Prototype Researcher

Orbital•San Francisco, CA

14h•Onsite

About The Position

Orbital is an AI-first industrial company building hardware from the atoms up. Our goal is to lead an industrial renaissance to advance critical technologies and secure our planet for generations to come. We’re starting with critical hardware for AI data centers to make them more performant and sustainable. Every Orbital product is invented with our AI platform — uniting AI-automated hardware engineering with AI-designed material science to achieve breakthrough real-world performance. We have an ambitious mission and need excellent people in all our teams - AI research, operations, advanced materials, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and manufacturing. Working at Orbital means working in tightly integrated, vertically integrated teams. We’re looking for people who have a love of physical technology, curiosity in AI and a desire to learn. You'll be the hands that turn our designs into working hardware — running the workshop, building the test rigs, and getting them commissioned and into service. You'll own the mechanical build of our next-generation Direct-to-Chip platforms from bare frame to first test.

Requirements

Hands-on experience running 3D printers, CNC machines and workshop tooling
Comfortable across both mechanical assembly and electrical build work
A background in prototype, R&D or low-volume build environments
Practical problem-solver who diagnoses and fixes rather than waits

Nice To Haves

Experience with fluid systems or test instrumentation is a strong plus

Responsibilities

Run and maintain our 3D printers, CNC machine and workshop tooling
Create and review CAD models. Produce parts, jigs and test fixtures to drawing
Manage tooling, consumables and machine servicing
Lead the mechanical build of our upcoming Direct-to-Chip testing and validation rigs
Support commissioning — leak checks, function testing, fault-finding, and generic troubleshooting
Deliver mechanical and electrical modifications to existing rigs as needed
Build control panels and instrumentation to schematic
Assemble mechanical sub-systems to specification and tolerance
Function test completed builds and document the results
Take over day-to-day mechanical operation of test rigs
Set up, run and reset test configurations for each campaign. Review data and recommend iterative improvements
Source and order rig components, managing suppliers and lead times