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Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer
Forward Deployed Robotics EngineerRethink recruit • San Francisco, CA, United States
Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer

Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer

Rethink recruit • San Francisco, CA, United States
1 day ago
Job type
  • Full-time
Job description

About Medra

At Medra, we're building an autonomous robotic platform that enables scientists to automate complex laboratory protocols and achieve continuous science with unmatched precision and scalability. By combining advancements in AI, robotics, computer vision, and natural language processing , we are transforming how science is done to tackle some of humanity's greatest challenges-from curing disease to advancing climate technology and beyond.

Our goal is to enable the next biggest leap in scientific discovery , unlocking a world where experimental data generation is no longer limited by the pace of human scientists or the rigidity of traditional lab automation.

This is an ambitious mission, but we believe that a team of ambitious people with high ownership can accomplish incredible things.

The Team

We're a team of passionate, mission-driven engineers from companies like Tesla, Amazon, SpaceX, and Neuralink . We're collaborative, love moving fast, and balance intensity with curiosity-whether we're building, testing, or learning something new.

We value straightforward communication, hands-on problem-solving, and resolving challenges quickly and empathetically.

About the Role

We're looking for a Forward Deployed Robotics Engineer to act as a technical co-founder for high-impact customer projects. You'll work closely with partner scientists to deliver end-to-end robotic solutions that bring their research to life. This is a deeply hands-on, entrepreneurial role combining engineering rigor with field execution.

What You'll Do

  • Operate like the technical co-founder of a small startup within Medra, owning end-to-end delivery of customer projects.
  • Partner with scientists to rapidly develop and deploy solutions to their most critical challenges.
  • Set technical strategy and define roadmaps to meet project goals.
  • Travel up to 30% to customer sites for hands-on support, troubleshooting, and integration.
  • Develop robotic solutions to manipulate and control biology tools designed for human operators.
  • Integrate, test, and debug software solutions in simulation and on physical robots.
  • Balance performance with simplicity and scalability, identifying opportunities for design optimization.
  • Take ownership of complex robotics projects from conception to delivery.

What We're Looking For

  • 1-3 years of experience designing and working with robotics systems.
  • Proven ability to solve complex problems creatively and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
  • Experience writing code for robotics systems (Python preferred).
  • Strong mechanical intuition and hardware assembly / debugging skills.
  • Familiarity with mechanical engineering tools and best practices in production.
  • Comfortable working across hardware and software domains.
  • A hacker's mindset - fast iteration and practical problem-solving.
  • Experience or familiarity with robot arm manipulators.
  • BS / MS in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering , or related field (or equivalent experience).
  • Entrepreneurial drive with a desire for broad ownership and autonomy.

    • Bonus Points

  • Experience with software engineering tools and best practices in production.
  • Prior startup experience or technical leadership roles.
  • Experience with robotics in laboratory or manufacturing environments.
  • Familiarity with simulation systems such as MuJoCo .
  • Experience designing, building, and testing hardware systems.
  • Understanding of software communication protocols (ZMQ, Redis, gRPC, etc.).
  • Contributions to shipped hardware / software products.
  • Research or work experience in ML, computer vision, motion planning, trajectory optimization, control, or SLAM .

    • What We Offer

  • 401(k) plan
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Relocation benefits
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Weekday dinners provided

    • Note : This position is 100% onsite in San Francisco, CA . Medra does not offer hybrid roles , but relocation support is available.

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    Forward Deployed Engineer • San Francisco, CA, United States