Senior Controls Engineer - Mechatronics (South Bay, CA)

Dandy; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 152,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Dental care

Mental health support

Parental planning resources

Retirement savings options

Paid time off

Job summary

Dandy is hiring a Senior Controls Engineer - Mechatronics to lead the design and integration of advanced control systems for next-generation prosthetics manufacturing. You will bridge high-level robotic theory with tangible machine execution, shaping the “nervous system” of precision robotics in a hybrid role based in Milpitas, CA.

You will own end-to-end development from concept to production, collaborating with mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing teams to deliver robust,

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Mechatronics, Electrical, Robotics or related field.
• 6+ years in high-volume precision manufacturing, automation or robotics.
• Experience owning multiple full lifecycle programs from concept to deployment.

Responsibilities

• Architect high-performance robotic and electromechanical systems from concept to production.
• Design and develop control software for robotic equipment per specifications.
• Create HMI/SCADA strategies for real-time production monitoring.
• Prototype and integrate hardware, wiring control cabinets, sensors and actuators.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across mechanical, electrical, software and manufacturing teams.
• Own end-to-end project lifecycle including FRs and FAT/SAT.

Skills

System-level architecture

Cross-functional leadership

Hardware/software integration

Robotics theory

Motion control concepts

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Mechatronics, Electrical, Robotics

Tools

Ignition/SCADA

Allen-Bradley/Siemens PLCs

FANUC/ABB/KUKA robots

C++/Python programming

EtherCAT/Profinet/CANopen

Job description

Dandy is transforming the massive and antiquated dental industry—an industry worth over $400B. Backed by some of the world’s leading venture capital firms, we’re on an ambitious mission to simplify and modernize every function of the dental practice through technology. As we expand our reach globally, Dandy is building the operating system for dental offices around the world—empowering clinicians and their teams with technology, innovation, and world-class support to achieve more for their practices, their people, and their patients.

About the Role

Dandy is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer - Mechatronics to join our elite Precision Robotics R&D team in Milpitas, CA. This role is the technical cornerstone for developing the integrated controls and mechatronic architecture of our next-generation Special Purpose Machines (SPM) for manufacturing custom-made prosthetics.

As an engineer with 6+ years of experience, you will bridge the gap between high-level robotic theory and physical machine execution, responsible for building the "nervous system" of our machines. You will integrate actuators, sensors, and motion control into a cohesive, high-performance architecture. This is a hybrid role, where you will drive innovation from initial concept and rapid prototyping through to production-ready systems.

What You’ll Do

• System Architecture & Design: Architect complex, high-performance robotic and electromechanical systems from initial concept to high-volume production, ensuring micron-level accuracy.

• Control Software Development: Design and develop robust control software packages to program robotic and controls equipment in accordance with project specifications.

• HMI & SCADA Architecture: Architect and implement intuitive HMI and SCADA strategies to monitor real-time production data, streamline operator interfaces, and ensure repeatable process control.

• Hands-on Prototyping & Integration: Drive hands-on machine builds and iterative testing, including wiring control cabinets and integrating sensors and actuators, while acting as an onsite builder to optimize system performance.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a technical PoC, bridging gaps between mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing teams. Partner with manufacturing, operations, and quality teams to drive design for Automation (DfA) principles.

• End-to-End Project Ownership: Lead the full project lifecycle, including generating functional requirement specifications (FRS), managing automation equipment providers, and overseeing Factory/Site Acceptance Testing (FAT/SAT).

What We’re Looking For

• Experience: 6+ years of experience in high-volume, precision manufacturing, automation, or robotics, with a focus on system-level architecture and hardware/software integration. Must have experience owning multiple full lifecycle programs from concept to production deployment.

• Education: B.S./M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechatronics, Electrical, Robotics, or related engineering discipline.

• Technical Mastery:

  • Substantial experience with PLC programming and SCADA (e.g., Ignition, Allen-Bradley, or Siemens).

  • Proficiency in robot programming and offline simulation (e.g., FANUC, ABB, KUKA, or similar).

  • Strong backend programming skills (C++/Python) and deep understanding of robotic kinematics, motion control, and simulation.

  • Expertise in hardware/software interfaces (e.g., EtherCAT, Profinet, CANopen) and sensor integration.

• Soft Skills: Proven track record of technical leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to manage automation vendors/integrators in fast-paced production environments. Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.

Bonus Points For

• Deep expertise with high-performance motion controllers (e.g., Beckhoff/TwinCAT, ACS, Elmo).
• Experience integrating advanced vision-guided robotics, AOI (Automated Optical Inspection), and force-feedback/torque-verification systems.
• Demonstrated experience with safety standards such as ISO 10218 (Industrial) and ISO/TS 15066 (Collaborative) or ISO 13482.
• Proficiency in performing ROI/CAPEX analysis and managing full-scale factory deployments.
• Familiarity with CAD (e.g. Creo/SolidWorks/Onshape) for tooling design and GD&T principles.

Compensation Range is 152,000-179,000, 8% bonus and equity

Req ID: J-1239

For full-time positions, Dandy offers a wide range of best-in-class, comprehensive, and inclusive benefits tailored to each country where we operate. Our local benefits packages typically include healthcare, dental, mental health support, parental planning resources, retirement savings options, and generous paid time off—ensuring our team members are supported no matter where they live and work.

Dandy is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture that celebrates authenticity to win as one. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other legally protected characteristics.

Dandy also fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We are dedicated to embracing challenges and creating an accessible, inclusive workplace for all individuals. If you require any accommodations for your interview or have any questions beforehand, rest assured that we will do everything we can to meet your needs. Visit Dandy Careers for more!

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