Senior Hardware Test Engineer

Apptronik • Austin, TX

23h • Onsite

About The Position

Apptronik is seeking a Senior Hardware Test Engineer to lead the rigorous design verification of Apollo, our next-generation humanoid robot. In this role, your primary objective is to prove that our hardware design meets its strict engineering requirements at every level of complexity—from individual components to fully integrated mechatronic systems.
You will not just execute test scripts; you will own the entire verification lifecycle. You will translate system requirements into comprehensive test plans, design and develop the necessary test fixtures, and lead the hands-on test execution. You will push our hardware to its absolute limits, catching design flaws early in the development cycle, and serving as the crucial gatekeeper ensuring Apollo is mechanically and electrically robust before it transitions to mass production.

Requirements

• Proven track record in hardware-heavy industries requiring complex systems integration (e.g., robotics, aerospace, automotive, or advanced medical devices).
• Deep practical experience verifying the performance of BLDC motors, complex drivetrains, wire harnesses, and structural chassis components.
• Expert proficiency with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, thermal chambers, vibration tables, and DAQ platforms like National Instruments/LabVIEW or Beckhoff).
• Strong proficiency in Python or MATLAB for test automation and data parsing.
• Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks or NX) for designing complex physical test fixtures.
• Experience using requirements management tools (e.g., Jama, Polarion, JIRA) to maintain clear traceability from a top-level requirement down to the physical test result.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in hardware design verification testing.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Map product and engineering requirements to verifiable test cases. Ensure every critical performance, safety, and durability metric is physically validated against the specification document.
• Architect comprehensive Design Verification Test (DVT) plans spanning the entire hardware hierarchy. Define the test methodology for individual components (e.g., gears, PCBs), sub-assemblies (e.g., actuators, sensor suites), and the fully integrated humanoid system.
• Design, build, and commission custom electromechanical test fixtures. Integrate load cells, dynamometers, slip rings, and custom DAQ systems to isolate and stress specific hardware interfaces.
• Lead the hands-on execution of structural, thermal, mechatronic, and environmental test profiles. Write Python or C++ scripts to automate continuous life-cycle and fatigue testing.
• Architect DAQ systems to capture high-frequency test data. Perform rigorous statistical analysis on the output to confirm design margins and predict component life expectancies.
• Drive cross-functional root-cause investigations when hardware fails verification testing. Utilize physical teardowns and data analysis to identify the fundamental failure mechanisms.
• Participate in Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) sessions. Provide immediate, empirical feedback to the Mechanical and Electrical design teams to force design iterations before tooling release.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior