Robotics Prototype Engineer - Hardware & Systems Innovator

physicalintelligence; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Physical Intelligence is seeking a Prototype Engineer to bridge R&D and hardware engineering, turning research ideas into physical prototypes for robots and actuated devices. You will design, build, and iterate electro-mechanical systems, ensuring reliability in real-world environments.

As an engineering generalist, you’ll work with researchers and engineers to deploy prototypes across platforms, from concept to scalable solutions for the fleet.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Mechatronics Engineering.
• 2-5 years of prototyping, R&D engineering, or hardware development experience, preferably in robotics or related fields.
• Proficiency in CAD software (Onshape, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360) with strong 3D modeling and drafting skills.
• Working knowledge of PCB design, electronics, soldering, wiring, schematics, and sensor integration (force/torque, IMUs, cameras, encoders).
• Hands-on rapid prototyping methods: 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC machining, sheet metal, and manual machining.
• Familiarity with robotics concepts (kinematics, actuation, compliant mechanisms).
• Ability to build end-to-end prototypes from mechanical to electrical, plus basic software scripting.

Responsibilities

• Rapidly design and fabricate mechanical, electrical, and sensor prototypes to support research experiments and engineering development.
• Partner with researchers to translate requirements into buildable hardware systems.
• Build end-to-end prototype systems from concept sketches to CAD, fabrication, wiring, sensor integration, and validation.
• Develop quick-turn PCBs, wiring harnesses, and cable assemblies for prototype electronics.
• Evaluate and select sensors, actuators, and off-the-shelf components for integration into prototypes.
• Design and iterate fixtures, jigs, test rigs, and tooling for research workflows.
• Perform hands-on assembly, troubleshooting, and debugging of electromechanical and robotic systems.
• Collaborate with electrical and robot software engineers to integrate hardware with control systems and firmware.
• Identify and address hardware failure modes in unstructured real-world environments.
• Document designs, test results, and build procedures to support knowledge transfer and iteration.

Skills

CAD Design

PCB Design

Soldering

Wiring

Schematics

Sensor Integration

3D Modeling

Python Scripting

Rapid Prototyping

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Mechatronics Engineering

Tools

Onshape

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

3D Printing (FDM/SLA)

Laser Cutting

CNC Machining

Sheet Metal Fabrication

Job description

Physical Intelligence is seeking a Prototype Engineer to bridge R&D and hardware engineering, turning research ideas into physical prototypes for robots and actuated devices. You will design, build, and iterate electro-mechanical systems, ensuring reliability in real-world environments.

As an engineering generalist, you’ll work with researchers and engineers to deploy prototypes across platforms, from concept to scalable solutions for the fleet.