Electrical Engineer

About Bonsai Robotics

Bonsai Robotics develops affordable, vision-based autonomy that makes off-road equipment smarter, safer, and more productive. We are redefining outdoor autonomy with Bonsai Intelligence, a connected platform that’s inspired by biology to see, think, and act with precision like a human. We bring together advanced perception, embodied AI, integrations with equipment manufacturers, and our compact, modular Amiga vehicles to deliver reliable automation to the world’s most demanding field operations—reducing costs and increasing operational efficiencies.

About the role

We are seeking a motivated and innovative Electrical Engineer to join our hardware development team at Bonsai Robotics.  Bonsai Robotics is pioneering the future of autonomous outdoor work and building an autonomy platform that adapts to any off-road environment. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and validating electrical systems and components that power our next-generation autonomous UGV platforms. Your work will help drive advancements in autonomy and reliability in many commercial applications.

What you'll do

• Design, develop, and test electrical hardware for autonomous UGVs, including power distribution systems, motor controllers, sensor integration, HMI and communication interfaces.
• Architect, design, and build PCBAs (schematic capture, simulation, board layout) and wiring diagrams using industry-standard CAD tools.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, software, and systems engineering) to ensure seamless hardware integration and system performance.
• Specify, select, and qualify electronic components and subsystems for use in harsh and demanding environments.
• Support prototype builds, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis of hardware-related issues.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant safety standards, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and regulatory requirements.
• Document design processes, test plans, and results to support efficient knowledge transfer and future development.
• Design and execute bring-up and validation testing plans for boards and systems
• Contribute to continuous improvement of hardware development processes and best practices.
• Debug and triage units from the field

Strong Candidates Will Exhibit The Following Key Traits

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field or equivalent practical experience
• Experience: 5+ years of experience in hardware design (PCBA and wire harnessing), preferably in robotics, autonomous systems, automotive, aerospace, and/or agricultural industries.
• Technical Skills:
• • Proficiency with schematic capture and PCBA design tools (e.g., Altium Designer, OrCAD, Eagle).
  • Experience with embedded systems, power electronics, motor drives, and sensor integration.
  • Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills for both digital and analog circuits.
  • Familiarity with communication protocols (CAN, Ethernet, RS-232/485, SPI, I2C, etc.).
  • Understanding of EMI/EMC mitigation techniques and hardware validation testing.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Bonus Points For

• Experience with autonomous vehicle platforms or UGVs.
• Knowledge of safety standards.
• Hands-on experience with rapid prototyping and field testing.
• Experience designing for automotive/off highway environments
• Delivered at least one project from prototype phase into mass production
• • Experience with hardware validation cycles, debug and measurement methods.
  • Experience with lab bring-up, debug of complex electronic systems, and manufacturing testing processes.
• Delivered multiple projects to mass production.
• Background designing highly complex boards, such as high-performance servers or high-speed networking hardware.
• An understanding of Agile or Waterfall development methodologies.

Additional Details

• This role is majority on-site in our office in Watsonville, CA.
• Some travel may be required to support deployed machines.

Bonsai Robotics is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or nationality, ancestry, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status or any other category protected by law.