About the role
Lead the architecture, integration, and delivery of robotic hardware platforms across mechanical structures, perception hardware, actuators, thermal systems, optics, and embedded electronics. This on-site leadership position reports directly to the CTO or SVP of Engineering in Sunnyvale, CA.
What you'll do
- Lead system-level architecture, design, and integration for robotic platforms across mechanical, optical, sensing, thermal, actuation, and embedded systems.
- Own requirements decomposition, subsystem interfaces, and engineering requirement specifications (ERS) across the hardware stack.
- Drive system validation and verification (V&V), acceptance criteria, field validation, and production qualification.
- Establish engineering review processes including PDRs, CDRs, and Build Readiness Reviews.
- Own opto-mechanical integration for perception systems including cameras, LiDAR, IMUs, vibration isolation, alignment, and thermal stability.
- Manage NPI execution across EVT, DVT, PVT, and mass production with Tier-1 suppliers and contract manufacturers.
What you'll need
- BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
- 12+ years of experience developing and shipping complex hardware systems, including 5+ years in engineering leadership.
- Proven experience delivering robotic, autonomous, automotive, industrial, or consumer hardware products from concept to mass production.
- Hands-on expertise with 3D CAD tools (SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, Creo), tolerance analysis, and simulation workflows (FEA, CFD, multibody dynamics).
- Experience integrating perception hardware including cameras, LiDAR, radar, and IMUs into field-deployed systems.
- Strong background in DFM/DFA/DFT, ERS development, V&V, FMEA, and formal review milestones (PDR, CDR).
Nice to have
- Experience shipping humanoid robots, autonomous vehicles, industrial robots, or other advanced robotic systems.
- Experience designing for dynamic loading, vibration, fatigue, ingress protection, and robotic field reliability.
- Familiarity with automotive and functional safety standards including IATF 16949, APQP, ISO 26262, or IEC 62061.
- Experience managing suppliers and manufacturing partners across Asia and Europe.
- Track record of building and scaling hardware engineering organizations from early-stage development through volume production.
More semiconductor jobs: Hardware design jobs · Sunnyvale jobs
This role has been open 135 days — well above the 46-day median for Hardware Systems Engineering roles.
Hardware Systems Engineering · AI ML Hardware
|
Open roles in category
1126
|
Median days open
46 d
|
Category median salary (all employers)
$150k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Lyte AI | All employers we track in this specialty (1126 roles · 109 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 8 | 1126 |
| Open roles in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family | 23 | 6531 · 156 employers |
| Median days open | 57 d | 46 d (+11 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $150k |
Who's hiring in this category
- Intel Corporation · 88 open roles · median 33 d
- KLA Corporation · 66 open roles · median 59 d
- Applied Materials · 60 open roles · median 40 d
- ASML · 59 open roles · median 17 d
- NVIDIA · 58 open roles · median 74 d
- Teradyne · 58 open roles · median 51 d
How we counted: 1126 open Hardware Systems Engineering (AI ML Hardware) roles from 109 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 8 Nov 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family row. Figures refresh nightly.