JOB SUMMARYWe are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Staff Compute Engineer to lead the design and implementation of the next-generation compute solution for our humanoid robot platform. In this pivotal role, you will be the technical lead responsible for architecting a compute solution that meets our most demanding requirements for real-time performance, sensor bandwidth, and, most critically, functional safety.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES- Lead the architectural design of the robot's next-generation compute solution, from high-level system architecture to component-level selection.
- Define and validate compute requirements based on the needs of complex robotics algorithms, including motion control, perception, and AI tasks.
- Develop a robust and scalable solution capable of handling high-bandwidth data from a wide array of sensors
- Design for functional safety from the ground up, implementing redundant systems, fail-safe mechanisms, and diagnostic features to meet or exceed industry safety standards.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including software, electrical, and systems engineers, to ensure seamless integration of the compute solution with the overall robot platform.
- Conduct performance benchmarking and power analysis to optimize the compute stack for maximum efficiency and thermal management.
- Design, simulate, implement, and test multi-layer high-speed PCBs for integration of advanced System-on-Modules (SoMs) like NVIDIA Orin.
- Lead efforts in high-speed signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) analysis, modeling, and validation.
- Knowledge of compute and processor power requirements, power trees, PMICs, and power sequencing.
- Drive the selection and qualification of critical components, including SoMs, memory, storage (NVMe/eMMC), high-speed interconnects, and peripheral interfaces.
- Develop comprehensive validation and test plans (DVT/PVT), design necessary test fixtures, and execute rigorous testing to confirm compliance with performance specifications and regulatory standards (e.g., FCC, CE).
- Stay abreast of the latest advancements in embedded systems, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and robotics compute hardware to inform future design decisions.
- Own the entire lifecycle of complex compute hardware systems, from initial concept and architecture definition through design, prototyping, validation, production release, and ongoing support.
- Act as a technical leader and mentor within the electrical engineering team, guiding junior and senior engineers on best practices for complex hardware design and troubleshooting.
SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS- Proven experience in architecting and shipping complex, high-performance compute solutions for robotics, autonomous systems, or similar applications.
- Deep understanding of functional safety principles and standards (e.g. IEC 61508) and experience with safety-critical design.
- Expertise in a variety of compute platforms, including but not limited to, NVIDIA Jetson, Intel, and other high-performance embedded systems.
- Strong knowledge of real-time operating systems (RTOS), multi-core processing, and communication protocols (e.g., Ethernet, CAN).
- Experience with sensor bandwidth management and high-speed data transfer.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and a collaborative approach to engineering.
- Experience with humanoid robotics is a significant plus.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field; Master's or Ph.D. preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in embedded systems or robotics compute design.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
- Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
- Hearing and speech to communicate
*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.
