Automation Engineer

About Vale

At Vale, our goal is to make magic and bring the real benefits of matcha to a billion people. We are a group of fun-loving, matcha enthusiasts who believe that a good idea can come from anywhere. Vale is a Seattle startup making magic through cutting-edge technology, automation, and world class hospitality experiences. We are a dynamic and highly cross functional team with a wealth of experience in food service, food automation, software engineering, aerospace, and consumer electronics. We have come together to develop the Matcha experience of the future — whether that's in a cafe, your neighborhood park, or at home.

About you

You are someone who is enthusiastic about matcha, obsessed with innovation, and loves being a part of a dynamic team.

• Enthusiastic about matcha. The world of matcha is huge, so you should be curious about its benefits, flavor profiles, and methods of preparation.
• Detail Oriented. Take pride in your craft and ensure Vale's products are consistent, repeatable, and of the highest quality.
• Versatile . Bringing matcha to a billion people is dynamic work! You should be comfortable sharing your expertise in one area, but capable of owning something new in another.
• A bar raiser with proven experience. You don't just meet the standard — you raise it. You bring deep, hands-on expertise that elevates everyone around you and sets a new benchmark for what great looks like.
• Excited to be a part of a growing team. Vale is a growing company and we want you to grow with us.
• An automation generalist. You thrive in ambiguity and can take a process from manual to automated with minimal hand-holding. You are equally comfortable with hardware and software.

The role

As an Automation Engineer, you will design, build, and continuously improve the automated systems that power Vale's unique matcha preparation and delivery platform.

• Design and develop automation systems including actuators, sensors, and control logic
• Identify manual or inefficient processes and create automated solutions
• Develop test plans and validate system performance against specifications
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams including Mechanical, Firmware, and Software engineering
• Commission and debug automation systems from bench prototype to field deployment
• Write and maintain technical documentation for systems and processes
• Support continuous improvement of existing automation through performance analysis and upgrades

Qualifications

• Legally authorized to work in the United States
• 4+ years of automation engineering experience in a product or manufacturing environment
• Experience with mechanical, electrical, and software aspects of automated systems
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python, C/C++, or LabVIEW)
• Hands-on experience with sensor integration, actuator control, and vision systems
• Strong problem-solving skills with experience debugging complex system interactions

Compensation

$115,000 – $152,000 per year

Benefits

• Company funded ORCA card
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Annual bonuses
• Joining a fun startup in Seattle