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Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Onsite
At the Robotics and AI Institute, we blend the visionary thinking often reserved for academic settings with the disciplined teamwork and robust resources typical of top-tier industry teams, turning ambitious ideas into reality. We need people who are comfortable working between academia and industry and excited to build some hardware.
You will build, test, and repair robot hardware, working directly with engineers and researchers as prototypes evolve. Your feedback will help make designs easier to assemble and service. Success means reliable assemblies, verified repairs, and clear build methods that others can reproduce.
Teach engineers, researchers, and fellow technicians safe assembly, rework, and troubleshooting through hands-on demonstrations, coaching, and practical training materials.
Assemble robot subsystems, prototype printed circuit boards (PCBs), and cable harnesses, including connectors, crimps, shielding, strain relief, and routing for moving assemblies.
Inspect and rework surface-mount and through-hole electronics using microscopes, soldering and hot-air tools, and preheating where needed. Install rework wires and verify completed repairs.
Support initial power-up, bench testing, and on-robot troubleshooting. Use measurements to isolate electrical, communications, and mechanical faults, document findings, and work with engineers to resolve them.
Help establish electrical safe-work procedures with engineering and safety leads, and own their documentation, upkeep, and day-to-day implementation. Cover energy isolation, lockout/tagout where applicable, verification of de-energization, and stored-energy control.
Create and maintain clear build instructions, wiring records, inspection checklists, and test results. Help transfer repeatable build processes to external manufacturing partners for low-volume production.
Participate in design reviews and feed assembly and repair experience back into designs to improve buildability, serviceability, and reliability.
Maintain an organized, well-equipped electrical lab with effective ESD controls and tools and supplies ready for use.
5+ years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent demonstrated experience building, reworking, and troubleshooting complex electrical and electromechanical hardware.
Skilled soldering and rework of small surface-mount components under a microscope, through-hole components, and larger components requiring controlled heating.
Experience fabricating cable harnesses for moving assemblies and integrating electrical and mechanical components using assembly drawings.
Ability to read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, pinouts, assembly drawings, and build instructions, and identify discrepancies before proceeding.
Methodical troubleshooting using multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, and related test equipment; ability to distinguish symptoms from likely causes and verify repairs.
Experience safely assembling, testing, and servicing electrical systems with hazardous voltages and stored energy, including batteries, capacitors, and motor drives.
Working knowledge of electrical fundamentals, ESD precautions, safe power-up, and workmanship inspection, with clear documentation and communication of issues and results.
Experience in any of the following is a plus; none is required.
Familiarity with Linux command-line tools and Ethernet networking for device setup, connectivity checks, and troubleshooting.
Experience with logic analyzers, programmable loads, data acquisition systems, or Python scripting for automated testing and data collection.
Experience assembling or testing custom battery packs, or hardware designed for shock, vibration, and repeated cable flexing.
Familiarity with IPC electronics assembly, rework, or cable-harness workmanship standards.
An associate degree, technical training, or apprenticeship in electronics, automotive technology, manufacturing, or a related field.