Senior Engineering / Lab Technical Lead

This isn't a traditional lab technician role. We're looking for someone who can own technical execution end-to-end—who writes test plans, designs test benches, and solves problems rather than just escalating them. If you're equally comfortable reading a schematic and turning a wrench, this role is for you.

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Job type: Contract

About the role

• Design, build, and operate test benches for prototype robotic hardware, including power systems, motion actuation, sensor arrays, and communication interfaces.
• Develop test plans and acceptance criteria in partnership with hardware engineers; own execution and documentation of results.
• Build custom fixtures, jigs, and test setups combining mechanical fabrication, electrical wiring, and software scripting.
• Support and sometimes lead prototype hardware builds, integrating actuators, sensors (force/torque, IMUs, encoders, vision systems), compute modules, and power distribution systems.
• Perform PCB bring-up and debug, interpret schematics and layout files, and triage issues at the component, board, and system level.
• Validate communication buses (CAN, EtherCAT, RS-485) and troubleshoot timing, signal integrity, and protocol issues.
• Provide DFM/DFA feedback to hardware engineers based on hands-on build experience.
• Own root cause analysis for hardware failures across power, compute, comms, actuation, and sensing.
• Reproduce and document failures systematically; author clear failure analysis reports for engineering teams.
• Build and maintain a debug playbook for the lab, capturing known failure modes, diagnostic approaches, and resolution paths.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for complex issues, bridging hands-on debugging and engineering decision-making.
• Design and execute reliability and environmental test programs (thermal cycling, vibration, mechanical stress, long-duration soak testing).
• Analyze failure data to identify patterns and systemic risks; partner with hardware engineers on design improvements.
• Maintain calibration records and test equipment certification to ensure measurement accuracy.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in hardware development, test engineering, or systems integration—ideally across EE, reliability, and mechatronics.
• Deep proficiency with electronic test equipment and debugging at both the component and system level.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and mechanical drawings without assistance.
• Experience building test benches and custom test fixtures from scratch.
• Strong written documentation habits—clear test plans, build procedures, and failure analysis reports.
• Ability to work onsite in Boston, MA.

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Experience in robotics, physical AI, or advanced hardware R&D, with familiarity in high-DoF robotic systems, servo drives, or embedded motor control.
• Background in reliability engineering methodologies: FMEA, HALT/HASS, Weibull analysis, or similar.
• Scripting or programming ability (Python preferred) for test automation, data logging, and results analysis.
• Exposure to HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) testing setups and methodologies.
• Experience with CAD tools (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar) for fixture design and documentation.

Pay

$95 - $105 per hour

Schedule

8 AM to 5 PM

Benefits

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance
• AD&D and life insurance offerings
• Short-term disability
• 401K plan (eligibility-based)