Hardware Manufacturing Engineer

Applied Intuition; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k retirement benefits

Paid time off

Learning stipends

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Applied Intuition, Inc. seeks a hands-on Hardware Manufacturing Engineer to drive end-to-end manufacturing execution and NPI bring-up for physical AI hardware platforms. You will collaborate with contract manufacturers and internal teams to establish robust assembly processes and meet production milestones.

You will manage domestic and international vendors, optimize yield, and ensure seamless transition from design to scalable manufacturing for our global enterprise customers.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on hardware manufacturing engineering, NPI engineering, or hardware operations.
• Hybrid background across consumer electronics and at least one complex physical sector (automotive, trucking, defense, construction, mining, or agriculture).
• Experience managing domestic and international contract manufacturers and component vendors.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and optimize manufacturing, assembly, and test operations with contract manufacturers.
• Perform DFM, DFA, and DFT reviews on hardware components and system integrations.
• Drive NPI builds: tooling, work instructions, SOPs, and automated test fixtures.
• Collaborate with enterprise customers on production milestones, build requirements, and delivery schedules.
• Troubleshoot hardware assembly failures, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to raise quality.
• Partner with design, quality, and supply chain teams to transition prototypes to high-yield production.

Skills

Hardware manufacturing

NPI engineering

Contract manufacturing

DFM/Design for Manufacturing

DFT/Design for Test

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Industrial Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Altium

Job description

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions

About the role

Applied Intuition is seeking a hands‑on Hardware Manufacturing Engineer to drive end‑to‑end manufacturing execution and NPI bring‑up for physical AI hardware platforms. In this role, you will work closely with domestic and international contract manufacturers, establish robust assembly processes, and drive production line bring‑up across consumer electronics volume lines and complex physical industries (automotive, trucking, defense, construction, mining, or agriculture). You will ensure seamless transition from design to scalable manufacturing while delivering top‑quality hardware products to our global enterprise customers.

At Applied Intuition, you will:

• Oversee and optimize manufacturing, assembly, and test operations across domestic and international contract manufacturing partners.
• Perform Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Test (DFT) reviews on hardware components and system integrations.
• Drive new product introduction (NPI) builds, setting up tooling, work instructions, standard operating procedures, and automated assembly test fixtures.
• Work directly with external enterprise customers to align on production milestones, technical build requirements, and hardware delivery schedules.
• Troubleshoot complex hardware assembly failures, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to continually raise the quality bar.
• Partner cross‑functionally with hardware design engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to transition prototype products into high‑yield volume production.

We're looking for someone who has:

• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in hardware manufacturing engineering, NPI engineering, or hardware operations.
• A hybrid background combining experience in consumer electronics and at least one complex physical sector (automotive, trucking, defense, construction, mining, or agriculture).
• Proven track record of managing domestic and international contract manufacturers and component vendors.
• Hands‑on expertise in production line bring‑up, manufacturing process development, root cause analysis, and yield optimization.
• Customer‑first mindset with strong communication skills and experience directly interfacing with enterprise customers or external vendors.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.

Nice to have:

• Experience with ruggedized industrial compute, electronic control units (ECUs), sensor integration, or complex wire harness assemblies.
• Familiarity with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Altium) and manufacturing documentation/PLM systems.

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60‑1.4(a), 41 CFR 60‑300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60‑741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.

FOR US-BASED ROLES: Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request. If you require an accommodation please contact [e-mail]. We will work with you!