--- title: 'Mechanical Engineering Co-Op Spring 2027 at HaloBraid' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineering-co-op-spring-2027-halobraid-cambridge-20xm56am9rgc' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-05' --- # Mechanical Engineering Co-Op Spring 2027 at HaloBraid - **Company:** HaloBraid - **Location:** Cambridge, MA - **Employment:** internship - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-11-03 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-05 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/halobraid/a421ff7f-da07-4266-9c76-5bf44c03dc96 ## Job description Halo is a hair technology company using breakthrough engineering to elevate everyday routines. We’re building the world’s first robotic hair-braiding system—integrating computer vision, robotics, compliant fiber manipulation, and novel mechatronic machines. This is one of the hardest unsolved problems in robotics, applied to a $300B industry. 8 billion hours are spent braiding hair each year. HaloBraid gives that time back. The system collaborates with professional stylists to reduce braiding appointments from 6 hours to minutes and grow their business. We’re moving from R&D into deployment with salons, well-funded by leading investors. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of the hair styling industry. We are looking for a Spring 2027 Mechanical Engineering Co-op to play a pivotal role in developing our innovative hair braiding robotic system. Responsibilities: - Contribute to the development of complex technology, product sub-assemblies, and test rigs - Take an active, hands-on role to ensure that engineering problems are resolved thoroughly - Utilize various rapid prototyping technologies to build, test, and iterate - Use hand calculations, computer simulation, and/or lab-based testing to validate designs through the development process - Conduct user testing and project the voice of the customer back into the design - Conduct various forms of testing, problem solving, and design iteration Requirements: - At least one semester remaining in your undergraduate or graduate degree - Experience with CAD (we use Onshape, experience with Solidworks or equivalent is acceptable) - Experience with various rapid prototyping methods (3D printing, CNC, etc) - Demonstrated design intelligence, mechanical intuition, creative problem solving, and strong attention to detail - A willingness to fail and learn! Desired Skills & Experience (optional but the more, the better) - Gone through (and documented!) the design process for a project, through school or on your own time - Strong documentation skills and the ability to convey complex ideas in a team setting - Strong experimental rigor and testing process - Experience with complex CAD models with clear top down design - Experience with consumer electronics, robotics, or hair styling tools - Interest in hair braiding/styling - Interest in robotics and mechanisms - Complementary engineering experience: - Mechanisms, mechatronics, and moving components. - Experience with design optimization using FEA/CFD simulation - Electronics prototyping and soldering Working Style - User centric, you want to build stuff people use and love - Low ego, adaptable, and collaborative spirit - Willing to learn through fast-paced iteration and feedback - Passionate, driven by innovation Benefits of Working with Us: - Company subsidized parking or commute for onsite employees Onsite work This is an onsite full time position at our office/lab in Cambridge, MA. You must have authorization to work in the US. Don’t Meet Every Requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align with every single part of the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization. ## About HaloBraid ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: HaloBraid is a robotics startup building an automated braiding assistant to dramatically reduce the time required for professional hair braiding, starting with a device for salons. - **Entity Type**: Private (Seed stage) - **Headquarters**: Boston, Massachusetts, USA - **Founded**: 2023 (based on earliest funding round) - **Founders**: Yinka Ogunbiyi ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Personal Care Product Manufacturing, Robotics, Beauty Tech - **Target customers**: Professional hair salons and stylists (B2B), with a long-term vision to serve individual consumers - **Mission or purpose statement**: To create breakthrough technology that makes textured haircare faster, easier, more comfortable, and more joyful. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/halobraid-raises-7m-from-seven-seven-six-to-end-the-six-hour-hair-salon-appointment/) ## Products & Services - **HaloBraid Device**: A robotic braiding assistant for professional stylists. The stylist starts the braid, and the device finishes it in seconds. Designed for knotless and box braids. The product is patent-pending and slated to launch in 2026. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/halobraid-raises-7m-from-seven-seven-six-to-end-the-six-hour-hair-salon-appointment/) ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private company) - **Key Metric**: Total funding of $7.1M (a $100K grant from Harvard Innovation Labs in 2023 and a $7M seed round in June 2026) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Seven Seven Six (led by Alexis Ohanian), AlleyCorp, Bling Capital, Harvard Innovation Labs [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/halobraid-raises-7m-from-seven-seven-six-to-end-the-six-hour-hair-salon-appointment/) - **Growth Signals**: Raised a $7M seed round in June 2026; team has grown to approximately 15 people; has 9 active job postings; website traffic has grown +689% year-over-year; the company is preparing for its first product launch later in 2026. ## Competitive Advantages - **First-mover in a massive, underserved market**: An estimated 8 billion hours are spent braiding hair each year, and 95% of people surveyed said they would braid more often if it took less time. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/halobraid-raises-7m-from-seven-seven-six-to-end-the-six-hour-hair-salon-appointment/) - **Founder with deep domain expertise**: Yinka Ogunbiyi is a biomechanical engineer with an MS in engineering from Harvard and an MBA, who previously founded a smart cooking appliance company. She has approached braiding as a technical problem, borrowing methods from material science and inkjet printing. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/halobraid-raises-7m-from-seven-seven-six-to-end-the-six-hour-hair-salon-appointment/) - **Patent-pending technology**: The company has filed patents for its core braiding mechanism, creating a defensible moat in a market with very few competitors (the most notable being Braidiant). [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/halobraid-raises-7m-from-seven-seven-six-to-end-the-six-hour-hair-salon-appointment/) - **Strong investor backing**: The seed round was led by Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, a top-tier venture firm, signaling strong confidence in the company's vision. ## Strategic Focus - **Product Launch**: The immediate priority is launching the first HaloBraid device to salons later in 2026. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/halobraid-raises-7m-from-seven-seven-six-to-end-the-six-hour-hair-salon-appointment/) - **Product Development & Manufacturing**: Using the $7M seed round to fund product development, manufacturing, and securing salon partnerships. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/halobraid-raises-7m-from-seven-seven-six-to-end-the-six-hour-hair-salon-appointment/) - **Future Product Pipeline**: The team is already exploring additional devices, such as one that can undo braids. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/halobraid-raises-7m-from-seven-seven-six-to-end-the-six-hour-hair-salon-appointment/) - **Team Growth**: The company is actively hiring across engineering and operations, with 9 open positions as of mid-2026, signaling a major scaling phase. ## Why Work Here - **High-Impact, Early-Stage Role**: As a small team of ~15 people, new hires will have significant ownership and impact on the product and company direction. - **Cutting-Edge Hardware & Robotics**: The work involves solving complex problems in robotics, mechatronics, and material science, making it an exciting opportunity for engineers. - **Mission-Driven**: The company is addressing a real pain point for millions of people, with a focus on textured hair care—a historically underserved market. - **Hybrid Work Environment**: The Boston office operates on a hybrid model, blending remote and on-site work. [builtinboston.com](https://www.builtinboston.com/company/halobraid) - **Strong Perks**: Benefits include company equity, health insurance (dental, life, medical), and a strong company culture rated 4.3/5.0 by employees. [builtinboston.com](https://www.builtinboston.com/company/halobraid) - **Diverse & Inclusive Mission**: The company is founded by a Black woman engineer and is focused on a product that serves a historically overlooked market, suggesting a strong culture of inclusion and purpose. ## Sources 1. [halobraid.com](https://www.halobraid.com/) 2. [jobs.ashbyhq.com](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/halobraid) 3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/halo-braid) 4. [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/halobraid-raises-7m-from-seven-seven-six-to-end-the-six-hour-hair-salon-appointment/) 5. [builtinboston.com](https://www.builtinboston.com/company/halobraid) ## Other roles at HaloBraid - [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-halobraid-cambridge-r6ny66vd5gy9) — Cambridge, MA - [Principal Mechanical Engineer / Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-mechanical-engineer-systems-engineer-halobraid-cambridge-a9275ezs9ghs) — Cambridge, MA - [Social Media Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/social-media-manager-halobraid-new-york-wkfxbx0s863p) — New York, NY - [Hardware Technical Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-technical-program-manager-halobraid-cambridge-7gzqpvv8zj4d) — Cambridge, MA