Staff Electrical Engineer San Francisco, CA Hardware (Actuator)

Foundation Robotics Lab; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Staff Electrical Engineer to join their Motor Controller Team in San Francisco. This role focuses on designing and optimizing advanced motor controllers for humanoid robots, ensuring high performance and efficiency. The ideal candidate will possess a robust background in power electronics and embedded systems, with a passion for technology and aesthetics. Join a mission-driven team dedicated to creating cutting-edge robotics solutions that enhance safety and efficiency in complex environments. If you're ready to make a significant impact, this opportunity is for you!

Benefits

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

401k Plan

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in electrical engineering, focusing on motor control.
• Expertise in designing motor controllers for precision applications.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize motor controllers for humanoid robots.
• Lead innovation in motor control and power electronics.

Skills

Motor Controller Design

Power Electronics

Embedded Systems Development

Debugging and Troubleshooting

Simulation Tools (MATLAB/Simulink)

Circuit Design (Altium, LTspice)

Collaboration with Cross-disciplinary Teams

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic Analyzers

Current Probes

Job description

Staff Electrical Engineer - Motor Controller Team (Actuator Team)

Our mission is to create advanced robots that can operate in complex environments, reducing human risk in conflict zones and enhancing efficiency in labor-intensive industries.

We are on the lookout for extraordinary engineers and scientists to join our team. Your previous experience in robotics isn't a prerequisite — it's your talent and determination that truly count.

We expect that many of our team members will bring diverse perspectives from various industries and fields. We are looking for individuals with a proven record of exceptional ability and a history of creating things that work.

All positions are based in San Francisco.

Our Culture

We like to be frank and honest about who we are, so that people can decide for themselves if this is a culture they resonate with. Please read more about our culture here.

Who should join:

• You like working in person with a team in San Francisco.
• You want to work 7 days a week.
• You deeply believe that this is the most important mission for humanity and needs to happen yesterday.
• You are highly technical - regardless of the role you are in. We are building technology; you need to understand technology well.
• You care about aesthetics and design inside out. If it's not the best product ever, it bothers you, and you need to “fix” it.
• You don't need someone to motivate you; you get things done.

Why We Are Hiring for This Role:

• To design, develop, and optimize cutting-edge motor controllers that drive the actuators in our humanoid robots.
• Ensure seamless integration of motor controllers into the overall actuator architecture, achieving high performance and efficiency.
• To lead innovation in motor control, power electronics, and embedded systems to enable precise and reliable actuator functionality.
• Support the scaling of motor controller production from prototypes to mass manufacturing.
• Play a key role in advancing our actuator systems to meet the demands of next-generation humanoid robots.

What Kind of Person We Are Looking For:

• Expertise in designing motor controllers for precision applications, preferably in robotics or advanced automation.
• Strong background in power electronics, including inverter design, current sensing, and control algorithms for PMSM motors.
• Skilled in embedded systems development, including microcontroller/SoC selection, firmware development, and hardware-software integration.
• Experience with thermal and electrical efficiency optimization in high-performance systems.
• Familiar with safety and reliability considerations in low-voltage, high-power systems.
• Comfortable working with simulation tools for control systems (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink) and circuit design (e.g., Altium, LTspice).
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills for motor controllers, including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and current probes.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to integrate motor controllers into actuators and overall robot systems.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in electrical engineering, specifically in motor control, power electronics, or related fields.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field. A Ph.D. or equivalent experience is a plus.

We provide market standard benefits (health, vision, dental, 401k, etc.). Join us for the culture and the mission, not for the benefits.

The annual compensation is expected to be between $60,000 - $1,000,000. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.