Robotics Technician

Watney; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Watney in San Francisco seeks a hands-on Robot Technician to own technical work from prototype to production deployment. You will build, test, and optimize autonomous systems that run continuously.

You will troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and software issues, configure sensors and control systems, and develop maintenance procedures as we scale. You’ll collaborate with software and hardware teams to improve reliability.

Qualifications

• 2+ years hands-on experience with robotic systems, automation equipment, automotive, or similar.
• Strong mechanical assembly and troubleshooting skills.
• Electrical debugging capabilities (reading schematics, using multimeters/oscilloscopes).
• Experience with motors, sensors, and control systems.
• Detail-oriented approach to documentation and testing.
• Basic Linux skills - CLI, SSH, log files, and system diagnostics.

Responsibilities

• Build, test, and optimize robots that run continuously
• Troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical, and software issues in autonomous systems
• Develop diagnostic procedures and predictive maintenance protocols
• Configure and calibrate sensors, actuators, and control systems
• Support field deployments and remote debugging of systems worldwide
• Create assembly documentation and maintenance procedures as we scale
• Help iterate on hardware designs based on real-world performance data
• Interface with our software and hardware teams to improve robot behavior and reliability

Skills

Robotics hardware

Mechanical assembly

Electrical debugging

Sensors & controls

Linux basics

Documentation

Tools

CAN bus

EtherCAT

CAD: SolidWorks/Fusion 360

Job description

Our Mission

Expand human ambition in the physical world.

Critical infrastructure is constrained by labor shortages, hazardous working conditions, and operational complexity. Watney builds and deploys autonomous robotic systems that increase the speed and capacity of buildout, starting with data centers.

Role Description

As our Robot Technician, you'll be hands-on with cutting-edge autonomous systems from prototype to production deployment. This isn't traditional maintenance – you're a technical owner who will:

• Build, test, and optimize robots that run continuously

• Troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical, and software issues in autonomous systems

• Develop diagnostic procedures and predictive maintenance protocols

• Configure and calibrate sensors, actuators, and control systems

• Support field deployments and remote debugging of systems worldwide

• Create assembly documentation and maintenance procedures as we scale

• Help iterate on hardware designs based on real-world performance data

• Interface with our software and hardware teams to improve robot behavior and reliability

What You Bring

Essential:

• 2+ years hands-on experience with robotic systems, automation equipment, automotive, or similar

• Strong mechanical assembly and troubleshooting skills

• Electrical debugging capabilities (reading schematics, using multimeters/oscilloscopes)

• Experience with motors, sensors, and control systems

• Detail-oriented approach to documentation and testing

• Basic Linux skills - comfortable with CLI, SSH, log files, and system diagnostics

Bonus Points:

• Experience with EtherCAT lines, CAN bus, or industrial communication protocols

• Familiarity with autonomous systems and edge case handling

• CAD software proficiency (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, etc.)

• 3D printing and rapid prototyping experience

• Background in production scaling or manufacturing

• Experience with 24/7 reliability systems

What Sets You Apart

• You love taking things apart to understand how they work

• Comfortable working on bleeding-edge technology with ambiguous requirements

• Strong debugging instincts – you can isolate problems systematically

• Excited by the challenge of making robots work reliably at scale

• Pride in craftsmanship and building things that last

We’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive team. At Watney Robotics, we welcome people of all backgrounds and identities, and we make hiring decisions based on skills, experience, and potential. If you’re passionate about robotics but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply!

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