Job description
ABOUT THE ROLE
A fast-growing robotics startup building rugged, multi-mission Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) for hazardous environments — spanning emergency response, industrial operations, and defense — is looking for an Electrical Engineer to design and own the electrical backbone of their robots. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role at a small, high-caliber team (backgrounds include NASA, Lockheed Martin, and top defense research institutions).
You'll work directly across mechanical and software disciplines to deliver field-ready systems that perform under extreme real-world conditions. Visa sponsorship is available.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Design analog and digital circuits including power regulation, signal conditioning, and sensor interfaces.
- Own full PCB development — schematic capture, layout, and bring-up.
- Collaborate closely with mechanical and software engineers to ensure reliable system integration.
- Troubleshoot and debug system-level electrical issues across hardware and software boundaries.
- Define and maintain wiring diagrams, harnessing, grounding schemes, and EMI/EMC strategies.
- Support sensor selection and integration across modalities: thermal, gas, visual, RF, and more.
- Run and interpret tests for thermal load, EMI, and mechanical ruggedness.
- Design and fabricate cable harnesses and enclosures optimized for field reliability.
- Run SPICE simulations for analog validation, noise analysis, and circuit stability.
- Contribute to design reviews and maintain clear documentation for design decisions.
- Help establish internal electrical standards and test infrastructure for future product iterations.
- Engage directly with end users as needed to inform engineering direction on specific features.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Required - 5+ years of hands-on electrical design experience for robotics or embedded systems, covering analog/digital circuits, power distribution, and sensors — this is a dealbreaker requirement.
- Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout in Altium, KiCad, or Eagle.
- Experience with embedded systems development, board bring-up, and debugging.
- Experience designing robot bus and wiring harness systems, including full harness development.
- Strong cross-functional fundamentals — comfortable working across hardware, software, and mechanical teams.
Nice to Have
- Experience with thermal, EMI, and vibration testing and debugging in robotics hardware.
- Hands-on soldering, lab assembly of boards, and wiring harness assembly.
- Sensor integration experience on robotics platforms.
COMPENSATION
& BENEFITS
- Salary: $100,000 – $150,000 USD annually
- Visa sponsorship available LOCATION This role is on-site in Austin, Texas. Candidates must be available to work in-person full time.