Mechanical Hardware Test & Validation Engineer

About the role:

Join us to reimagine the future of human-robot interaction.

Collaborative Robotics is a team of innovators and builders redefining the future of human-robot interaction. We are working to realize a world where robots are a trusted extension of your surroundings. They work, adapt, and react around you. Not the other way around.

Do you love building systems that ensure complex robots work flawlessly in the real world? At Cobot, we’re creating the software and hardware foundation for the next generation of collaborative robots — and we’re looking for a Hardware Test & Validation Engineer with a mechanical and reliability focus to help validate the performance, durability, and robustness of our robotic systems.

This is a high-impact position where you’ll operate autonomously, identify risks early, and find the work that needs to be done. If you’re excited to help define how cutting-edge robotics systems are tested, validated, and perfected, we’d love for you to join us.

This role is located at our Santa Clara, CA headquarters.

Key Responsibilities:

• Execute hardware verification and validation (V&V) for robotic systems and subsystems

• Execute durability, lifecycle, thermal, and stress testing for structures and electromechanical assemblies

• End to end design and commissioning of test fixtures that apply mechanical load or cyclic actuation (e.g., driving motors, counting cycles, monitoring load or temperature) to evaluate performance and wear over time

• Test hardware operating in outdoor or uncontrolled environments and assess reliability risks

• Setup Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) and correlate to real-world data

• Analyze test results to identify failure modes and reliability risks, and partner with design and manufacturing teams on corrective actions

• Document test procedures, results, and findings to inform design decisions and future validation efforts

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field.

• 3+ years of experience in mechanical hardware testing, validation, and reliability of electromechanical systems.

• 3+ years of experience using CAD to design complex assemblies, preferably SolidWorks

• Experience building or modifying test fixtures to apply load, motion, or environmental stress

• Familiarity with failure modes, mechanics of materials, thermal behavior, and lifecycle testing of hardware systems

• Experience building or modifying test fixtures to apply load, motion, or environmental stress

• Highly motivated teammate with excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Willing to occasionally travel.

• Must have and maintain US work authorization

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with data acquisition systems, sensors, and motion control components for automated test fixture development

• Ability to use Python, C/C++, MATLAB, JMP or similar to analyze and interpret test results

• Familiarity with hardware communication protocols (EtherCAT, CAN, SPI, I2C)

• Experience developing or maintaining telemetry or logging infrastructure for test analysis

• Familiarity with thermal chambers, vibration tables, dynamometers, and ingress protection testing

• Worked on new product development for high-volume consumer or industrial products

• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with engineering teams to drive root cause analysis and quality improvements.

• Familiarity with FMEA and DVP&R to prioritize and organize test planning

• Experience setting up and running a Design of Experiments (DoE)

• Exposure to safety-related testing practices or certification processes (e.g., fault injection, redundancy validation)

The base salary range for this position is 165,000 - 185,000 plus equity and comprehensive benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and experience level. The range reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in the noted geographic area. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Cobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

To all recruitment agencies: Collaborative Robotics does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our employees. Collaborative Robotics is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.