--- title: 'Automation Engineer at Neros Technologies' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/automation-engineer-neros-technologies-torrance-california-sk5931g6mp3w' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-13' --- # Automation Engineer at Neros Technologies - **Company:** Neros Technologies - **Location:** Torrance California, United States - **Posted:** 2026-07-21 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-13 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/nerostechnologies/jobs/5189310007 ## Job description ## Who we are Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment. As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years. ## What you will be doing We are hiring a Automation Engineer to scale our manufacturing capabilities by automating assembly and test processes, enabling higher throughput, improved quality, and reduced operational cost. This role will develop solutions ranging from simple fixtures to advanced automated systems, helping build a manufacturing operation that can support rapid growth and future products. You should have the following - 3+ years of experience designing, building, and deploying manufacturing automation equipment in a high-volume production environment - Proven experience developing automated assembly systems, test stations, fixtures, and process control solutions from concept through production deployment - Strong mechanical design skills with proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks or equivalent) and experience creating manufacturable automation solutions - Hands-on experience with industrial controls, including PLCs, sensors, machine vision systems, robotics, pneumatics, and motion control systems - Experience integrating hardware and software for automated manufacturing and test applications, including data collection and process monitoring - Demonstrated ability to identify manufacturing bottlenecks, perform ROI analysis, and deliver automation projects that improve throughput, yield, quality, and labor efficiency - Experience supporting NPI builds and transitioning automation solutions from prototype to scalable production - Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with Manufacturing, Test, Design, Quality, and Software Engineering teams in a fast-paced product development environment - Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or C# for automation, controls, and manufacturing test application - .Knowledge of manufacturing quality systems, statistical process control (SPC), and Design for Manufacturing/Automation (DFM/DFA) principles - Strong understanding of GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, process capability (Cp/Cpk), SPC, and manufacturing KPIs to design robust automation solutions that account for variation and enable scalable production ## Nice to Have - Experience with drone, aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, or other high-reliability electromechanical products - Experience with machine vision inspection systems, robotic integration, and advanced motion control platforms - Experience supporting high-mix, low-volume NPI builds and scaling processes to high-volume production environments US Salary Range $112,500 – $157,500 USD The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package. We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. ## About Neros Technologies ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: A defense technology company building combat-proven, attritable drones and unmanned systems to deliver asymmetric advantage for Western military forces at scale. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series B) - **Headquarters**: Los Angeles, California, United States (El Segundo area) - **Founded**: 2023 - **Founders**: Soren Monroe‑Anderson (CEO) and Olaf Hichwa (CTO) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing - **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense (Army, Marine Corps), allied nations (Ukraine, UK), and NATO partners – B2G / government. - **Mission statement**: “Building unmanned superiority. At scale. In America.” The company was founded to onshore the manufacturing of drones critical to a modern arsenal and close the gap between design and deployment. ## Products & Services Neros designs and manufactures high-performance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with a focus on first‑person view (FPV) attritable drones, ground control stations, radios, and supporting software. - **Archer Strike FPV**: A kinetic‑enabled FPV drone for lethal effects at range in contested environments. Combat‑proven, BlueUAS certified, and selected for the U.S. Army’s PBAS program. - **Archer**: General‑purpose FPV drone built for modular payloads and resilient communications; also available as the **Archer Fiber** variant (fiber‑optic control link for jamming resistance, launched Dec 2025 in partnership with Kela Technologies). - **Longbow / Crossbow**: Ground control stations – Longbow is a maximum‑range stationary GCS; Crossbow is a tactical GCS enabling electronic warfare resistance at range. - **APEX (Adaptive Payload Exchange)**: An open‑source drone‑to‑payload integration standard (released May 2026) with commitments from Northrop Grumman and others. - **Software**: Flight control, autonomy, and manufacturing‑support software. Custom flight computer with integrated sensor suite, designed for rapid iteration and software‑defined hardware. ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed - **Key Metric**: Total funding – **$120.9M** raised to date (Seed $10.9M, Series A $35M, Series B $75M) - **Notable Investors / Partners**: Sequoia Capital (led Series B), Vy Capital, Cantos (led Seed); Kela Technologies (Archer Fiber), Northrop Grumman (APEX), DARPA (AI Grand Prix hardware provider) - **Growth Signals**: - Selected by U.S. Army for Purpose‑Built Attritable Systems (PBAS) program (one of three vendors) targeting up to 1M drones over two years. - 6,000‑unit export deal to Ukraine. - Established Neros Technologies UK with up to £10M investment over five years; manufacturing hub in Swindon. - Headcount growth: +355% YoY (approx. 75–88 employees); 52 active job postings as of mid‑2026. - Open‑sourced APEX standard to create ecosystem lock‑in. ## Competitive Advantages - **Vertically integrated U.S. manufacturing** with a secure, onshored supply chain – founded specifically to rebuild the American drone industrial base. - **Combat‑proven systems** (Ukraine, live‑fire testing) in high‑tempo electronic warfare environments. - **BlueUAS certified** – compliance with NDAA and U.S. government standards. - **Fiber‑optic control link** (Archer Fiber) that is immune to RF jamming – a unique differentiation in contested spectrum. - **Open‑source payload standard (APEX)** to drive adoption and ecosystem dependence. - **Rapid iteration culture** – “engineer at the speed of modern conflict” with continuous battlefield feedback. ## Strategic Focus - **Scale production**: CEO has publicly stated a target of 10,000+ drones per month; PBAS award and UK hub are key enablers. - **International expansion**: Establish sovereign manufacturing in the UK (Swindon) to supply British Armed Forces and NATO partners. - **Autonomy advancement**: Hiring Head of Autonomy, autonomy simulation engineers, and computer vision engineers to mature software‑defined capabilities. - **Ecosystem building**: Promote APEX as an industry standard to lock in partners and expand market reach. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: “Fast, hands‑on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.” Emphasizes extreme ownership, rapid iteration, and real‑world impact. Attracts talent from SpaceX, Anduril, Skydio, and Relativity Space. - **Work model**: On‑site in Torrance (CA), with a Tennessee office (Advanced Manufacturing) and Ukraine office. UK hub (Swindon) also hiring. Roles include engineering, manufacturing, autonomy, RF, IT, and business development. - **Notable perks / engineering culture**: Build products that are actually tested in combat; startup speed with mission‑focused seriousness; opportunity to shape the future of attritable drone warfare. Strong preference for builders, not watchers. ## Sources 1. [neros.tech](https://www.neros.tech/) 2. [Greenhouse Careers Page](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/nerostechnologies) 3. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/neros-tech) 4. [Built In Neros Technologies](https://builtin.com/company/neros-technologies) 5. [robotics.press Company Profile](https://robotics.press/news/neros-technologies-company-profile/) ## Other roles at Neros Technologies - [Deputy General Counsel](https://feeny.ai/job/deputy-general-counsel-neros-technologies-torrance-california-61m1a1nke7he) — Torrance California, United States - [Autonomy Platform & Runtime Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/autonomy-platform-runtime-lead-neros-technologies-torrance-california-wxesfbqz7p46) — Torrance California, United States - [State Estimation & Navigation Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/state-estimation-navigation-lead-neros-technologies-torrance-california-q90ye900eqd3) — Torrance California, United States - [Manager, Autonomy Evaluation, Data & Test](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-autonomy-evaluation-data-test-neros-technologies-torrance-california-9f8ab1w23vtm) — Torrance California, United States - [Senior Defense Strategist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-defense-strategist-neros-technologies-washington-district-of-columbia-xqa49cfqxa5w) — Washington District of Columbia, United States - [Operations Project Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/operations-project-manager-neros-technologies-ukraine-p35p9vj7haz3) — Ukraine - [Administration & Procurement Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/administration-procurement-specialist-neros-technologies-ukraine-qfe9qnmf93q5) — Ukraine - [Finance & Operations Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/finance-operations-manager-neros-technologies-ukraine-83pf8eg8dqk3) — Ukraine - [BD Pilot, USMC](https://feeny.ai/job/bd-pilot-usmc-neros-technologies-remote-85hnnrvdhpwd) - [BD Pilot, Army](https://feeny.ai/job/bd-pilot-army-neros-technologies-remote-2008r199x9mp)