Founding Humanoid Hardware Engineer
Minerva Humanoids
Other Engineering
San Francisco, CA, USA
USD 200k-250k / year + Equity
Posted on Apr 30, 2026
About the RoleMinerva Humanoids is building humanoid robots for the most dangerous jobs on the planet. Offshore rigs, refineries, chemical units, safe bomb disposal, chemical and biohazardous substance decontamination and disposal: the work that sends humans into hazardous zones today is the work our robots do tomorrow. Our Hardware team designs the machine that walks in when no one else should.As Founding Humanoid Hardware Engineer, you own the physical robot. You lead systems design and integration end to end, co-designing subsystems, selecting and integrating sensor suites, and working across the hardware-software boundary to deliver a platform that survives explosive atmospheres, thermal extremes, vibration, and contamination. Lab robots break in a week in these environments. Ours can't. From first prototype through field deployment, the robustness of what we ship is on you, and the people who would have done that job are alive because of it.What You'll Do- Lead the design and integration of sensing (vision, force/torque, tactile, inertial) and actuation (motors, linkages, parallel effectors) systems.- Develop characterization, calibration, and validation procedures for each major subsystem.- Perform data analysis on hardware performance and contribute to structured validation testing campaigns.- Collaborate with autonomy and controls teams to ensure subsystem and integrated system data meets downstream requirements.- Debug hardware-software interactions across the sensing and actuation stacks from prototype through production integration.- Inform mechanical and electrical design decisions with hands-on test data and failure analysis.What You'll Bring- Master's or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience).- Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g. Onshape, SolidWorks).- Experience with robotic perception systems (cameras, LiDAR, IMUs, force sensors).- Prior work integrating and validating sensors and actuators on robotic or mechatronic platforms.- Familiarity with communication protocols (SPI, I2C, CAN, EtherCAT).- Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for data analysis and visualization.Nice to Have- Familiarity with common test and measurement tools (DAQ systems, thermal chambers, vibration tables).- Exposure to quality processes such as FMEA, DVP&R, or ISO standards.- Experience designing or qualifying hardware for harsh operating environments (dust, moisture, temperature extremes).Expected Compensation$200,000 - $250,000/annual salary + 0.5-3% equity + relocation bonus + lunch and dinner provided + competitive benefitsAt Minerva we award an outstanding level of equity because everyone working to save human lives should share in the success of that mission, granting 0.5 to 3% on a fully diluted basis (4-year vest, 1-year cliff, MH Equity Incentive Plan 2025) for this role. At our most recent valuation of $50M, this equity is valued at $150K to $1.5M. As the company grows and raises at higher valuations, the value of your equity grows with it, even through dilution.Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.