Founding Hardware Engineer

Founding Hardware Engineer (Robotics)

$200K - $300K + Equity

Visa and Relocation Assistance possible

Join a mission‑driven team solving humanity's construction crisis – making housing affordable and rebuilding our ability to shape the world. You'll work with second‑time founders who scaled their last company to $30M ARR in under 2 years.

We are looking for a Hardware Engineer with 2‑10 years of experience to join our team and help us build autonomous construction vehicles. We need someone who is deeply passionate about robotics and building things from scratch, and who is excited to work on a product that will have a substantial impact on society by addressing the inefficiencies in construction. This role is for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced, pragmatic environment and is eager to see their work deployed on real construction sites.

This is a Founding Hardware Engineer role with $200-300K base plus 1‑3% equity. You'll spend 50% of your time traveling to construction sites in the company RV debugging robots in real‑world conditions.

Required

2‑10 years of experience in hardware engineering

Background in robotics, autonomous vehicles, heavy machinery, industrial automation, or similar high‑reliability electromechanical systems

Minimum of one experience as a prior founding engineer or founder regardless of startup's eventual success

Experience building from 0 to 1 in some setting (startup, side‑project, or other)

BS / MS / PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or similar

Experience with electrical + mechanical integration : wiring harnesses, power systems, sensor / actuator mounting, DFM, prototyping, reliability testing

Experience with sensor integration : LiDAR, radar, GNSS / RTK, IMU, stereo / mono cameras; interfaces including GMSL, Ethernet, CAN, LIN, J1939, Serial

Bias toward hands‑on deployment and comfortable working intense iteration cycles

Willingness to travel 50% of time to construction sites

On‑site in San Francisco, CA

What will you be doing?

Design and develop teleoperation hardware systems, including power, compute, and control modules for heavy machinery retrofits

Integrate and calibrate sensors such as cameras, LiDARs, radars, GNSS, and IMUs

Create wiring harnesses and mounting systems for sensors, actuators, and control electronics

Implement and validate communication protocols such as CAN, LIN, J1939, Ethernet and Serial

Support system bring‑up and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing alongside software engineers

This role offers

SF office downtown with comprehensive electronics lab, metal shop, and 3D printing station

401K contribution

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at D24 Search by 2x.

If this exciting role sounds like you, apply today or contact Toby@d24search.io!!

Seniority level : Mid‑Senior level

Employment type : Full‑time

Industries : Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing; Electrical Equipment Manufacturing; Defense and Space Manufacturing.

Benefits

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Vision & health benefits for SF, CA

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