clean hardware/software interfaces.
• Run testing and validation cycles to ensure reliability, repeatability, and safety.
• Design for manufacturability, serviceability, and cost reduction.
• Create documentation, BOMs, assembly instructions, and test protocols.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical issues in prototype and production systems.
• Continuously improve system robustness based on real-world performance data.

Skills

Robotics design

Mechanical engineering

Electrical integration

Lab work

Agency mindset

First-principles thinking

AI design tools

DFM experience

Job description

About The Role

As a Hardware Engineer (Robotics/Automation), you'll design and build the physical systems that power our Gen 3 manufacturing platform. This role sits at the intersection of robotics, motion systems, sensors, fluid handling, and industrial automation.

You will work on real-world systems: actuators, load cells, dispensing systems, mechanical assemblies, safety interlocks, and precision automation. Our machines operate in production environments, so reliability, serviceability, and manufacturability matter as much as raw performance.

This is not a purely theoretical role. We're looking for a builder - someone who prototypes fast, tests aggressively, learns from failure, and iterates quickly. You should be excited about creating hardware that integrates tightly with software and AI systems.

This is a full-time role based in California, with in-person collaboration expected in our Mountain View office.

What You’ll Do

• Design and prototype mechanical and electromechanical systems for robotics-driven manufacturing.
• Develop automation assemblies including motion systems, dispensing mechanisms, structural frames, and tooling.
• Select and integrate motors, actuators, sensors, load cells, controllers, and safety components.
• Collaborate closely with controls, firmware, and software engineers to define clean hardware/software interfaces.
• Run testing and validation cycles to ensure reliability, repeatability, and safety.
• Design for manufacturability, serviceability, and cost reduction.
• Create documentation, BOMs, assembly instructions, and test protocols.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical issues in prototype and production systems.
• Continuously improve system robustness based on real-world performance data.

What We’re Looking For

• 3+ years of experience in robotics, automation, or electromechanical system design.
• Strong fundamentals in mechanical engineering and/or electrical integration.
• Experience with motors, actuators, motion control, sensors, or industrial automation components.
• Comfortable working hands-on in a lab or shop environment.
• Ability to move quickly from concept → prototype → iteration.
• High agency mindset -- you identify problems and solve them without waiting for instruction.
• Strong first-principles thinking and comfort operating in ambiguity.
• Experience using modern AI tools to accelerate design, debugging, and documentation workflows.
• Nice-to-haves: fluid systems, high-shear mixing equipment, precision dispensing, industrial safety systems, DFM experience.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation with equity.
• Direct ownership over core hardware systems.
• Opportunity to build real-world robotics that reshape manufacturing.
• Fast-moving, scrappy team environment with high autonomy.
• Access to modern tools, lab equipment, and AI-enabled workflows.