--- title: 'Senior Staff Test Engineer - Reliability at Apptronik' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-staff-test-engineer-reliability-apptronik-austin-qdb992f998na' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-03' --- # Senior Staff Test Engineer - Reliability at Apptronik - **Company:** Apptronik - **Location:** Austin, TX - **Posted:** 2026-10-29 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/apptronik/jobs/6238478004?gh_jid=6238478004 ## Job description Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond. We operate at the cutting edge of Applied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better. ## JOB SUMMARY We are seeking a Senior Staff Test Engineer - Reliability to own how we define, test, and prove the reliability of our complex electromechanical systems. You will set reliability targets and break top-level MTBF down into subsystem and component requirements. You will also determine the test quantity, duration, and confidence needed to demonstrate those targets, and focus testing where the risk is highest. This is a technical leadership role. You will direct and advise a team of engineers on their test plans, method, and rigor, lead root-cause investigations across mechanical, electrical, and firmware domains, and run a closed-loop failure reporting process that feeds test, manufacturing, and field data back into design. You will work closely with design, manufacturing, and quality teams, and communicate reliability risks, test investment tradeoffs, and progress toward MTBF targets to engineering and program leadership. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES - Reliability Strategy & Allocation: Define reliability targets and roadmap for the product, break top-level MTBF down into subsystem and component targets, and influence design through design reviews, derating guidance, and component and supplier qualification. - Test Planning & Leadership: Lead a team of engineers on reliability testing, advising on method and rigor, and determine the sample size, test duration, and confidence level needed to demonstrate top-level MTBF, targeting testing at the highest-risk components and subsystems (life, stress, HALT/HASS, thermal, environmental). - Failure Analysis & Root Cause: Lead root-cause investigations of failures from test, manufacturing, and the field, coach engineers through the analysis, and run a closed-loop failure reporting system (FRACAS) that feeds field and returns data back into design. - Reliability Modeling & Data: Guide the team in building life and failure-rate models (Weibull, FMEA inputs, fault trees, reliability block diagrams), roll component test results up to system-level MTBF estimates with confidence bounds, and track reliability growth over time against the MTBF target. - Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Mentor and grow engineers, partner with design, manufacturing, and quality teams, and present reliability risks, test investment tradeoffs, and progress toward MTBF targets to leadership. ## SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS - Experience leading reliability programs for complex electromechanical products, including allocating top-level MTBF to subsystem and component targets and planning the sample size, test duration, and confidence level needed to demonstrate it. - Hands-on experience designing and running reliability testing (life, accelerated, HALT/HASS, thermal, environmental) and interpreting results with statistical methods such as Weibull analysis and reliability growth models. - Demonstrated ability to lead root-cause investigations across mechanical, electrical, and firmware domains and drive corrective actions to closure, including running a failure reporting system (FRACAS). - Experience technically leading and mentoring other engineers, including directing their test plans and advising on method and rigor, and communicating reliability risks and tradeoffs to leadership. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE - BS in Engineering or a related field + 15 years of relevant experience, OR MS + 13 years, OR PhD + 12 years. ## PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS - Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer - Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times - Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen - Hearing and speech to communicate *This is a direct hire.  Please, no outside Agency solicitations. Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. ## About Apptronik ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Apptronik builds advanced humanoid robots for real-world industrial applications, starting with manufacturing and warehousing, to address labor shortages and improve human productivity. - **Entity Type**: Private (Funding Stage: Series A) - **Headquarters**: Austin, Texas, United States - **Founded**: 2016 - **Founders**: Founded as a spinout from the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin; leadership includes CEO Jeff Cardenas and CTO Nicholas Paine ## Core Business - Primary industry/industries: Robot Manufacturing, Humanoid Robotics, Industrial Automation, Artificial Intelligence - Target customers: B2B / Enterprise — manufacturing facilities, warehousing and logistics operators, supply chain organizations - Mission or purpose statement: “It is not Man vs. Machine, but Man + Machine” — building robots that empower humans to live to their fullest potential by solving labor shortages and reducing physical strain. ## Products & Services - **[Apollo Humanoid Robot Platform]**: A full-electric, bipedal humanoid robot designed for industrial use. Combines advanced hardware, embodied AI, and fleet-level management software. Current applications include material handling, line-side tasks, palletizing, case picking, trailer unloading, and inspection. Built as a scalable platform that can extend into healthcare, eldercare, and home environments over time. (Type: Hardware + SaaS Platform) ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed - **Annual Revenue**: ~$3.5 million (estimated) - **Total Funding**: ~$963.8 million (includes a Seed Round of $14.6M in 2022, a Corporate Round in 2025, and an undisclosed Series A round; notable investors include Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Google) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Google, Terex, Humanoid Global - **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 98.1% year-over-year to 334 employees (2026 data). Named to the **2026 CNBC Disruptor 50** list. Recognized on the **Best Places to Work** list (2024, 2025). Won the **2025 IEEE Robotics & Automation Product Innovation Award**. Named **Most Innovative** (2025). Active job postings increased 238.5% year-over-year (88 open roles). Acquired Elevate Robotics Inc. ## Competitive Advantages - **Deep heritage**: Spun out of UT Austin’s Human Centered Robotics Lab; team dates back to the DARPA Robotics Challenge (2015) and includes ex-NASA collaborators. - **Full-stack vertical integration**: Covers hardware, embodied AI, and fleet-level management software — a complete, scalable platform rather than a one-off robot. - **Safe, human-centric design**: Built for human environments from the ground up, with a focus on reducing physical strain and complementing human workers, not replacing them. - **Early enterprise traction**: Active partnerships with major industrial players like Mercedes-Benz and Terex, proving real-world deployment over lab demos. ## Strategic Focus - Scaling Apollo for manufacturing and warehouse deployment (current core market). - Expanding into more complex environments: construction, healthcare, eldercare, and the home. - Continuous hardware and software upgrades (CEO Jeff Cardenas calls humanoid robotics “the space race of our time” and has signaled major upgrades to Apollo). - Building out fleet-level tools for multi-robot management and learning. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven**: Work on the frontier of humanoid robotics with a stated ethos of “Man + Machine” — robots that improve human quality of life. - **High-growth environment**: Doubled headcount year-over-year with massive funding and expanding job postings; strong career growth potential. - **Culture values**: Passion, creativity, collaboration, integrity, curiosity, and humility are explicitly stated as core values. - **Perks & Benefits**: - Flexible PTO (open, unlimited) - 401k retirement plan - Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision coverage - Parental leave - Flexible work hours - Collaborative and innovative work environment - **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Not explicitly stated; 77% of workforce is in the United States (majority in Austin HQ). Specific roles may vary, but the company promotes a collaborative environment. - **Talent sources**: Attracts talent from top robotics and tech companies — SpaceX, Tesla, Fox Robotics, Agility Robotics, Apple, iRobot, Neocis, and top universities (UT Austin). - **Employee rating**: 3.9/5.0 on employer reviews (Work-Life: 3.5, Career: 3.7). ## Sources 1. [apptronik.com](https://apptronik.com/) — Company homepage 2. [apptronik.com/about-us](https://apptronik.com/about-us) — About Us / History / Mission 3. [apptronik.com/careers](https://apptronik.com/careers?gh_src=B+Capital+job+board) — Careers page / Perks & Culture 4. [apptronik.com/careers/job-listings](https://apptronik.com/careers/job-listings) — Open job listings 5. [linkedin.com/company/apptronik-inc.](https://www.linkedin.com/company/apptronik-inc.) — LinkedIn company profile (revenue, headcount, funding, employee breakdown) ## Other roles at Apptronik - [Senior / Staff Sim-to-Real Engineer (Tendon-based Robotic Hands)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-staff-sim-to-real-engineer-tendon-based-robotic-hands-apptronik-austin-gk7fhwf3907t) — Austin, TX - [Engineering Manager - Controls](https://feeny.ai/job/engineering-manager-controls-apptronik-austin-xdqepp25s218) — Austin, TX - [Senior Design Engineer - Electromagnetic (R&D)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-design-engineer-electromagnetic-r-d-apptronik-austin-92q30vmm0nm2) — Austin, TX - [Sr. Software Systems Safety Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-software-systems-safety-engineer-apptronik-sunnyvale-az29spy6ht78) — Sunnyvale, CA - [Senior Hardware Test Engineer - Components](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-hardware-test-engineer-components-apptronik-austin-s8wjwx4kyaey) — Austin, TX - [Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Assembly](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manufacturing-engineer-assembly-apptronik-austin-y1v13ms3zta9) — Austin, TX - [Manager, Operations Engineering - Supply Chain](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-operations-engineering-supply-chain-apptronik-austin-fncc1hnh3rsn) — Austin, TX - [Software Engineer - Manipulation](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-manipulation-apptronik-sunnyvale-gwpc3yte34k5) — Sunnyvale, CA - [Staff Systems Safety Engineer (Compliance)](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-systems-safety-engineer-compliance-apptronik-sunnyvale-kjxjw2nk6pf6) — Sunnyvale, CA - [Staff Systems Safety Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-systems-safety-engineer-apptronik-sunnyvale-36vd1z1vsd7r) — Sunnyvale, CA