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 embodied 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.
Apptronik is seeking a Senior Hardware Test Engineer to lead the rigorous design verification of Apollo, our next-generation humanoid robot. In this role, your primary objective is to prove that our hardware design meets its strict engineering requirements at every level of complexity—from individual components to fully integrated mechatronic systems.
You will not just execute test scripts; you will own the entire verification lifecycle. You will translate system requirements into comprehensive test plans, design and develop the necessary test fixtures, and lead the hands-on test execution. You will push our hardware to its absolute limits, catching design flaws early in the development cycle, and serving as the crucial gatekeeper ensuring Apollo is mechanically and electrically robust before it transitions to mass production.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES- Verification of Requirements: Map product and engineering requirements to verifiable test cases. Ensure every critical performance, safety, and durability metric is physically validated against the specification document.
- Design of Test Plans: Architect comprehensive Design Verification Test (DVT) plans spanning the entire hardware hierarchy. Define the test methodology for individual components (e.g., gears, PCBs), sub-assemblies (e.g., actuators, sensor suites), and the fully integrated humanoid system.
- Design and Development of Test Fixtures: Design, build, and commission custom electromechanical test fixtures. Integrate load cells, dynamometers, slip rings, and custom DAQ systems to isolate and stress specific hardware interfaces.
- Test Execution: Lead the hands-on execution of structural, thermal, mechatronic, and environmental test profiles. Write Python or C++ scripts to automate continuous life-cycle and fatigue testing.
- Data Acquisition (DAQ) & Analysis: Architect DAQ systems to capture high-frequency test data. Perform rigorous statistical analysis on the output to confirm design margins and predict component life expectancies.
- Root Cause Analysis: Drive cross-functional root-cause investigations when hardware fails verification testing. Utilize physical teardowns and data analysis to identify the fundamental failure mechanisms.
- DFMEA & Cross-Functional Influence: Participate in Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) sessions. Provide immediate, empirical feedback to the Mechanical and Electrical design teams to force design iterations before tooling release.
- Industry Background: Proven track record in hardware-heavy industries requiring complex systems integration (e.g., robotics, aerospace, automotive, or advanced medical devices).
- Mechatronic Testing: Deep practical experience verifying the performance of BLDC motors, complex drivetrains, wire harnesses, and structural chassis components.
- Test Equipment Mastery: Expert proficiency with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, thermal chambers, vibration tables, and DAQ platforms like National Instruments/LabVIEW or Beckhoff).
- Scripting & CAD: Strong proficiency in Python or MATLAB for test automation and data parsing. Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks or NX) for designing complex physical test fixtures.
- Requirements Traceability: Experience using requirements management tools (e.g., Jama, Polarion, JIRA) to maintain clear traceability from a top-level requirement down to the physical test result.
- Experience: 5+ years of hands-on experience in hardware design verification testing.
- Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field with
- 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
- 5+ years hands-on experience in hardware design verification testing
- Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or related field
- Proven track record in hardware-heavy industries (robotics, aerospace, automotive, medical devices)
- Experience verifying BLDC motors, drivetrains, wire harnesses, and structural chassis components
- Expertise with lab equipment: oscilloscopes, multimeters, thermal chambers, vibration tables, DAQ platforms
- Proficiency scripting in Python, C++, or MATLAB for test automation and data parsing
- Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks or NX) for designing test fixtures
- Experience with DAQ systems and statistical analysis of high-frequency test data
- Experience with requirements management / traceability tools (Jama, Polarion, JIRA)
- Ability to perform hands-on test execution and lift up to 15 pounds
Apptronik Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Medical insurance through UnitedHealthcare includes multiple plan types with an employer-paid portion, alongside life and disability coverage. These core health benefits are presented as comprehensive for a fast-growing startup.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Company equity is explicitly included in total rewards, with performance bonuses and relocation assistance also listed. This ownership component adds longer-term upside beyond base pay.
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Parental & Family Support — Generous parental leave, family medical leave, and an onsite mother’s room are highlighted. These provisions indicate tangible support for caregiving needs.
Apptronik Insights
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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Apptronik Offices
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Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
