Mechatronics Engineer

Noble Machines, Inc; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Noble Machines, Inc in Sunnyvale, California is looking for a Mechatronics Engineer to develop and optimize control systems for multipurpose humanoid robots. You will design and implement embedded systems with a focus on EtherCAT and real-time motor control.

The ideal candidate has a degree in Mechatronics or Electrical Engineering and 3+ years of related experience. This full-time position offers a salary range of $120,000 - $250,000, plus bonuses and benefits.

To apply, submit your resume via email.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in embedded systems or mechatronics engineering.
• Strong experience with EtherCAT and real-time systems.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain EtherCAT drivers.
• Develop real-time motor control software.
• Collaborate with controls engineers for advanced strategies.

Skills

Embedded Systems Experience

C/C++ Programming

EtherCAT Knowledge

Real-Time Systems Development

Control Theory Understanding

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Robotics

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic Analyzers

Job description

Noble Machines (formerly Under Control Robotics) builds multipurpose robots to support human workers in the world's toughest jobs—turning dangerous work from a necessity into a choice. Our work demands reliability, robustness, and readiness for the unexpected—on time, every time. We're assembling a mission-driven team focused on delivering real impact in heavy industry, from construction and mining to energy. If you're driven to build rugged, reliable products that solve real-world problems, we'd love to talk.

Position Overview

At Noble Machines, building is a team sport. As a Mechatronics Engineer, you’ll take ownership of the low-level control stack that powers our multipurpose humanoid robots. You’ll design, implement, and optimize real-time motor control and fieldbus communication systems—with a strong focus on EtherCAT driver development and deterministic distributed control.

This role sits at the intersection of hardware and software. You’ll work closely with controls, embedded, and mechanical teams to ensure robust, high-performance actuation and sensing across complex multi-joint robotic systems operating in demanding industrial environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain EtherCAT master and slave drivers for distributed robotic systems
• Develop real-time motor control software for multi-axis actuation systems
• Integrate servo drives, motor controllers, encoders, IMUs, force/torque sensors, and other field devices
• Implement deterministic communication pipelines with strict timing constraints
• Optimize control loop performance (current, torque, velocity, and position loops)
• Develop and debug CAN, SPI, UART, and other industrial communication protocols as needed
• Collaborate with controls engineers to implement advanced control strategies
• Build tooling for diagnostics, logging, and fault detection across the actuator network
• Support hardware bring-up, system integration, and field debugging
• Develop safety mechanisms and fault recovery systems for high-power robotic platforms
• Contribute to PCB bring-up and embedded firmware validation when required
• Document system architecture, timing constraints, and integration processes

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field
• 3+ years of experience in embedded systems or mechatronics engineering
• Strong experience with EtherCAT (CiA 402, distributed clocks, PDO/SDO configuration)
• Experience developing real-time systems (RT Linux, PREEMPT_RT, Xenomai, or similar)
• Strong C/C++ programming skills for low-level system development
• Experience with servo drives and motor control (FOC, BLDC, PMSM, etc.)
• Understanding of control theory (PID, cascaded control loops, system identification)
• Experience working with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and hardware debugging tools
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (CAN, SPI, I2C, UART)
• Understanding of power electronics fundamentals and actuator systems
• Experience integrating multi-axis robotic systems

Nice to Have

• Experience developing or modifying EtherCAT master stacks
• Familiarity with SOEM, IgH EtherCAT Master, or commercial EtherCAT stacks
• Experience with safety-rated motion systems
• Background in humanoid robots or high-DOF robotic systems
• Experience with FPGA-based motor control or real-time acceleration
• Familiarity with ROS / ROS2 integration with real-time control layers
• Experience designing custom motor controllers or embedded boards
• Knowledge of EMI/EMC considerations in high-power robotic systems
• Experience working in industrial environments (construction, mining, energy, manufacturing)
• Understanding of functional safety standards

The base salary range for this full-time position is $120,000 - $250,000, in addition to bonus, equity and benefits.

To apply, submit your resume here or email [e-mail]. To increase your chances of being selected for an interview, we encourage you to include up to two examples of your most representative work featuring hardware demonstrations, real-time control systems, or distributed actuator networks.