Research Engineer, Hardware

Overview

SRI’s Robotics Laboratory in Menlo Park, CA conducts exciting R&D to solve and build solutions to a wide array of unique, fun, and challenging problems from component technologies such as polymer artificial muscle actuators, wall-climbing “electro adhesion”, high-efficiency robot transmission, levitated micro-robots for micro assembly and in-situ lunar resource allocation (NASA FLOAT) – all the way to complete systems such as our semi-autonomous teleoperated bi-manual robot; our autonomous humanoid motorcycle-racing robot; or our underwater kite for renewable energy-harvesting system.

Not only, do we work on Robotics, we also collaborate across multiple divisions jointly developing novel material development and mechanical systems, advanced optics and photonics, quantum sensing, ISR, radar, digital signal processing, communication systems, imaging systems, navigation and timing systems, free space optical communication systems, and many more areas.

We conduct this R&D for a wide variety of US government and commercial clients including developing spin outs (Intuitive Surgical, GrabIt, Seismic, Abundant, etc.) allowing us to see our ideas all the way from inception to fruition.

Be a part of our team where creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on building is your job and the projects you work on are pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We are looking for a Research Engineer to work on-site in Menlo Park, CA.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with researchers across the institute to come up with new ideas
• Hands-on Lab Building and Prototyping of Novel Proof of Concepts (electrical, mechanical, software, firmware – opportunity to explore the entire technology stack)
• Write technical descriptions, reports, and slides and present results to various government and commercial companies
• Opportunity to Take Hardware out of the Lab and test it in real-world environments
• Analyze and Model Various Concepts and learn about topics in an outside of your own area of academic expertise

Ideally, a junior PI-track (principal investigator) opportunity, to be mentored to become a PI for new research thrusts, but will also enjoy being in the lab – tinkering and thinking.

Qualifications

• PhD (completed by end of 2024) in a technical area (Engineering or Physics):
  • Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Robotics, etc.
  • Applied Physics, Physical Chemistry, Astronomy, Astrophysics, etc.
  • With 0-10 years’ experience post PhD
• Due to government requirements, U.S. Citizenship with the ability to transfer/obtain/maintain a U.S. government security clearance is required

Experience with one or more of the following:

• Mechanical Design/Testing/and Rapid Prototyping of Novel Proof of Concepts
• Electrical Digital / Analog Circuit Design (op amps/power electronics) and Prototyping (i.e. laying out PCBs, testing circuits)
• Testing and Validation (oscilloscope, validation circuits and mechanical tolerancing) including setting up instrumentation
• Programming Firmware (Python, microcontrollers, C, Arduino)
• Electromagnetic Modelling (Python, COMSOL, etc.)
• Design and Analysis of Feedback Controllers (Simulink, Python, ROS, etc.)
• Signal and Data Processing

The salary range is: $109,590-$184,235. Salary ranges will vary and are based on several factors, including geographic location, market competitiveness and equity amongst internal employees in similar roles. Positions may also qualify for SRI's Pay for Outstanding Performance program or the annual Performance Based Compensation program. SRI also has a competitive benefits package, to view details please go to https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/.

SRI is an independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with a rich history of supporting government and industry. We create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. For more than 75 years, we have collaborated across technical and scientific disciplines to discover and develop groundbreaking products and technologies and bring innovations and ideas to the marketplace.

Salary : $109,590 - $184,235