Staff Robotics Hardware Engineer (Defense Manufacturing Startup)
ScrumAID
New York, NY · Posted November 1, 2026
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About the job
A small, early-stage startup applying autonomous manufacturing to defense work is looking for a staff-level hardware engineer to own the architecture and field deployment of its robotic systems. The seat combines leadership with hands-on building and offers a route toward running a hardware organization, and the hire will make sure the machines perform outside the lab.
What you’ll lead
Lead fast prototype cycles on the robot hardware as the team prepares for its debut customer installation
Evaluate and integrate off-the-shelf robot arms, end effectors, cameras and sensors into turnkey work cells, judging what will and will not suit the task
Own each hardware program from first requirements to validated, manufactured and installed systems at customer sites
Set engineering standards, run design reviews and mentor the mechanical engineers already on the team
Grow a hardware group over time, hiring and leading its members, as customer rollouts in the defense manufacturing sector multiply
What you bring
Six to twelve years in robotics hardware engineering rather than purely mechanical design
A record of leading complex hardware programs from architecture through to production and field use
Experience as a hands-on technical lead or hardware manager
Fluency in a modern 3D CAD tool and in mechanical fundamentals such as tolerance analysis, GD&T, structures, materials and actuators
Ability to influence engineering direction and settle cross-functional technical disagreements without formal authority
A plus: manipulation hardware experience, such as grippers and 6- or 7-DOF arms
On-site in New York, NY. US citizenship is required; visa sponsorship is not available.