Role description
You will lead validation and test engineering for hardware (high-performance gearboxes and compact actuation systems) used for humanoid robots, cobots, and wearable devices. You will be responsible for setting measurable performance and durability targets, designing hardware test setups, assembling hardware test rigs, selecting appropriate hardware measurement equipment, developing automated hardware test procedures, creating data processing pipelines, documenting conclusions, coordinating with customers and suppliers on quality issues, identifying root causes of failures, and proposing improvements before release to production.
This position is in a startup environment. You should be ready for ambiguity, tight schedules, shifting priorities, rapid iteration, close collaboration with the CEO/CTO, and wider responsibility for both testing outcomes and decisions that affect the final product. As the company grows, you can expect rapid advancement into leadership roles.
Responsibilities
- Own hardware validation (gearbox and actuation systems) projects: hardware test requirements, hardware test design, hardware verification.
- Define measurable performance and durability targets and establish pass/fail criteria.
- Develop test plans, procedures, and acceptance protocols.
- Design, build, and maintain physical test rigs, fixtures, and measurement setups.
- Specify instrumentation and DAQ requirements.
- Perform sensor selection and calibration.
- Execute functional, environmental, life, and reliability test campaigns (torque, efficiency, backlash, vibration, thermal, endurance).
- Perform failure analysis, identify root causes, propose corrective actions, and verify improvements.
- Automate test sequences and data workflows.
- Own testing data and produce clear test reports.
- Communicate progress, risks, and mitigation to stakeholders and customers.
Main requirements
Proven industry experience in hardware-level testing methodologies for any of the following:
- Transmissions, drivetrains, or electric vehicle drive units
- Robotic arms, joint mechanisms, or linear motion systems
- Hydraulic systems, compressors, turbines, pumps, heavy-duty drivetrains, or earth-moving equipment
- Flight control surfaces, landing gear deployment, or helicopter rotors
Other requirements
- Proven ability to design, physically assemble, and troubleshoot custom mechanical test stands and fixtures.
- Practical knowledge of selecting, mounting, and wiring physical sensors, including torque transducers, rotary encoders, strain gauges, thermocouples, and accelerometers.
- Experience in configuring and operating dynamometers, servo motors, or variable frequency drives (VFDs) to apply torque and dynamic loads.
- Experience executing environmental and durability methods: vibration (NVH), thermal cycling, shock, and accelerated life testing (ALT).
- Experience with DAQ hardware and measurement software (LabVIEW, NI, HBM, or similar).
- Experience with scripting languages for test automation and data analysis (Python, MATLAB, or similar).
- Ability to operate autonomously: identify risks, propose concrete solutions, prioritise, and execute without step-by-step instructions.
- English fluency.
Nice to have
- Leadership or mentoring experience.
