mechatronics engineer intern

mundane; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Mentorship opportunities

Potential for a full-time offer

Job summary

A robotics startup in California is seeking a hands-on builder with a passion for turning CAD designs into physical prototypes. The role involves mechanical design, electronics integration, and software development to refine robotic systems. Candidates should pursue a degree in Mechatronics or related fields, possess strong CAD skills, and have experience in prototyping. You'll collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, contribute to real-world robotics applications, and benefit from competitive compensation and mentorship.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a relevant degree in engineering or robotics.
• Experience in CAD and physical prototyping.
• Comfortable coding in Python and/or C++.

Responsibilities

• Model and iterate mechanical components in CAD.
• Fabricate prototypes using various methods.
• Integrate sensors and embedded systems into robots.
• Write software for microcontrollers and control interfaces.
• Debug electromechanical issues hands-on.
• Collaborate closely with roboticists during development.

Skills

CAD proficiency (Fusion 360, SolidWorks)

Prototyping tools

Software writing (Python, C++)

Hands-on building mentality

Embedded Linux

Hands-on mentality

Education

Pursuing a degree in Mechatronics, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or Robotics

Tools

3D printers

Basic machining tools

Onshape

3D printing

Job description

Mundane is a seed-stage robot learning startup founded by Stanford roboticists and builders. We’re deploying a fleet of humanoid robots to perform real-world tasks in commercial environments, collecting the data required to train the next generation of embodied intelligence.

We move fast, prototype aggressively, test in the real world, and iterate based on reality—not simulations. You can read more at https://mundane.bot.

About the Role

This role is for a hands‑on builder who loves turning CAD into real hardware and prototypes into working systems. You’ll work across mechanical design, electronics integration, and software bring‑up to help us quickly design, test, and refine robot hardware. Expect a blend of CAD modeling, 3D printing, mechanical debugging, wiring harness work, and firmware/software integration.

If you have a track record of building things outside of class (robotics club, battlebots, personal CAD projects, hobby CNC, DIY motion systems), you’ll fit right in.

What You’ll Do

• Rapidly model and iterate mechanical components and assemblies in CAD (Fusion 360 or SolidWorks).
• Fabricate prototypes using 3D printing, laser cutting, and basic machining; work with vendors for more advanced parts.
• Integrate actuators, sensors, and embedded compute platforms into humanoid robot subsystems.
• Write and modify software for microcontrollers and ROS2‑driven control interfaces.
• Debug electromechanical issues hands‑on: test rigs, wiring harnesses, vibration, alignment, performance tuning.
• Work closely with roboticists to tighten the feedback loop between design, testing, and deployment.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Mechatronics, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related fields.
• Strong CAD proficiency (Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Onshape). You’ve designed and built things, not just done coursework.
• Experience with prototyping tools: 3D printers, hand tools, soldering, basic machining.
• Comfortable writing software (Python and/or C++ preferred).
• Hands‑on mentality: you enjoy building, breaking, fixing, and improving hardware in real environments.

Bonus Experience

• Personal or competition robotics projects (battlebots, FIRST, VEX, RoboMaster, hobby arms, CNC builds, etc.).
• Working knowledge of ROS2 and embedded Linux.
• Experience tuning actuators, joint controllers, or robotic arms.
• Contributions to open‑source robotics / hardware projects.

What You’ll Get

• Ownership over real hardware that ships to real deployments.
• Tight collaboration with a small, multidisciplinary founding team.
• Direct exposure to the full robotics stack: hardware, controls, software, and teleoperation.
• A chance to learn how world‑class robotics systems are prototyped and iterated at high speed.
• Competitive compensation, mentorship, and potential for a full‑time return offer.