Prototype Engineer
Physical Intelligence · San Francisco
CHECKED 14H AGO
Roboticsonsitemid-level
At a glance
Highlights
- Rapidly design and build prototypes that push robot capabilities.
- Translate research ideas into physical systems for real-world interaction.
- Turn successful prototypes into scalable solutions across hardware fleet.
Ideal candidate
A hands-on engineering generalist who thrives bridging research and hardware, loves rapidly building and iterating physical systems, and excels in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics Engineering or related field
- 2-5 years of experience in prototyping, R&D engineering, or hardware development, ideally in robotics, automotive, consumer electronics, or lab environments
- Proficiency in CAD software (Onshape, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360) with strong 3D modeling and drafting skills
- Working knowledge of PCB design and electronics, including soldering, wiring, schematics, and sensor integration
- Hands-on expertise with rapid prototyping methods: 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC machining, sheet metal and manual machining
- Familiarity with robotics including kinematics, actuation, and compliant mechanisms for unstructured environments
- Ability to build full first-pass systems end-to-end from mechanical structure through electrical integration to basic scripting
- Strong communication skills bridging researchers and engineers to translate abstract needs into tangible concepts
- Comfort working in fast-paced, ambiguous environment where requirements evolve quickly
- Experience with basic Python scripting for test automation and hardware interfacing is a plus
Lab profile
About Physical Intelligence
Developing general-purpose AI foundation models to power robots for any physical task.
What they build
- General-purpose robot foundation models
- Learning algorithms for robot control
- Robotic systems and platforms
Known for
- Foundation model and system-building research
- Large-scale multimodal robot data operations
- Real-world fleet deployment and operations
- Prototype-to-production hardware engineering