Electrical/Mechatronics Engineer (1-3 YOE)
Electrical/Mechatronics Engineer (1-3 YOE) at Synphony — San Carlos, CA, US
- Company: Synphony
- Location: San Carlos, CA, US
- Employment type: FULL_TIME
- Salary: USD 25–50 / year
- Posted: 2026-07-17
About this role
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.