Lead Robotics Hardware Engineer

The Role

We are seeking a Lead Robotics Hardware Engineer with 6–12+ years of hands-on experience to own the architecture, prototyping, and field deployment of robotic data-collection platforms and customer workcells end-to-end.

In this ground-floor role, you will lead physical systems engineering from early lab prototypes to customer installations. You will integrate commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) robotics hardware with custom mechanics and sensors to deliver dependable, high-impact manufacturing solutions.

This is a high-visibility technical leadership role offering a direct path toward Head of Hardware as the company scales its hardware organization.

Responsibilities

• Program Ownership: Lead hardware programs through the complete lifecycle—from initial requirements and system architecture to design, validation, build, and customer site deployment.
• Systems Integration: Evaluate, select, and integrate COTS 6/7-DOF robotic arms, custom/COTS end effectors, force/tactile sensors, and vision systems into complete, deployable manufacturing workcells.
• Rapid Prototyping & CAD: Iterate rapidly on mechanical designs, mounting structures, and tooling using modern 3D CAD platforms (SolidWorks, Onshape, Creo, or NX).
• Technical Leadership: Set engineering standards, conduct rigorous design reviews, and mentor team engineers to raise the overall technical bar.
• Field Deployments: Travel to client production facilities to deploy, test, troubleshoot, and optimize automated workcells on-site.
• Team Building: Assist in hiring, structuring, and eventually leading the hardware engineering organization as deployments scale.

Key Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship: Required due to government and industrial compliance standards ( Green Card holders and visa sponsorship cannot be accommodated for this role ).
• Location: Ability to work 100% on-site in New York City with travel to customer sites as needed.
• Robotics Expertise: Dedicated background in robotics or mechatronics systems engineering (not exclusively traditional mechanical or structural design).
• Experience: 6 to 12 years of experience developing complex electromechanical hardware, robotics, or mechatronics systems.
• End-to-End Track Record: Proven history of taking complex physical systems from concept and CAD through assembly, integration, and field deployment.
• Robotic Manipulation: Practical experience evaluating and integrating manipulator arms, end effectors, custom grippers, or tool changers.
• CAD Mastery: High proficiency in a modern 3D CAD platform (SolidWorks, Onshape, Creo, or NX).
• Core ME Fundamentals: Solid grasp of GD&T, tolerance analysis, structural design, materials, actuators, bearings, cable management, fasteners, and manufacturing processes.
• Hands-on Mindset: Eager to build, assemble, test, and debug hardware in the lab alongside software and ML teams.

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Exposure to tactile/force sensing, compliant mechanisms, or multi-sensor calibration for robotic manipulators.
• Prior experience leading technical design reviews or acting as a formal hardware team lead/manager.
• Degree in Robotics, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.