Electrical/Mechatronics Engineer (1-3 YOE)

Electrical/Mechatronics Engineer (1-3 YOE)

Synphony | San Carlos | On-site

Synphony is the missing deployment layer for physical AI. We take cutting-edge robotics out of the lab and into the real world, starting with autonomous strawberry harvesting. Backed by Y Combinator (P26) and angels including the Zoom co-founders, we're building the deployment infrastructure that turns research demos into reliable systems running in production environments.

We're looking for an Electrical engineer who wants to own real hardware that ships. You'll design systems that operate in dirty, dusty fields, not air-conditioned demo halls, and you'll see your work on the ground within months, not years.

What you'll do

• Own electrical systems from concept through deployment: architecture, prototyping, bring-up, debugging, validation, manufacturing, and field iteration
• Design and integrate power distribution, low-voltage systems, embedded electronics, sensors, compute, actuators, motor controllers, and communication interfaces across the robot
• Develop robust wiring architectures, cable routing, harnessing, connector selection, and electrical integration for systems operating in harsh outdoor environments
• Work closely with mechanical and software engineers to build reliable electromechanical systems
• Perform engineering trade studies and make clear technical decisions using first principles, even with incomplete information
• Support PCB bring-up, hardware debugging, system integration, and field testing
• Collaborate directly with suppliers and manufacturers on fabrication, DFM/DFT, component sourcing, RFQs, and production readiness
• Create schematics, documentation, test procedures, and integration documentation with strong attention to detail
• Help shape the electrical architecture, engineering culture, and technical direction of our hardware platform
• You’ll move quickly, iterate on real hardware, and have an outsized influence on how we build.
• Travel (field deployment): ~10%

What we're looking for

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent)
• 1–3 years of hands-on engineering experience
• Strong engineering fundamentals and ability to reason from first principles
• Experience working in fast-moving, resource-constrained environments where you were expected to execute quickly and wear multiple hats
• Experience with embedded systems, low-voltage electronics, sensors, actuators, and hardware integration
• Familiarity with PCB design tools such as Altium, KiCad, or similar ECAD software
• Familiarity with end-to-end PCB development including schematic design, layout, component selection, bring-up, debugging, and manufacturing considerations
• Experience debugging hardware with oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers, and other lab equipment
• Familiarity with wiring harnesses, connector selection, EMI/EMC considerations, grounding, and power integrity
• Experience working with suppliers, manufacturers, and electrical fabrication vendors
• Strong communication skills and ability to clearly justify technical decisions

Nice to have

• Robotics, autonomous systems, or mobile robot experience
• Familiarity with robot learning, ML-driven systems, or working alongside ML teams
• Experience with Linux-based systems and embedded computing platforms
• Familiarity with CAN, RS-485, Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART, or other communication protocols
• Experience designing systems for harsh outdoor or industrial environments
• Exposure to battery systems, power electronics, motor control, or safety systems
• Experience with environmental sealing, IP-rated systems, and field reliability testing
• Nerds with experience with Obsidian and terminal CLIs

If you want to build robots that actually leave the lab, send us your resume and a few sentences about a project you're proud of.

Interview Process

The first call is a lightweight conversation to understand mutual fit.

We’ll talk about your background, what you’ve built, and where you want to go next. We’ll share more about Synphony, the problems we’re solving, and how our team works day to day.

The second call is more hands‑on and concrete.

We’ll walk you through what we’re currently building: the ASHR frame and chassis, arm mounts, power subsystem, compute integration, and harness architecture you’d actually be working on. You’ll see real code, CAD, ECAD, and wiring—not just a high‑level pitch.

If we’re aligned after the two calls, we’ll bring you onsite.

The onsite is focused on seeing how you work in practice. Rather than abstract puzzles, you’ll work through practical problems that look like what we do every day.