Senior Hardware Engineer, Robotics

Robust; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Flexible vacation & sick leave

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Robust AI is a fast-growing robotics startup redefining autonomous warehousing systems. As a Senior Electrical Engineer, you will own schematic capture and board layout, bring-up hardware on the current robot fleet, and help shape next-generation robot design.

You will work closely with mechanical, firmware, and software teams to meet performance requirements while ensuring production-readiness. This role thrives in ambiguity and requires hands-on debugging, fast iteration, and strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical or computer engineering.
• 5+ years of electrical/hardware engineering experience.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout (Altium preferred).
• Proven track record of releasing boards to production and EMC compliance.
• Hands-on debugging of electromechanical hardware with scopes, logic analyzers, and DMMs.
• Familiarity with USB, I2C, SPI, UART, RS485, etc.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and iterate custom PCBs from schematic capture to board layout.
• Hands-on bring-up, debugging, and testing of electrical hardware on the robot fleet.
• Collaborate with the team to formulate electrical architecture and inform next-generation robot design.
• Generate design documentation and lead design reviews.
• Engage with fab houses and contract manufacturers to move boards from prototype to production.
• Support firmware integration, testing, and debugging with the firmware team.
• Work with cross-functional teams to optimize hardware/firmware interfaces.

Skills

PCB design

Schematic capture

Altium

EMC compliance

Embedded systems

Hardware debugging

USB I2C SPI UART

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or equivalent

Tools

Altium

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

DMM

Job description

Senior Electrical Engineer, Robotics About you and this role

Robust AI is a fast-growing, early-stage startup founded in 2019 by an unsurpassed team of veterans in robotics, AI, and business. We are a collaborative group with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, seeking talented individuals who are just as excited about robotics and AI as we are! Help us redefine the very foundation of robotics and build robots that are smart, collaborative, robust, safe, flexible, and genuinely autonomous.

As a Senior Electrical Engineer at Robust AI, you will join a small, fast-paced team designing and deploying the next generation of warehouse robotic systems. You’ll own schematic capture and board layout for custom PCBs, get your hands dirty debugging and bringing up hardware on our current robot fleet, and help inform the design of our next-generation robot. You thrive in ambiguity, move quickly, and are comfortable wearing multiple hats — the kind of engineer who’s happiest when a scope, a soldering iron, and a stack of datasheets are all within arm’s reach. You’re excited about seeing robots deployed at scale, and you can pivot effectively as priorities shift in an early-stage startup environment.

Main responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and iterate custom PCBs for the robot, from schematic capture through board layout
• Hands-on bring-up, debugging, and testing of electrical hardware on our current robot fleet
• Collaborate with the team to formulate electrical architecture and inform next-generation robot design
• Generate design documentation and lead design reviews
• Conduct bench modifications and rapid hardware prototyping to unblock development
• Engage with cross-functional engineering team members (mechanical, firmware, software) to fulfill and enhance performance requirements while optimizing hardware/firmware interfaces
• Support firmware integration, testing, and debugging alongside the firmware team as needed
• Work directly with fab houses and contract manufacturers to take boards from prototype through production

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or equivalent
• 5+ years of experience in electrical/hardware engineering
• Strong electrical and embedded systems fundamentals
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout (Altium preferred)
• Proven track record of releasing boards to production, with designs that meet EMC compliance requirements
• Hands-on experience debugging complex electromechanical hardware with tools such as scopes, logic analyzers, and DMMs
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as USB, I2C, SPI, UART, RS485, etc.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, early-stage startup environment and able to pivot effectively as priorities change
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and cross-functional audiences

Preferred qualifications (bonus)

• Firmware development in C
• Python scripting and comfort working in Linux environments
• Proficiency with microcontrollers, preferably the STM32 family
• Familiarity with BLDC motors and motor control
• Background in robotic or mechatronic systems

What we offer

• Base pay between $160,000 and $200,000, depending on your skills, qualifications, and experience
• Stock options and huge potential for growth
• Strong startup (and fun) culture
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible vacation and sick leave practices
• Paid parental leave

$160,000 - $200,000 a year

Robust AI fosters a culture of belonging and a shared commitment to equality and equity. Having a diverse set of perspectives is key to ensuring AI and robotics serve the needs of all.