Mechatronics Engineer

Jobtailor; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

KoBold is seeking a senior hardware leader to drive design, development, and deployment of automated sensing and imaging systems for mineral exploration. You will own end-to-end hardware lifecycles, coordinate cross-functional teams, and manage vendor relationships while ensuring field readiness and data quality.

You will travel to remote field sites, validate systems, and optimize architectures for reliable performance in challenging environments.

Qualifications

• Experience developing and deploying automated scientific equipment.
• Experience deploying complex equipment at remote sites, including commissioning, validation, and training.
• Able to lead as technical lead, PM, product manager, and hands-on engineer.
• Excellent communication in interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive design, development, and deployment of hardware for mineral exploration data collection.
• Lead full lifecycle of hardware systems from concept to field deployment.
• Coordinate hardware and software resources for automated sensing and imaging systems.
• Define system architecture balancing cost, complexity, and timelines.
• Integrate new data streams into KoBold's data system and ensure user needs are met.
• Travel to domestic and international field sites 20–30% of the time.

Skills

Automated Sensing Systems

Data Acquisition

Physical Measurement Systems

Prototyping

Mechanical Engineering

Project Management

Job description

• Drive the design, development, and deployment of next-generation hardware technology for mineral exploration data collection and interpretation
• Lead the full technical lifecycle of critical hardware systems from concept and prototyping through validation, automation, manufacturing, and field deployment
• Lead technical development of automated sensing and imaging systems and coordinate internal and external hardware and software resources
• Define system architecture and navigate tradeoffs involving cost, complexity, and timelines
• Collaborate with data systems and exploration teams to integrate new data streams into KoBold's proprietary data system
• Develop understanding of mineral exploration science and operations to ensure systems and data meet user and field requirements
• Build partnerships and manage service providers and vendors
• Create product plans and mechanical, mechatronic, and automation designs from concept through production
• Contribute engineering analysis and design to hardware projects
• Develop hardware development tools and processes
• Report to the Head of Hardware
• Travel to domestic and international remote field sites

Requirements

• Successful track record developing and deploying complex state-of-the-art automated scientific equipment
• Experience deploying and supporting complex equipment at remote sites, including commissioning, validation, training, and monitoring
• Ability to serve as technical lead, project manager, product manager, and hands-on engineer
• Excellent communication skills in a highly interdisciplinary workplace
• Extensive experience leading end-to-end technical product development from concept through testing and deployment
• Experience with physical measurement and data analysis systems
• Experience applying scientific knowledge to identify and prototype emerging technologies
• Experience with automation, systems integration, and data acquisition
• Experience with mechanical engineering, CAD, analysis, and prototyping
• Experience with vendor selection and management
• Experience with third-party contractor selection and management
• Ability and desire to take ownership of large projects
• Ability to explain technical problems to non-hardware domain experts and collaborate on solutions
• Ability to independently prioritize multiple tasks effectively
• Solutions-oriented, positive, and collaborative
• Ability to work out of the Berkeley, CA office on any given day of the week
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally 20-30% of the time, including trips to remote field sites
• A valid passport and willingness to travel are helpful but not required

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in developing and deploying automated scientific equipment, with a strong focus on hardware systems for mineral exploration. Capable of leading technical product development, integrating data systems, and managing vendor relationships while ensuring compliance with user requirements.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Automated Scientific Equipment Development
• Technical Product Development
• Systems Integration
• Mechanical Engineering
• Project Management

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Automated Sensing Systems
• Data Acquisition
• Physical Measurement Systems
• CAD Design
• Prototyping
• Engineering Analysis
• Validation
• Automation
• Field Deployment
• Technical Problem Solving

Soft Skills

• Excellent Communication
• Solutions-Oriented
• Collaborative
• Ownership of Projects
• Prioritization

Certifications & Qualifications

• Valid Passport

Industry Keywords

• Mineral Exploration
• Data Collection
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Vendor Management
• Remote Field Sites