Clera
Clera

Electrical Engineer

$100,000 – $150,000 per year

TLDR

Build the electrical backbone of ground robots through PCB development, sensor integration, cable harnesses, and ruggedness testing.

About the Role

A fast-moving, venture-backed robotics startup in Austin, TX is looking for a hands-on Electrical Engineer to design and build the electrical backbone of next-generation ground robots. These platforms are engineered for the most demanding real-world conditions — hazardous environments, extreme temperatures, complex terrain — serving professionals in emergency response, industrial operations, and defense.

You'll be a core member of a small, high-caliber team (with roots at NASA, Lockheed Martin, and Southwest Research Institute), working across analog/digital circuits, power distribution, sensor integration, and harnessing to deliver field-ready systems. This is a deeply hands-on, full-ownership role with direct impact on product direction.

What You'll Do

  • Design analog and digital circuits including power regulation, signal conditioning, and sensor interfaces.

  • Own the full PCB development lifecycle: schematic capture, layout, and bring-up.

  • Define and maintain wiring diagrams, harnessing, grounding, and EMI/EMC strategies for robotic systems.

  • Design and fabricate cable harnesses and enclosures optimized for field reliability.

  • Support sensor selection and integration across thermal, gas, visual, RF, and related modalities.

  • Run and interpret tests for thermal load, EMI, and ruggedness of robotic electrical systems.

  • Run SPICE simulations for analog validation, noise analysis, and circuit stability.

  • Troubleshoot and debug system-level electrical issues across hardware, software, and mechanical interfaces.

  • Collaborate closely with mechanical and software engineers to ensure reliable system integration.

  • Contribute to design reviews and author documentation for key design decisions.

  • Help establish internal standards and test infrastructure for future product iterations.

  • Engage directly with end users as needed to shape engineering direction for specific features.

What We're Looking For

Required:

  • 5+ years of hands-on electrical design experience for robotics or embedded systems (analog and digital circuits, power distribution, sensors).

  • Experience designing robot bus and wiring harness systems, including harness development and fabrication.

  • Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout using Altium, KiCad, or Eagle.

  • Sensor integration experience across multiple modalities (thermal, gas, visual, RF, etc.) on robotics platforms.

  • Demonstrated ability to perform SPICE simulations for analog validation, noise analysis, and circuit stability.

  • Hands-on experience with thermal, EMI, and vibration testing and debugging in robotics hardware.

  • Ability to define EMI/EMC strategies and maintain rigorous grounding and harnessing standards.

  • Strong cross-functional communication skills — comfortable working across hardware, software, and mechanical teams.

Nice to Have:

  • Background in aerospace, defense, or industrial robotics hardware.

  • Experience with UGV or unmanned systems development.

  • Familiarity with hazardous-environment (EX-rated) or high-temperature electrical design requirements.

Compensation & Benefits

  • Salary: $100,000 – $150,000 USD annually, depending on experience.

  • Visa sponsorship is available.

  • Opportunity for meaningful equity in an early-stage, venture-backed company.

Location

This is a fully on-site role based in Austin, TX. Candidates must be able to work in-person to support hands-on hardware development and lab work.

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Opportunity for meaningful equity in an early-stage, venture-backed company.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship is available.

Clera harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to match high-growth startups with exceptional talent, streamlining the entire headhunting process. This innovative approach simplifies the job search for candidates while providing startups with access to a curated pool of skilled professionals who align with their needs.

Founded
Founded 2024
Industry
Internet Software & Services
View company profile