Senior Engineer, SI

About Light Speed

Light Speed Build Technologies is revolutionizing the construction industry through AI-powered robotics. Our flagship systems—BRUTE for automated wall panel manufacturing and DEX for on-site collaborative construction—are addressing the global housing crisis by delivering unprecedented speed, precision, and affordability in homebuilding.

As a Senior SI Applications Engineer, you will serve as the technical bridge between concept and build, defining the hardware architecture, vendor strategy, and cost engineering for Light Speed’s deployable robotic manufacturing cells. Drawing on a systems integration background, you will scope automation solutions, select robot platforms and components, manage vendor relationships, and ensure every cell can be manufactured cost-effectively and deployed s is not a project-to-project SI role.

You will own the hardware systems engineering for a repeatable product that scales from a handful of deployed cells to hundreds, making design‑to‑cost decisions that directly determine whether the company scales profitably.

• Define and own the hardware system architecture for Light Speed’s robotic manufacturing cells, including robot platform, end‑of‑arm tooling, conveyors, fixtures, sensors, and guarding

• Develop cell concept layouts and solution architectures that meet production, safety, and cost requirements

• Evaluate and recommend robot platforms, actuators, and ancillary equipment for current and next‑generation cell designs

• Translate production requirements into hardware specifications and system‑level design packages for the engineering team

• Collaborate with robotics software engineers on hardware‑software integration, sensor placement, and control system requirements

• Build and manage relationships with robot OEMs, component suppliers, and contract manufacturers

• Evaluate, select, and specify industrial components: linear motion, pneumatics, sensors, guarding, and power distribution

• Source and negotiate with vendors for volume pricing, lead times, and quality standards to support production scaling

• Maintain approved vendor lists and preferred component libraries for standardized cell builds

• Coordinate with contract fabricators and machine shops on custom component manufacturing

• Drive design‑to‑cost decisions across the cell hardware stack, balancing performance with manufacturability at 100+ unit volumes

• Develop and maintain bills of materials with accurate costing for cell builds targeting ~$350K per unit

• Evaluate COTS versus custom fabrication tradeoffs for every major subsystem

• Create and refine quoting and cost estimation processes for cell hardware

• Identify cost reduction opportunities through supplier consolidation, design simplification, and standardized components

• Conduct and document robot safety risk assessments per RIA 15.6 and ISO 10218 for cell designs and customer deployments

• Design safeguarding solutions including light curtains, area scanners, guarding, and safety‑rated control interfaces

• Ensure cell designs meet OSHA, NFPA, and customer‑specific safety requirements across deployment environments

• Support safety documentation and compliance packages for customer facility installations

• 3+ years at a systems integrator, robot OEM, or automation equipment company in an applications, solutions, or project engineering role

• Demonstrated experience scoping automation solutions from customer requirements through concept layout, hardware selection, and cost estimation

• Hands‑on experience with industrial robot platforms (FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Staubli, Yaskawa, Hyundai, or Universal Robots)

• Strong vendor network and component knowledge across industrial automation (pneumatics, linear motion, sensors, guarding, power distribution)

• Experience with quoting, proposal development, and BOM costing for automation projects

• Mechanical engineering background with strong understanding of materials, fabrication methods, and…