Senior Robotics Mechatronics & Controls Engineer

Autzu; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Autzu is seeking a Senior Robotics Mechatronics & Controls Engineer to design, prototype, and deploy robotic systems within autonomous hubs. You will move from CAD to prototype, then to controls and testing, delivering working machines in a real-world setting.

The role spans mechanical design, actuators, sensors, embedded systems, and software integration, including ROS2. The position focuses on hands-on hardware in lab, workshop, or field environments, with responsibility to drive safety,

Qualifications

• 5+ years hands-on robotics/mechatronics/controls experience.
• Experience taking hardware from prototype to deployment.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, build, and deploy robotic systems for autonomous vehicle servicing.
• Develop mechanisms, tooling, end effectors, and automated machinery.
• Integrate motors, actuators, sensors, controllers, and embedded hardware.
• Develop motion-control and embedded-control systems.
• Design mechanical assemblies using CAD tools.
• Integrate robotics hardware with ROS2 and higher-level software.
• Build automation for charging, cleaning, inspection, calibration, and servicing.
• Participate in pilots, commissioning, and production deployments.
• Troubleshoot mechanical/electrical/controls/software on real hardware.
• Design for safety, maintainability, reliability, and continuous operation.
• Collaborate with systems, perception, software, and operations engineers.
• Mentor additional robotics engineers and help establish standards.

Skills

Robotics & Mechatronics

Controls engineering

Industrial automation

C++ / Python

ROS/ROS2

Prototyping & testing

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ROS2

CAD software

Embedded hardware

Motor controllers

Job description

Senior Robotics Mechatronics & Controls Engineer

Build the Machines Behind Autonomous Mobility

Autzu is building the infrastructure and operating layer needed to support autonomous transportation at scale.

We're evolving from a software-first mobility platform into a robotics and Physical AI company, building autonomous hubs designed to support the charging, servicing, inspection, cleaning, calibration, and operation of autonomous vehicle fleets.

We're looking for a Senior Robotics Mechatronics & Controls Engineer who wants to build real machines, deploy them into the field, and help create a robotics organization from the ground up.

About the Role:

This is a deeply hands-on engineering role.

You'll design and build the physical robotic machinery operating inside Autzu's autonomous hubs—from early prototypes through deployment and production.

You'll work across mechanical design, actuators, motors, sensors, embedded systems, motion control, robotics software, and industrial automation.

We're looking for someone who enjoys going from CAD → prototype → controls → testing → working machine.

What You'll Do

• Design, prototype, build, and deploy robotic systems for autonomous vehicle servicing
• Develop mechanisms, robotic tooling, end effectors, actuators, and automated machinery
• Select and integrate motors, actuators, sensors, controllers, and embedded hardware
• Develop motion-control and embedded-control systems
• Design mechanical assemblies using modern CAD tools
• Integrate robotics hardware with ROS2 and higher-level software systems
• Build automation for applications including vehicle charging, cleaning, inspection, calibration, and servicing
• Participate directly in robotics pilots, proof-of-concepts, commissioning, and first production deployments
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, controls, and software issues on real hardware
• Design for safety, maintainability, reliability, and continuous operation
• Work closely with systems, perception, software, and operations engineers
• Help establish engineering standards and eventually recruit and mentor additional robotics engineers

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in robotics, mechatronics, controls, industrial automation, or related engineering
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• Demonstrated experience personally building robotic or automated systems
• Experience taking hardware from concept or prototype through real-world deployment
• Strong mechanical design and prototyping capabilities
• Experience with actuators, motors, sensors, embedded controls, and motion systems
• Experience with C++, Python, or similar languages used in robotics
• Experience with ROS/ROS2 or comparable robotics frameworks
• Experience participating in robotics pilots, system commissioning, or production launches
• Comfortable working directly with physical hardware in a lab, workshop, or field environment
• Ability to move quickly and solve ambiguous engineering problems
• Ability to work full-time on-site in the Bay Area

Nice to Have

• Master's or Ph.D. in Robotics, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• Experience with PLCs, industrial controls, fieldbus systems, or safety-rated systems
• Experience with FANUC, KUKA, Universal Robots, ABB, or other industrial/collaborative robotics platforms
• Experience in autonomous vehicles, automotive, mobility, industrial robotics, or warehouse automation
• Experience building vehicle service equipment, autonomous depots, robotics-enabled warehouses, manufacturing lines, or similar infrastructure
• Experience implementing robotics across large-scale or globally deployed operations
• Experience with NVIDIA robotics platforms or Physical AI applications
• Experience working at an early-stage robotics or deep-tech startup

This is an opportunity to be one of the earliest robotics engineers building Autzu's physical technology.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Build robotic systems from a blank sheet of paper
• Work directly with our CTO and founding robotics team
• Help launch our first Physical AI-powered autonomous mobility hub
• See the machines you design operating in the real world
• Influence technology choices and engineering standards from day one
• Help build the robotics team as the company grows
• Take on increasing technical and organizational leadership as the robotics organization scales

We're looking for a builder—someone who gets excited about turning an idea into a working machine.

If you'd rather be commissioning a robot than talking about one in a slide deck, we'd love to meet you