Principal Robotics Hardware Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Electrical Systems & Field Reliability

Prime Robotics builds autonomous robots that operate in active warehouses and distribution centers. We are looking for a senior, hands-on hardware engineer to become the technical owner of our robotic hardware in the United States.

Our immediate priorities are improving the electrical design of our robots and solving difficult problems occurring at customer sites. This is not a management-only position. You will personally inspect robots, diagnose failures, test solutions, review designs, and work with our China engineering team to implement permanent improvements.

Over time, you will help define and build Prime’s US hardware engineering capability.

What You’ll Do

• Personally lead troubleshooting of robot failures at customer sites and in Prime’s Denver lab.
• Diagnose intermittent and system-level problems involving power, grounding, EMI/EMC, sensors, motor controllers, embedded computers, wiring, and communications.
• Use oscilloscopes, power analyzers, bus analyzers, logs, and controlled testing to move from symptoms to verified root causes.
• Improve Prime’s 48V/24V electrical architecture, power distribution, protection, grounding, harnessing, connectors, and PCB designs.
• Evaluate and integrate robotic sensors such as LiDAR, cameras, encoders, proximity sensors, safety devices, and other industrial I/O.
• Debug communication among sensors, controllers, motor drives, and computers using Ethernet, CAN, RS485, and related protocols.
• Work directly with field technicians to reproduce failures and create practical diagnostic and repair procedures.
• Translate field findings into design requirements and corrective actions for Prime’s China engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Review schematics, PCB layouts, harnesses, component selections, and system architecture.
• Develop validation tests that reflect real warehouse conditions, including vibration, temperature, electrical noise, and continuous operation.
• Help define Prime’s next-generation robot controller and electrical platform.
• Establish the technical practices and hiring plan for a future US hardware engineering team.

What Success Looks Like

During your first year, you will:

• Become the primary US technical escalation point for robot hardware problems.
• Identify and permanently correct Prime’s most consequential electrical and sensor-related failures.
• Improve the speed and quality of field diagnosis.
• Establish a repeatable process connecting field failures to engineering changes and validation.
• Improve electrical design standards across the US and China teams.
• Define a practical roadmap for Prime’s next-generation robot hardware.
• Recommend which additional US engineering capabilities Prime should build.

Requirements

What You Bring

• 10+ years developing or troubleshooting complex electromechanical systems.
• Hands-on experience with mobile robots, AGVs/AMRs, industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, or similarly complex equipment.
• Strong electrical systems expertise, including power distribution, grounding, EMI/EMC, protection, wiring, and PCB-level diagnosis.
• Experience integrating and debugging sensors, motor controllers, embedded computers, and industrial communications.
• Proven ability to diagnose failures that cross electrical, embedded, mechanical, and software boundaries.
• Comfort working directly on equipment using test instruments, schematics, logs, and controlled experiments.
• Experience turning field failures into verified design improvements.
• The ability to lead technical work across international engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Clear communication with engineers, technicians, suppliers, and company leadership.

Experience with battery systems, motor drives, harsh environments, industrial safety standards, Linux, embedded firmware, or Chinese engineering and manufacturing teams is particularly valuable.

The Reality of the Role

Prime does not currently have a US hardware engineering team for this person to inherit. Initially, you will be the senior engineer doing the work—not simply delegating it.

The right person will enjoy moving between the warehouse floor, electronics bench, design review, and conversations with international engineering partners. As Prime’s US hardware capability grows, this role may expand into broader team leadership.

This position is based onsite at Prime’s Lakewood and Denver, Colorado facilities and requires travel to customer locations when hands-on investigation is necessary.

The expected base salary range is $180,000–$240,000 annually, plus equity and benefits, depending on experience and capabilities.

Prime Robotics is an equal opportunity employer and participates in E-Verify.

Benefits

• Employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to support your health and wellbeing.

• Dedicated vacation and sick leave that allows you to recharge and take care of yourself when needed. 

• Invaluable hands-on experience with cutting-edge robotics technology that keeps your skills at the industry forefront.

• A collaborative culture where innovation thrives and your work has a real impact.

• The excitement of contributing to transformative technology in a fast-growing industry.