R&D Autonomous Vehicle Technician

Foundation•San Francisco, CA

5d•$85,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves assembling, installing, and maintaining mechanical components on electric autonomous ATVs. Responsibilities include building and routing wiring harnesses, performing mechanical fabrication, supporting sensor and compute integration, and conducting vehicle bring-up and troubleshooting. The technician will also execute test procedures, maintain documentation, keep the workspace organized, and collaborate with engineering teams. Assistance with on-site deployments and field support may also be required.

Requirements

3-5 years of hands-on experience as a technician in robotics, automotive, electric vehicles, heavy equipment, motorsports, aerospace, or similar hardware fields.
Strong mechanical assembly skills: torque procedures, bearings, fasteners, drivetrains, suspension, alignment.
Ability to read mechanical drawings, wiring diagrams, and basic schematics.
Familiarity with basic electrical systems: 12–48V, DC power distribution, grounding, isolation, and safe HV handling.
Proficiency using standard shop tools (hand tools, power tools, torque tools, drill press, etc.).

Responsibilities

Assemble, install, and maintain mechanical components on electric autonomous ATVs, including suspension, chassis, drivetrain, and enclosures.
Build, route, and terminate wiring harnesses (low-voltage and high-voltage) following schematics, drawings, and best practices.
Perform mechanical fabrication tasks: drilling, cutting, tapping, mounting brackets, basic machining, and fitting custom hardware.
Support sensor, compute, and actuator integration (cameras, LiDAR, GNSS, ECUs, motor controllers, power electronics).
Conduct vehicle bring-up, troubleshooting, and rework during prototype builds.
Diagnose mechanical and electrical issues using standard tools (multimeter, continuity tester, CAN tools).
Execute test procedures for functional checks, autonomous systems tests, and field shakedowns.
Maintain detailed documentation of builds, changes, and inventory.
Keep the shop and vehicle workspace organized, safe, and properly stocked.
Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to rapidly iterate on designs.
Assist with on-site deployments, demos, and field support as needed.