---
title: 'Principal Mechatronics Engineer at Outrider'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-mechatronics-engineer-outrider-henderson-7m85prfyhn9v'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Principal Mechatronics Engineer at Outrider

- **Company:** Outrider
- **Location:** Henderson, CO
- **Posted:** 2026-07-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/outrider/jobs/5349833008

## Job description

The Company

Outrider, the pioneer in autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, helps large enterprises improve safety and increase efficiency. The only company exclusively focused on automating all aspects of yard operations, Outrider eliminates manual tasks that are hazardous and repetitive. Outrider’s mission is to drive the rapid adoption of sustainable freight transportation by deploying zero-emission systems. Outrider is a private company backed by NEA, 8VC, Koch Disruptive Technologies, and other top-tier investors. For more information, visit[www.outrider.ai](http://www.outrider.ai/)

## The Role

The Principal Mechatronics Engineer will report to the Senior Manager of Hardware Engineering and will own the full lifecycle—design, prototyping, DFX, and production—of our next-generation robotic arm and end effectors for advanced manipulation. This role owns mechanical architecture from concept through field deployment, setting engineering standards and driving design decisions that shape the reliability and scalability of the product.

This is a high-impact, hands-on technical leadership role for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of rigorous analysis and practical field reality. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in electromechanical systems, a strong reliability and durability mindset, and the ability to mentor and elevate a team of mechanical engineers.

This role is mission-critical for helping deliver a safety-critical system for industrial automation. The opportunity offers a technical, hands-on team member the chance to help develop a market-defining enterprise product that combines autonomous vehicle technology with a software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model.

The ideal candidate will embrace our goal to drive zero-emission, self-driving vehicle adoption, and help us realize our potential to define, build, and lead a new category of robotic automation for the enterprise.

This role is based in Denver, CO. Hybrid/remote candidates will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Duties & Responsibilities

- Own the mechanical architecture of advanced robotic manipulation, including end effector, actuation, and hardware systems, from requirements definition through design, validation, and field release
- Define and maintain engineering standards for CAD, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and documentation across the mechanical team
- Apply design for manufacturability (DFM) principles throughout the design process, collaborating with vendors and contract manufacturers to ensure designs are producible, cost-effective, and scalable from prototype to production volumes
- Lead design reviews and provide technical mentorship to Mechanical Engineer I/II team members
- Partner with software, electrical, and systems engineering teams to define HW/SW interface requirements and ensure integrated system performance
- Evaluate and select vendors and components; lead supplier development efforts for critical or custom hardware
- Lead reliability initiatives, including failure mode analysis (FMEA/FTA), design for reliability, and systematic corrective action to improve durability, safety, and lifecycle cost across the fleet
- Identify and resolve systemic mechanical risks across the product line before they reach the field

Required qualifications

- 8+ years of experience with integrated hardware/software systems such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, or other industrial automation products
- BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline
- Demonstrated experience owning mechanical system architecture end-to-end, including requirements, design, analysis, and validation
- Deep expertise in designing and documenting machined parts, weldments, sheet metal, and assemblies with full GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis
- Experience applying DFM principles to machined parts, sheet metal, weldments, and molded or cast components, with demonstrated ability to reduce part complexity and manufacturing cost without compromising performance
- Experience leading reliability programs — FMEA, root cause analysis, corrective action — on fielded hardware systems
- Proficiency with FEA and the ability to guide others in applying simulation to design decisions
- Experience with PDM systems and formal part release processes
- Experience designing and integrating sensors into electromechanical systems
- Track record of mentoring engineers and raising the technical quality of a team

Ideal qualifications

- Experience with robotic manipulator design, including joint design, linkage synthesis, and actuation selection
- Experience designing hardware for hardened outdoor environments (ingress protection, thermal cycling, vibration, shock)
- Familiarity with cable harness design and sensor wiring in integrated systems
- Working knowledge of Python and/or C++ for test automation or hardware-in-the-loop validation
- Familiarity with functional safety standards (IEC 61508, ISO 26262, or similar) in the context of safety-critical hardware design

## Compensation & Benefits

- Salary: $170,000 - $200,000
- Actual compensation is based on several factors, including but not limited to job-related skills, qualifications, experience, and specific work location due to differences in the cost of labor
- Relocation assistance offered
- Equity: equity package commensurate on experience and skills
- Health Insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Parental Leave
- 401(K) Retirement
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Short-Term Disability
- Long–Term Disability
- Life insurance
- Pet insurance
- Mental health benefits
- Professional Development Benefits

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship, now or in the future.

## About Outrider

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Outrider automates yard operations for logistics hubs with an integrated system of management software, autonomous electric yard trucks, and site infrastructure to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series D – $62M raised in October 2024)
- **Headquarters**: Golden, Colorado, United States
- **Founded**: 2017
- **Founders**: Not publicly available

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, logistics, sustainable freight transportation
- **Target customers**: Large enterprises with distribution yards and logistics hubs (B2B, Enterprise)
- **Mission**: Drive the rapid adoption of sustainable freight transportation by deploying zero-emission systems

## Products & Services
- **Outrider System**: An end-to-end solution comprising:
  - **Management Software**: Orchestration and real-time visibility of yard operations
  - **Autonomous Electric Yard Trucks**: Zero-emission vehicles that handle repetitive towing and spotting tasks
  - **Site Infrastructure**: Sensors and communication hardware to enable safe autonomous movement

  **Type**: Hardware + Software (integrated system)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of **$314.1M** across seven rounds (Seed, Series A–D)
- **Notable Investors**: NEA, 8VC, Koch Disruptive Technologies, FM Capital
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Raised $62M Series D in October 2024, led by Koch Disruptive Technologies and NEA
  - Cited as the “pioneer in autonomous yard operations” with active deployments at the largest logistics-dependent enterprises
  - Operates a 200,000-square-foot Advanced Testing Facility replicating real-world distribution yards
  - Headcount of ~106 employees (though down 23.6% YoY); still listing open roles in engineering and operations

## Competitive Advantages
- **Exclusive focus**: Outrider is the only company solely dedicated to automating yard operations, differentiating from broader autonomous vehicle or robotics firms
- **Integrated system**: Combines software, vehicles, and infrastructure into a turnkey solution, reducing integration risk for customers
- **Safety-first approach**: Developed a formal safety case using functional safety standards, site-specific planning, and third-party review; zero-emission electric trucks also remove diesel emissions and improve yard safety
- **Proven real-world testing**: Continual operation of its own testing facility ensures robust, reliable automation under realistic conditions

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling deployments**: Expanding commercial adoption with enterprise customers in logistics and supply chain
- **Sustainability leadership**: Pushing the replacement of diesel yard trucks with electric, autonomous alternatives to help customers meet carbon reduction goals
- **Technology maturation**: Advancing autonomy software and sensor integration to handle more complex yard environments

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Values include “personal ownership,” “rapid innovation,” “culture of safety,” “have each other’s back,” and “strength in diversity.” Described as a trailblazer where employees “work hard and play hard.”
- **Remote/Hybrid/Office**: Most engineering and test operations roles are based in Brighton or Golden, Colorado; some contract roles (e.g., Data Analyst) are remote. Likely hybrid for many positions.
- **Benefits**:
  - Comprehensive healthcare coverage (medical, dental, vision)
  - Employer-paid life insurance and disability
  - Robust parental leave
  - Flexible time off
  - Stock options
  - Well-stocked refrigerators and team bonding events
- **Engineering culture**: Emphasis on “best-in-class engineering,” solving tough autonomy problems, and seeing your work deployed at scale with major logistics companies.

## Sources
1. [outrider.ai](https://www.outrider.ai/) – Company homepage and system overview
2. [outrider.ai/about/](https://www.outrider.ai/about/) – About, mission, and principles
3. [outrider.ai/careers/](https://www.outrider.ai/careers/) – Careers page with culture, values, and benefits
4. [linkedin.com/company/outridertech](https://www.linkedin.com/company/outridertech) – Company details, funding, headcount, and executive team
5. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/outrider](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/outrider) – Current job openings

## Other roles at Outrider

- [Autonomous Vehicle Operator, CDL-A - 2nd Shift (6-MO Temporary)](https://feeny.ai/job/autonomous-vehicle-operator-cdl-a-2nd-shift-6-mo-temporary-outrider-san-antonio-7k0ejwjw9bqv) — San Antonio, TX
- [Senior Manager, Autonomous Vehicle Assembly Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-autonomous-vehicle-assembly-operations-outrider-henderson-v5wg5xt6fpjx) — Henderson, CO
- [Technical Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-program-manager-outrider-henderson-9bv3k42agyhe) — Henderson, CO
- [Engineer II, Embedded, Sensors, and Safety Software](https://feeny.ai/job/engineer-ii-embedded-sensors-and-safety-software-outrider-henderson-zjgrvzztf139) — Henderson, CO
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer, Test and Reliability](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-test-and-reliability-outrider-henderson-69zeb2p201q6) — Henderson, CO
- [Principal Engineer, Embedded, Sensors, and Safety Software](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-engineer-embedded-sensors-and-safety-software-outrider-henderson-btgym42hvbm9) — Henderson, CO
- [Manager, Cloud and Data](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-cloud-and-data-outrider-remote-jx4yze8889bg)
- [Senior Mechatronics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechatronics-engineer-outrider-henderson-shn7a2pd4jcr) — Henderson, CO