Senior Hardware Test Engineer

Apptronik; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Apptronik, based in Austin, Texas, is seeking a Senior Hardware Test Engineer. You will lead verification processes for Apollo, our humanoid robot, focusing on complex challenges in safety and performance.

Your role involves creating comprehensive test plans, designing test fixtures, and directing rigorous hands-on testing. Ideal candidates will have over 5 years of experience in hardware testing within robotics or similar fields, with strong skills in Python, CAD, and lab equipment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in hardware design verification testing.
• Proven track record in hardware-heavy industries requiring complex systems integration.
• Deep practical experience verifying the performance of BLDC motors and complex drivetrains.

Responsibilities

• Lead the rigorous design verification of Apollo, our next-generation humanoid robot.
• Design, build, and commission custom electromechanical test fixtures.
• Directly push hardware to its absolute limits during rigorous testing.

Skills

Hardware design verification testing

Mechatronic testing

Test equipment mastery

Scripting & CAD proficiency

Requirements traceability

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Multimeters

Thermal chambers

Vibration tables

DAQ platforms like National Instruments/LabVIEW

SolidWorks

Job description

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.

We operate at the cutting edge of embodied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.

Job Summary

Apptronik is seeking a Senior Hardware Test Engineer to lead the rigorous design verification of Apollo, our next-generation humanoid robot. In this role, your primary objective is to prove that our hardware design meets its strict engineering requirements at every level of complexity—from individual components to fully integrated mechatronic systems.

You will not just execute test scripts; you will own the entire verification lifecycle. You will translate system requirements into comprehensive test plans, design and develop the necessary test fixtures, and lead the hands‑on test execution. You will push our hardware to its absolute limits, catching design flaws early in the development cycle, and serving as the crucial gatekeeper ensuring Apollo is mechanically and electrically robust before it transitions to mass production.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Verification of Requirements: Map product and engineering requirements to verifiable test cases. Ensure every critical performance, safety, and durability metric is physically validated against the specification document.
• Design of Test Plans: Architect comprehensive Design Verification Test (DVT) plans spanning the entire hardware hierarchy. Define the test methodology for individual components (e.g., gears, PCBs), sub‑assemblies (e.g., actuators, sensor suites), and the fully integrated humanoid system.
• Design and Development of Test Fixtures: Design, build, and commission custom electromechanical test fixtures. Integrate load cells, dynamometers, slip rings, and custom DAQ systems to isolate and stress specific hardware interfaces.
• Test Execution: Lead the hands‑on execution of structural, thermal, mechatronic, and environmental test profiles. Write Python or C++ scripts to automate continuous life‑cycle and fatigue testing.
• Data Acquisition (DAQ) & Analysis: Architect DAQ systems to capture high‑frequency test data. Perform rigorous statistical analysis on the output to confirm design margins and predict component life expectancies.
• Root Cause Analysis: Drive cross‑functional root‑cause investigations when hardware fails verification testing. Utilize physical teardowns and data analysis to identify the fundamental failure mechanisms.
• DFMEA & Cross‑Functional Influence: Participate in Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) sessions. Provide immediate, empirical feedback to the Mechanical and Electrical design teams to force design iterations before tooling release.

Skills and Requirements

• Industry Background: Proven track record in hardware‑heavy industries requiring complex systems integration (e.g., robotics, aerospace, automotive, or advanced medical devices).
• Mechatronic Testing: Deep practical experience verifying the performance of BLDC motors, complex drivetrains, wire harnesses, and structural chassis components.
• Test Equipment Mastery: Expert proficiency with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, thermal chambers, vibration tables, and DAQ platforms like National Instruments/LabVIEW or Beckhoff).
• Scripting & CAD: Strong proficiency in Python or MATLAB for test automation and data parsing. Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks or NX) for designing complex physical test fixtures.
• Requirements Traceability: Experience using requirements management tools (e.g., Jama, Polarion, JIRA) to maintain clear traceability from a top‑level requirement down to the physical test result.

Education and/or Experience

• Experience: 5+ years of hands‑on experience in hardware design verification testing.
• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field with

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
• Hearing and speech to communicate

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.