---
title: 'Senior Mechanical Engineer, Test and Reliability at Outrider'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-test-and-reliability-outrider-henderson-69zeb2p201q6'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Senior Mechanical Engineer, Test and Reliability at Outrider

- **Company:** Outrider
- **Location:** Henderson, CO
- **Posted:** 2026-06-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/outrider/jobs/5265022008

## 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 Senior Mechanical Engineer will report to the Sr. Manager of Hardware Engineering and support the development of custom end effector, tool, and HW system designs for robotic manipulation and autonomous vehicle systems. This position requires strong mechanical design skills and is central to ensuring our system meets rigorous durability, performance, and lifecycle requirements before and after field deployment.

Successful candidates will have a demonstrated history of contributing technically to the design and implementation of complex components of robotic systems from scratch.

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.

Duties & Responsibilities

- Lead reliability initiatives by analyzing failure modes, implementing design and process improvements, and driving corrective actions to improve product performance, durability, and lifecycle cost.
- Own test strategies for mechanical and electro-mechanical subsystems: define test plans, acceptance criteria, and pass/fail requirements aligned to product specifications and customer use cases.
- Design, build, and maintain reliability test fixtures and automated test rigs that simulate real-world operating conditions for accelerated life testing (ALT), fatigue, thermal cycling, and environmental stress screening
- Support field testing and debugging, both locally and at remote customer sites
- Brainstorm and prototype electro-mechanical, and pneumatic tools for automation systems and robotic manipulators
- Design and maintain parts and complex CAD assemblies for robotic end effectors, tooling, and autonomous vehicle hardware, with reliability and manufacturability as primary design inputs.
- Collaborate with software team members to incorporate desired sensing mechanisms and account for HW/SW integrated system design considerations

Required qualifications

- 5+ years of experience with integrated software/hardware systems such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, or other automotive/aerospace products with a significant portion focused on test engineering or reliability
- BS or MS in mechanical engineering, computer engineering, electrical/electronics engineering, or a similar discipline
- Demonstrated experience designing and building test fixtures and reliability test rigs for electro-mechanical systems
- Experience with accelerated life testing (ALT) methodologies
- Experience with the product development lifecycle - particularly design for manufacture, reliability, and cost
- Experience working with linear and rotary actuators
- Experience designing complex electro-mechanical and pneumatic systems from concept to product
- Experience designing and documenting machined parts, weldments, sheet metal components, and assemblies
- Experience creating and maintaining detailed mechanical drawings (GD&T, tolerances, and BOMs) to support test and manufacturing
- Knowledge and experience selecting, designing, and/or integrating sensors to understand the state of a system
- Working knowledge of Python and/or C++ for test automation or hardware-in-the-loop validation
- Experience using basic shop equipment (3d printer, bandsaw, mill, drill, etc) to build rapid prototypes
- Strong technical analysis skills

Ideal qualifications

- Experience with industrial automation equipment
- Experience with linkage synthesis and linkage design
- Experience with PDM and part release processes
- Experience designing and optimizing joints for robotic manipulators
- Prior work with contract manufacturers
- Familiarity wiring sensors and designing cable harnesses
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary robotics team
- Familiarity working on systems for use in hardened environments

## Compensation & Benefits

- Salary: $150,000 - $180,000
- 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

Please note: At this time, we are only hiring candidates who are currently authorized to work in the United States and reside within the U.S. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support international employment arrangements for this role.

## 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
- [Principal Mechatronics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-mechatronics-engineer-outrider-henderson-7m85prfyhn9v) — 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
- [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