Lead Robotics Engineer – Mechanical
San Francisco, CA (onsite)
Up to $250K + Equity
My client is building the world's first off-grid power plant for data centers — they manufacture and deploy autonomous robots that drive rebar foundations into the ground at utility-scale solar sites. They're solving the 3-5 year power wait time for data centers.
Founded by operators who previously scaled a company to 80+ people and $350M in annual sales. They're working directly with one of the largest compute providers and plan to deploy 5GW by 2028. Recently raised funding of $27m gives a solid runway,
Mechanical lead role with founding-team-level ownership on a new hardware program. $150K-$250K comp with up to $15K relocation bonus and $1K monthly meal stipend. On-site in San Francisco.
About this role
We are looking for a Robotics Engineer (Mechanical) with 7-10+ years of experience to own the mechanical architecture of an autonomous field robot that will revolutionize how utility-scale solar infrastructure is built. You'll join a small, high-agency team building a ground-up hardware program with founding-team-level ownership. This is a hands-on role where you'll take the machine from concept through prototype to production fleet — designing, building, breaking, and rebuilding in the field. We need someone who has end-to-end ownership experience, thrives in fast-paced environments, and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty in austere conditions.
Requirements:
- 7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering at a robotics company building ground vehicles or field robots
- End- to- end ownership of an electromechanical system from concept through deployment — not just CAD or handoff work
- High agency — unblocks themselves without waiting for direction from management
- Must be on- site in San Francisco (up to $15K relocation available)
- Experience at a robotics company building machines for austere/outdoor environments (construction, mining, energy, ag- tech)
- BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field
- Drivetrain, actuation, and locomotion design for wheeled/tracked mobile robots (motor sizing, gearboxes, suspension)
- Rapid prototyping and hands- on fabrication — comfortable in a shop and in the field
- US work authorization required
- Experience at a high- intensity startup or fast- paced tech company (Tesla, Amazon- caliber work culture)
- Hydraulics or heavy machinery experience for ground- engaging tools
What will you be doing?
- Own the full mechanical architecture of the robot end-to-end: chassis, mast, tool head, rebar handling, feed system, drivetrain, and locomotion for rough desert terrain
- Design, prototype, and iterate rapidly — machining parts, working with fab shops, and getting hardware into the dirt to learn from every failure
- Specify and integrate actuators, sensors, and power distribution in close collaboration with the electrical/mechatronics engineer, bridging the gap between ME and EE
- Perform structural and dynamic analysis including reaction loads, vibration, fatigue, and tip-over stability
- Take the design from prototype toward a small production fleet with a focus on DFM, reliability, and field serviceability
If this sounds like you apply today!