Staff Engineer – Chassis and Motion Controls

Knightscope•Sunnyvale, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Knightscope is seeking a Staff Chassis and Motion Control Engineer to lead the mechanical and control systems development of their autonomous security robot platforms. This role involves owning the design and integration of chassis architecture, suspension, drivetrain, and the motion control systems that govern robot movement in complex environments. The position requires deep expertise in vehicle dynamics, mechanical design, and control theory to deliver safe, reliable, and capable autonomous platforms. As a Staff-level engineer, the individual will set technical directions for chassis hardware and motion controls, acting as a hands-on technical leader across cross-functional teams. Responsibilities span the full development lifecycle, from concept and requirements definition through prototyping, validation, and production. The role involves architecting chassis and suspension systems that balance stability, payload, durability, and manufacturability, while also developing and tuning steering, traction, and motion control algorithms, including steer-by-wire and drive-by-wire subsystems. The engineer will define interfaces between low-level motion control and higher-level autonomy, own vehicle-level requirements related to dynamic stability and ride quality, and ensure compliance with functional safety and robotics standards. Daily tasks include collaborating with autonomy, electrical, and systems teams, leading design reviews and failure analysis, mentoring junior engineers, and establishing best practices for testing and validation. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in mechanical engineering and controls, extensive experience bringing electromechanical platforms to production, and sound judgment for architectural decisions in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering
Experience designing systems with a combination of custom and off the shelf parts
10+ years of automotive experience
Experience with Vector/ETAS/New Eagle tools (CANape, INCA, RaptorCAL, etc.)
Strong working knowledge of chassis systems and vehicle dynamics
Experience designing, prototyping, and testing mechanical and electromechanical systems
Proven delivery of chassis systems, with at least one product taken from concept to production
Hands-on experience in prototype development and vehicle validation
Familiarity with chassis software development (MATLAB/Simulink/RaptorDEV)
Ability to read and work with electrical schematics, with a sound understanding of automotive bus systems (CAN, Ethernet)
Understanding of fundamental engineering processes, including hardware and software release, requirements definition, and test planning

Responsibilities

Design and develop braking, steering, wheel, tire, and suspension concepts that improve cost, mass, efficiency, manufacturability, and serviceability for an autonomous security robot
Challenge existing requirements and define new ones for system sizing, functions, and features based on regulations, first principles, and product attributes
Appropriately scale automotive architectures for a smaller, lower-volume security robot
Assess and validate the manufacturing, assembly, and service feasibility of design proposals
Design, analyze, build, and test prototypes at the subsystem, system, and full-vehicle levels
Evaluate braking, steering, ride, and handling attributes—both subjectively and objectively—in production vehicles, prototype vehicles, and simulation
Collaborate closely with the autonomy team to ensure vehicle controllability
Work with cross-functional teams to ensure product requirements are met
Define and develop chassis control strategies and electrical architecture, and drive chassis software, electrical, and vehicle integration