Head of Hardware Engineering — Field Robotics Leader

Hardhat Robotics; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity stake

Full health, dental, and vision

Flexible PTO

L&D stipend

Job summary

Hardhat Robotics seeks a hands-on hardware leader to own the full hardware stack—from mechanical design to systems validation—and to build the team and processes that ship field-ready robots for demanding environments.

You will define the architecture from the ground up, drive MTBF improvements, and ensure prototypes progress to production while maintaining a culture of rigor, velocity, and field-first judgment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on mechanical and electromechanical engineering.
• 3+ years leading a hardware team or as principal contributor on a complex product.
• Proven track record shipping precision mechanisms or complex electromechanical systems in demanding environments.
• Deep expertise in vibration and shock analysis and FEA/modal analysis.
• Strong electronics packaging background: thermal management and EMI mitigation.
• Proficiency in CAD and simulation tools; experience with V&V programs and SRDs.
• Genuine daily user of AI tools in the engineering workflow.
• Excellent communication skills with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end hardware architecture including frames, actuators, enclosures, thermal management, and field-replaceable modules.
• Design and analyze precision mechanisms for accuracy and durability with tolerance analysis, GD&T, and DFM.
• Lead hardware systems engineering across mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines.
• Drive MTBF tracking and iterative design improvements; perform root-cause analysis of field failures.
• Establish BOM discipline and configuration management from prototype to production.

Skills

Vibration analysis

Electromechanical design

CAD Onshape

Systems integration

V&V planning

Job description

Hardhat Robotics seeks a hands-on hardware leader to own the full hardware stack—from mechanical design to systems validation—and to build the team and processes that ship field-ready robots for demanding environments.

You will define the architecture from the ground up, drive MTBF improvements, and ensure prototypes progress to production while maintaining a culture of rigor, velocity, and field-first judgment.