Senior Controls Engineer - Mechatronics; South Bay, CA)

Dandy is transforming the massive and antiquated dental industry—an industry worth over $400B. Backed by some of the world’s leading venture capital firms, we’re on an ambitious mission to simplify and modernize every function of the dental practice through technology. As we expand our reach globally, Dandy is building the operating system for dental offices around the world—empowering clinicians and their teams with technology, innovation, and world-class support to achieve more for their practices, their people, and their patients.

Dandy is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer - Mechatronics to join our elite Precision Robotics R&D team in Milpitas, CA. This role is the technical cornerstone for developing the integrated controls and mechatronic architecture of our next-generation Special Purpose Machines (SPM) for manufacturing custom-made prosthetics.

As an engineer with 6+ years of experience, you will bridge the gap between high-level robotic theory and physical machine execution, responsible for building the "nervous system" of our machines. You will integrate actuators, sensors, and motion control into a cohesive, high-performance architecture. This is a hybrid role, where you will drive innovation from initial concept and rapid prototyping through to production-ready systems.

• System Architecture & Design
  :
  Architect complex, high-performance robotic and electromechanical systems from initial concept to high-volume production, ensuring micron-level accuracy.

• Control Software Development
  :
  Design and develop robust control software packages to program robotic and controls equipment in accordance with project specifications.

• HMI & SCADA Architecture
  :
  Architect and implement intuitive HMI and SCADA strategies to monitor real-time production data, streamline operator interfaces, and ensure repeatable process control.

• Hands-on Prototyping & Integration
  :
  Drive hands-on machine builds and iterative testing, including wiring control cabinets and integrating sensors and actuators, while acting as an onsite builder to optimize system performance.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  :
  Serve as a technical PoC, bridging gaps between mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing teams. Partner with manufacturing, operations, and quality teams to drive design for Automation (DfA) principles.

• End-to-End Project Ownership
  :
  Lead the full project lifecycle, including generating functional requirement specifications (FRS), managing automation equipment providers, and overseeing Factory/Site Acceptance Testing (FAT/SAT).

• Experience
  : 6+ years of experience in high-volume, precision manufacturing, automation, or robotics, with a focus on system-level architecture and hardware/software integration. Must have experience owning multiple full lifecycle programs from concept to production deployment.

• Education
  : B.S./M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechatronics, Electrical, Robotics, or related engineering discipline.

• Technical Mastery
  :

  • Substantial experience with PLC programming and SCADA (e.g., Ignition, Allen-Bradley, or Siemens).

  • Proficiency in robot programming and offline simulation (e.g., FANUC, ABB, KUKA, or similar).

  • Strong backend programming skills (C++/Python) and deep understanding of robotic kinematics, motion control, and simulation.

  • Expertise in hardware/software interfaces (e.g., EtherCAT, Profinet, CANopen) and sensor integration.

• Soft Skills
  :
  Proven track record of technical leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to manage automation vendors/integrators in fast-paced production environments. Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Deep expertise with high-performance motion controllers (e.g., Beckhoff/TwinCAT, ACS, Elmo).
• Experience integrating advanced vision-guided robotics, AOI (Automated Optical Inspection), and force-feedback/torque-verification systems.
• Demonstrated experience with safety standards such as ISO 10218 (Industrial) and ISO/TS 15066 (Collaborative) or ISO 13482.
• Proficiency in performing ROI/CAPEX analysis and managing full-scale factory deployments.
• Familiarity with CAD (e.g. Creo/Solid Works/Onshape) for tooling…