Hardware Test Engineer

• We are seeking a Hardware Test Engineer to join Apptronik's Dexterity R&D program, focused on the development and validation of robotic hand hardware
• This is a hands-on role spanning mechanical, electrical, and system-level testing, with responsibility for test strategy, test planning, fixture design, and test execution
• This role sits inside the development team, not downstream of it
• You will assemble test articles, run tests from component through system level, and feed results directly back into the design process
• You will also consult on testability early in the design cycle, with additional contributions to harnessing and PLM
• A good fit for someone who wants to be close to the hardware and involved in how it evolves
• Test Strategy & Planning: Help define what needs to be validated across the Dexterity hardware program and translate design requirements into structured test plans at the component, sub-assembly, and system levels
• Test Plan Authoring: Write test plans and procedures covering objectives, setup, instrumentation, pass/fail criteria, and data requirements, with traceability from requirements through results
• Test Article Assembly: Assemble and configure test articles from prototype hardware, including instrumented builds and revision-controlled configurations, in close coordination with ME and EE
• Test Execution: Execute tests from individual components (joints, linkages, actuators, sensors) through integrated system-level evaluations. Collect, process, and analyze data with attention to measurement quality
• Results Reporting & Recommendations: Produce structured test reports with findings and recommendations that connect results to design implications, not just pass/fail outcomes
• Design for Test Consulting: Engage with ME and EE during the design phase to identify instrumentation needs, access requirements, and fixture interfaces before hardware is built
• Test Fixture Design & Fabrication: Design and build custom test fixtures and benchtop setups appropriate for an R&D environment, iterating as hardware evolves
• Harnessing Support: Support the design, assembly, and documentation of wiring harnesses for Dexterity prototype hardware, ensuring routing, strain relief, and test-access requirements are met
• PLM Engagement: Use the PLM system to manage test documentation, track hardware revisions, and keep test records aligned with the current hardware configuration
• Root-Cause Analysis & Feedback: Diagnose test failures and anomalies with structured, data-driven analysis and provide clear feedback to design teams
• Embedded Team Participation: Participate in design reviews, contribute to hardware decisions, and maintain active feedback loops with ME, EE, firmware, and controls engineers throughout the development cycle

Skills & expertise Mechanical skills Problem-solving skills Solidworks Assembly, * BS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or related field + 3 years of relevant experience; MS + 1 year

• Familiarity with data acquisition systems and benchtop instruments (force/torque sensors, encoders, DAQs)
• Experience designing and building test fixtures or benchtop test setups
• Ability to write structured test plans with clear pass/fail criteria and traceable documentation
• Hands-on experience testing mechanical or electromechanical hardware, including setup, instrumentation, data collection, and analysis
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and component datasheets
• Experience on multi-disciplinary hardware teams with fast iteration cycles
• Systematic approach to debugging and root-cause analysis
• Ability to leverage AI agents for debug and development support
• Python competency for data processing and analysis
• Experience with robotic hand, gripper, or dexterous manipulation hardware
• Experience with a PLM system (e.g., Arena, Windchill, Teamcenter)
• Familiarity with wire harnessing: routing, connector selection, and strain relief
• Background in mechanism characterization: stiffness, backlash, friction, or range of motion
• CAD experience (e.g., SolidWorks, Onshape) for fixture design and drawing review
• Experience testing or characterizing electromechanical linear actuators, including force output, stroke, speed, and backdrivability
• Prior experience in an R&D or prototype development environment
• Candidates with non-traditional backgrounds who can demonstrate equivalent hands-on experience are strongly encouraged to apply