Lead Hardware Engineer - Field Robotics for Clean Energy

TAR; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

TAR is building scalable, off-grid energy infrastructure for AI data centers. The Lead Hardware Engineer will own mechanical, electrical, and systems design of a core robotics subsystem, splitting time between the San Francisco robotics facility and West Texas field trips.

You will lead a small hardware team from prototype through field-hardened production. Join a fast-paced, venture-backed hardware startup focused on GW-scale power delivery, with ownership and end-to-end project responsibility.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of hardware engineering experience with leading a small team or technical lead role.
• Experience taking a hardware subsystem from prototype to production, with contract manufacturers or suppliers.
• Strong grounding in mechatronics, mechanical engineering, motion control, or rugged field hardware.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical design and execution roadmap for a robotics subsystem.
• Lead day-to-day direction for a small team of engineers and mentor teammates.
• Move subsystem from prototype to higher-volume production with manufacturing partners.
• Make system architecture decisions for mechanical, electrical, controls, and sensors.
• Manage BOM and supplier relationships to reduce costs while ensuring reliability.
• Spend time at the field site to close feedback loops on failures and fixes.
• Collaborate with Head of Hardware on hiring and roadmaps without owning org-wide strategy.

Skills

Hardware engineering

Mechatronics

Mechanical engineering

Motion control

Ruggedized systems

BOM management

Team leadership

Job description

TAR is building scalable, off-grid energy infrastructure for AI data centers. The Lead Hardware Engineer will own mechanical, electrical, and systems design of a core robotics subsystem, splitting time between the San Francisco robotics facility and West Texas field trips.

You will lead a small hardware team from prototype through field-hardened production. Join a fast-paced, venture-backed hardware startup focused on GW-scale power delivery, with ownership and end-to-end project responsibility.