Robotics Mechatronics Engineer — Build Next-Gen Humanoids

Astera Institute; California; On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Astera Institute in Emeryville, California, seeks a hands‑on mechatronics engineer to design, build, and test robot mechanisms, electronics, and sensing systems for embodied intelligence projects.

You will work closely with learning and control researchers on manipulators, dexterous hands, and humanoids, taking hardware from concept to fabrication and field testing in a fast‑paced robotics lab.

Qualifications

• Complete electromechanical systems with design, integration, and debugging responsibilities.
• Strong CAD and mechanical design skills including tolerancing and prototyping.
• PCB design from schematic capture to bring‑up and troubleshooting.
• Experience with motors, encoders, sensors, power distribution, and embedded interfaces.
• Python, C/C++ for hardware integration, testing, and data collection.
• Collaborative, measurement‑driven debugging across hardware, controls, and ML.

Responsibilities

• Design and build robot mechanisms and interfaces; create CAD assemblies and prototypes.
• Develop robot electronics; design and bring up PCBs for sensing and power distribution.
• Integrate actuation and sensing with firmware and robot control systems.
• Characterize hardware and troubleshoot backlash, drift, thermal behavior, and latency.
• Collaborate with researchers to improve geometry, actuation, and sensor placement.
• Make hardware reproducible; document decisions and maintain files for reproduction.
• Explore AI‑assisted CAD scripting, firmware development, and test automation.

Skills

Electromechanical systems

Mechanical design

PCB design

Actuation electronics

Programming firmware

Experimental judgment

Robotics hardware

Sensing and testing

Hardware-learning integration

Tools

CAD software

PCB design tools

Microcontrollers

Job description

Astera Institute in Emeryville, California, seeks a hands‑on mechatronics engineer to design, build, and test robot mechanisms, electronics, and sensing systems for embodied intelligence projects.

You will work closely with learning and control researchers on manipulators, dexterous hands, and humanoids, taking hardware from concept to fabrication and field testing in a fast‑paced robotics lab.