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 Hardware Test Engineer to own design validation, reliability, and production test for the electronic components behind Apptronik's robots: PCBAs, wiring harnesses, sensors, and compute modules. You will design and run test campaigns including HALT/HASS, define test methods and fixture requirements (ICT, flying probe, functional test) and work with fixture designers to get them built, and root-cause failures down to the board, connector, or component level. You will work closely with design, firmware, and manufacturing teams, and hand off validated test processes to the Manufacturing Test team as programs scale into production.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Component Validation Testing: Plan and execute test campaigns to validate PCBAs, wiring harnesses, sensors, and compute modules against specs across electrical, thermal, and environmental conditions.
- HALT/HASS & Harness Reliability: Design and run HALT to find design margins and failure modes, develop HASS screens for production, and define harness tests that capture field-failure drivers such as continuity, insulation and contact resistance, connector retention, and flex and strain relief.
- Sensor & Compute Characterization: Apply an understanding of each sensor modality's physics (e.g., IMU, encoder, force/torque, camera, thermal) to characterize accuracy, noise, drift, and environmental sensitivity, and stress key compute parameters (clocks, voltage rails, thermals, memory and I/O load) to find performance limits.
- Test Automation, Fixtures & Root-Cause Analysis: Build fixtures and test automation, and diagnose failures down to the board, connector, or component level with actionable feedback to design.
- Production Test Handoff: Develop test methods with defined pass/fail criteria and operator documentation, then transfer them to the Manufacturing Test team to support incoming inspection and production testing.
SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS
- Hands-on experience validating electronic hardware (PCBAs, wiring harnesses, sensors, or compute modules) using bench equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, and DAQ systems.
- Experience with production test methods such as in-circuit test (ICT), flying probe, and functional test, including designing fixtures (e.g., bed-of-nails) and defining pass/fail criteria and handoff documentation.
- Experience with HALT/HASS, including defining stress profiles and interpreting failure modes, plus knowledge of what drives harness field failures (contact resistance, connector retention, flex fatigue).
- Strong debugging skills to root-cause failures to the board, connector, or component level using schematics, harness drawings, and datasheets.
- Understanding of sensor physics (e.g., IMU, encoder, force/torque, camera, thermal) sufficient to characterize accuracy, noise, drift, and environmental sensitivity.
- Preferred: Experience stressing compute platforms (clocks, voltage rails, thermals, memory and I/O load) to find performance limits and failure modes.
- Preferred: Experience with robotics, humanoid, or other electromechanical systems, including actuator or motor-driven hardware.
- Preferred: Experience transitioning test methods from R&D into production or manufacturing environments, including NPI.
- Preferred: Test automation experience (e.g., Python, LabVIEW, or similar) for data acquisition, analysis, and automated test sequencing.
- Preferred: Familiarity with DFT (design for test) and DFM practices, including working with design engineers to add test points and improve testability.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
- BS in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field + 6 years of relevant experience, OR MS in a related field + 4 years, OR PhD in a related field + 2 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.
Skills Required
- Hands-on experience validating electronic hardware such as PCBAs, wiring harnesses, sensors, or compute modules
- Experience using oscilloscopes, power supplies, and DAQ systems
- Experience with production test methods including ICT, flying probe, and functional testing
- Experience designing test fixtures, including bed-of-nails fixtures, and defining pass/fail criteria and handoff documentation
- Experience with HALT/HASS, including defining stress profiles and interpreting failure modes
- Knowledge of harness field failures, including contact resistance, connector retention, and flex fatigue
- Strong debugging skills using schematics, harness drawings, and datasheets
- Understanding of sensor physics and characterization of accuracy, noise, drift, and environmental sensitivity
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field plus 6 years of relevant experience
- Master’s degree in a related field plus 4 years of relevant experience, or PhD plus 2 years of relevant experience
- Experience stressing compute platforms to identify performance limits and failure modes
- Experience with robotics, humanoid, or electromechanical systems, including actuator or motor-driven hardware
- Experience transitioning test methods from R&D into production or manufacturing environments, including NPI
- Test automation experience with Python, LabVIEW, or similar tools
- Familiarity with DFT and DFM practices
What We Do
Apptronik is building robots for the real world to improve human quality of life and to help solve the ever-increasing labor shortage problem. Our team has been building some of the most advanced robots on the planet for years, dating back to the DARPA Robotics Challenge. We apply our expertise across the full robotics stack to some of the most important and impactful problems our society faces, and expect our products and technology to change the world for the better. We value passion, creativity, and collaboration to help us overcome existing technological barriers in the industry to create truly innovative products.
Why Work With Us
At Apptronik, we don't see a future where man competes against machine. Instead, we envision a harmonious world where man and machine coexist. Our mission statement, "It is not Man vs. Machine, but Man + Machine," encapsulates our belief that the synergy between humans and robots will pave the way for a brighter, more advanced future.
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Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
