Advisory Engineer, Hardware HPSC

** Advisory Mechanical / Hardware Engineer
** Ricoh USA - Boulder R&D

** About the Role*
* Versatile hardware engineer for a small Boulder R&D team working across inkjet, robotics, machine vision, and renewable energy programs. You'll contribute to mechanical and electromechanical design from benchtop proof-of-concept through production hardware, including:

+ A renewable energy program advancing next-generation solar cell manufacturing

+ A UR-based collaborative palletizing system on a path to CE marking and contract manufacturing

+ Continuous-feed inkjet inspection platforms and their expansion across our automation product roadmap

When mechanical workload ebbs, you'll flex into software:
Python and C++ for robotics, image processing, and high-throughput image processing pipelines. We're all-in on Claude Code for software and hardware work - comfort with agentic AI tooling is a real differentiator.

** What You'll Do*
* + Contribute to mechanical/electromechanical design end-to-end: idea → concept → POC → DVT → production hardware

+ Design EOAT, base frames, electrical and pneumatic systems for robotics and automation

+ Design industrial control panels, cable harnesses, and enclosures - component selection, circuit design, panel layout, routing, and grounding

+ Scope and ship one-off / bespoke automation builds - purpose-built rigs and process automation where you own the design from ambiguous brief to working hardware

+ Build robust optical/imaging fixtures (lighting, motion, alignment) for inline inspection systems

+ Generate manufacturing-ready documentation: 3D CAD, electrical schematics, BOMs, assembly/work instructions, test protocols

+ Partner with software/controls on integration: motion/vision triggers, sensor interfaces, PLC and robot controller communications

+ Contribute to safety and certification work: risk assessment, Performance Level analysis, CE marking, EMC/LVD/RoHS, and US NRTL paths where applicable

+ Flex into hardware-adjacent applied software when HW workload is light

** Required Qualifications*
* + BS in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field; MS a plus

+ Demonstrated track record of delivering multiple complex electromechanical products from POC through production - as a key contributor, not a peripheral one

+ Proficiency in 3D CAD (NX, Solidworks, or equivalent) and electrical schematic tools (AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or equivalent)

+ Sheet metal and machined part design experience - DFM for bending, machining, and assembly; GD&T; experience working directly with fab shops

+ Hands-on with EOAT/gripper design, pneumatics, motion systems, sensors, and control-cabinet design and wiring

+ Python or C++ for embedded/robotic systems;
Linux proficiency

+

Experience with machine vision / imaging hardware integration (cameras, lighting, lensing, calibration)

+ Strong systems thinking; thrives in a fast-moving, multi-project R&D environment

** Highly Desired*
* + Robotics software: ROS 2 (Move It 2, ROS 2 Control, TF2), UR programming (URCaps, safety configuration, controller integration)

+ Bespoke / one-off automation experience - integrator-style builds, purpose-built machines for a single customer or process (vs. high-volume catalog products)

+ Product certification: CE/UKCA, UL/CSA/NRTL, EMC pre-compliance; EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230

+ Advanced vision & compute:
Stereo/RGB-D (6

DoF pose, object detection), high-throughput image processing pipelines, GPU acceleration

+ Contract-manufacturing transfer: documentation packages, quality systems, production handoff

+ Precision equipment industry: inkjet, semiconductor, thin-film, or web/roll-to-roll manufacturing environments

+ Agile / Scrum: sprint planning, backlog grooming, iterative delivery

** Mindset*
* + Comfortable navigating loosely-defined problems and shipping working hardware without a fully spec'd brief

+ Embraces shifting priorities - focus moves between programs as priorities shift

+ Equally strong working independently and as part of a small team

+ Comfortable with AI coding tools and willing to explore emerging AI-assisted engineering workflows

You don't need prior printing domain experience - we'll ramp you on that. Your…