Head of Hardware Test / Reliability Test Lead

At Aigen, our mission is to accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture—with a pesticide-free, solar powered robotics platform.

52% of agricultural land is degraded by current management practices, and toxic chemical pesticides are sprayed and then consumed in the food we eat. Join us to make a real world impact at the confluence of cutting edge robotic technology, agriculture, AI, and climate! With $19M raised to date, we are backed by a suite of investors including NEA, GFC, AgFunder, Regen.vc, and Bessemer Ventures.

As the Head of Hardware Test you will play a critical role in ensuring reliability in Aigen's robotics platform. You will investigate reliability through physical testing of our systems to predict system robustness, optimize reliability and ensure performance. To get our system to market you will collaborate with the other engineering teams to build a scalable robotics platform, and follow reliability through development analysis, manufacturing, and field operations. The ideal candidate will be a quick learner with the ability to self prioritize, manage testing, and work with minimal supervision.

Aigen celebrates diversity in all its forms, and is an equal opportunity employer

Coverage: CNBC | NEA | Geekwire | AgFunder

Responsibilities:

• Lead test engineering activities for our robotics platform

• Ensure test facilities and team resources will be capable of meeting program schedules

• Design and implement hardware test systems to facilitate reliable design characterization and accelerated life testing

• Execute product, subsystem, and component level reliability/durability testing as needed

• Conduct test data analysis, clearly communicate test results, and collaborate with with other engineers to resolve issues detected in testing

• Collaborate cross-functionally with electrical, mechanical, design, reliability, and manufacturing engineers to suggest design and/or process improvements and to address mechanical durability issues

• Procure and develop required equipment and test setup hardware to enhance creative product level/system integration reliability testing

• Continuously drive risk burndown to ensure product design is reliable and durable for mechanical, electrical, and software systems

• Recruit and mentor test engineers to operate and troubleshoot test equipment

• Provide test execution leadership for various testing projects

• Comply with all necessary safety policies and regulations

Requirements:

• Collaborative, high integrity, and humble

• 10+ years experience designing low cost commercial hardware

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or related field

• Deep hardware test experience

• Experience managing teams in a nimble, fast paced environment

• Strong understanding of mechanics, system optimization, testing, and manufacturing

• Strong understanding various failure modes at test methods

• Experience in a workshop setting building quick turn prototypes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Willingness to travel to test site in Fresno CA, 25%

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Indicators of good fit:

• Prior startup experience

• Track record of innovative thinking and a willingness to explore unconventional approaches to problem-solving

• Experience developing mobile autonomous robotics systems

Benefits:

• Stock options

• Flexible (WFH) Mondays

• Unlimited paid time off (15 days minimum)

• Healthcare - 100% coverage for employee

• Vision

• Dental

• 401(k)

• Work on a team in which the qualities that diverse team members bring to the table are appreciated