Mechatronics Engineer at Innate (Bay Area)
Innate· Bay Area·
Role details
Job description
Who we are
Before the PC, there used to be a time where computing was locked inside big corporations. But thanks to hackers of Silicon Valley, everyone now has a computer and can develop for it.
The same should happen for robotics. We're building a platform that makes it accessible: the PC of robotics. An intuitive, open, affordable general-purpose robot for everyone.
If you're going to work on something crazy hard, it might as well matter. We're a small team that cares: about the problem, about the people using our robots, and about building a product that will still mean something years from now. We are our own users.
What we're looking for
A generalist mechatronics engineer who has built and shipped before and feels confident working on a mass consumer product.
This role covers a lot of ground. On any given day you might be laying out a PCB, designing a mechanical part, and writing firmware. If your ideal job is owning one narrow thing and perfecting it over years, we're probably not a fit. If that description sounds limiting to you, keep reading.
The core stuff that actually excites us:
- PCB design, high-speed digital and power electronics
- CAD & rapid prototyping.
- Firmware: embedded C, microcontrollers
- Software: You can code and debug in C / Python
Things that we prefer to see:
- Experience with manufacturing processes — CNC machining, sheet metal, injection molding
- You've touched RF or high-speed signal integrity work
- You've ordered parts, managed a BOM, navigated a supply chain
- FPGAs are a real bonus
DO NOT censure yourself if you don't meet all of these requirements, we look for fast-learners more than anything else.
The kind of person you are
• You are energized by hard problems, not intimidated by them • You are driven to build things for the real world • Who you're building with with matters as much as what you're building • You value dynamism, new problems every week
What you'll work on
Designing and building the physical systems that make our robots work — electronics, mechanics, firmware, and everything in between. Think about and design the product, with the rest of the team, and stay close to customers' needs.
Why work at Innate
- Culture: "We love working together. We hold each other's abilities in high regard and promote a culture of collaboration and excellence." The founders seek "talented misfits who want to do their best work inventing a new kind of platform" innate.bot/about. Degrees don’t matter – skill, creativity, and drive are valued.
- Team: Small, high-impact team of 4-7 people (50% technical, including founders with backgrounds from Stanford HCI, Archer, The Ocean Cleanup). Work spans robotics, AI, and human-computer interaction.
- Location: Palo Alto/Silicon Valley – on-site likely, with a maker-oriented environment. No explicit remote/hybrid policy stated.
- Perks: Early equity, ownership of novel general-purpose hardware/software, and a chance to shape the future of personal robotics.