Staff Electrical Engineer - Compute

Apptronik; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Apptronik is seeking a Staff Compute Engineer to lead the design of the next-generation compute solution for our humanoid robot platform. You will architect a real-time, high-bandwidth compute stack with robust safety features and seamless cross‑functional collaboration.

You will own system architecture, drive component selection, perform benchmarking and validation, and mentor the team to deliver production‑level robotics compute hardware.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in embedded systems or robotics compute design.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design of the robot's next-generation compute solution from system to components.
• Define and validate compute requirements for robotics algorithms including motion, perception, and AI.
• Develop a robust, scalable compute solution for high-bandwidth sensor data.
• Design for functional safety with redundant systems, fail-safe mechanisms, and diagnostics.
• Collaborate with software, electrical, and systems teams for seamless integration.
• Conduct performance benchmarking and power analysis for efficiency and thermal management.
• Design, simulate, and test multi-layer high-speed PCBs with SoMs like NVIDIA Orin.
• Lead SI/PI analysis and validation; manage power, PMICs, and sequencing.
• Drive component qualification for SoMs, memory, storage, and interconnects.
• Develop validation plans (DVT/PVT) and test fixtures for regulatory compliance.
• Stay current with RTOS, embedded systems, and robotics compute hardware.
• Own the lifecycle of complex compute hardware from concept to production support.
• Mentor engineers on best practices for hardware design and debugging.

Skills

Robotics compute design

Functional safety

RTOS expertise

Multi-core processing

High-speed data transfer

Hardware-software collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field

Tools

NVIDIA Jetson

Intel platforms

SoMs (System-on-Modules)

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

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Staff Compute Engineer to lead the design and implementation of the next‑generation compute solution for our humanoid robot platform. In this pivotal role, you will be the technical lead responsible for architecting a compute solution that meets our most demanding requirements for real‑time performance, sensor bandwidth, and, most critically, functional safety.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Lead the architectural design of the robot's next‑generation compute solution, from high‑level system architecture to component‑level selection.
• Define and validate compute requirements based on the needs of complex robotics algorithms, including motion control, perception, and AI tasks.
• Develop a robust and scalable solution capable of handling high‑bandwidth data from a wide array of sensors.
• Design for functional safety from the ground up, implementing redundant systems, fail‑safe mechanisms, and diagnostic features to meet or exceed industry safety standards.
• Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams, including software, electrical, and systems engineers, to ensure seamless integration of the compute solution with the overall robot platform.
• Conduct performance benchmarking and power analysis to optimize the compute stack for maximum efficiency and thermal management.
• Design, simulate, implement, and test multi‑layer high‑speed PCBs for integration of advanced System‑on‑Modules (SoMs) like NVIDIA Orin.
• Lead efforts in high‑speed signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) analysis, modeling, and validation.
• Knowledge of compute and processor power requirements, power trees, PMICs, and power sequencing.
• Drive the selection and qualification of critical components, including SoMs, memory, storage (NVMe/eMMC), high‑speed interconnects, and peripheral interfaces.
• Develop comprehensive validation and test plans (DVT/PVT), design necessary test fixtures, and execute rigorous testing to confirm compliance with performance specifications and regulatory standards (e.g., FCC, CE).
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in embedded systems, real‑time operating systems (RTOS), and robotics compute hardware to inform future design decisions.
• Own the entire lifecycle of complex compute hardware systems, from initial concept and architecture definition through design, prototyping, validation, production release, and ongoing support.
• Act as a technical leader and mentor within the electrical engineering team, guiding junior and senior engineers on best practices for complex hardware design and troubleshooting.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Proven experience in architecting and shipping complex, high‑performance compute solutions for robotics, autonomous systems, or similar applications.
• Deep understanding of functional safety principles and standards (e.g. IEC 61508) and experience with safety‑critical design.
• Expertise in a variety of compute platforms, including but not limited to, NVIDIA Jetson, Intel, and other high‑performance embedded systems.
• Strong knowledge of real‑time operating systems (RTOS), multi‑core processing, and communication protocols (e.g., Ethernet, CAN).
• Experience with sensor bandwidth management and high‑speed data transfer.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and a collaborative approach to engineering.
• Experience with humanoid robotics is a significant plus.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field; Master’s or Ph.D. preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in embedded systems or robotics compute design.

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.
• This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

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.