Autonomy Hardware Development Lead

The Carbon Robotics Laser Weeder™ leverages robotics, computer vision, AI/deep learning, and lasers to eliminate weeds with sub-millimeter accuracy — without herbicides. This innovative solution reduces environmental impact, promotes soil health, and helps farmers address labor shortages and rising costs.

Overview

This role is ideal for a hands-on technical leader who has shipped real hardware products—preferably in a fast-paced startup environment—and who thrives at the intersection of electrical, mechanical, embedded systems, and software. You will own the ATK hardware end-to-end, drive engineering execution, and ensure the platform performs reliably in both manufacturing and field environments.

• Own the ATK hardware system holistically, including architecture, integration, reliability, and cross-functional alignment.
• Provide a clear technical vision for the engineering project team that is based on a deep understanding of the business, market, and technical requirements.
• Develop a detailed technical product development plan in coordination with Engineering leadership and the project team.
• Conduct and lead system-level design reviews, requirements definition, verification planning, and technical decision-making.
• Drive engineering development cycles, including:
  • Risk identification and mitigation
  • Rapid prototyping and iteration
  • Root-cause analysis and corrective actions
  • Responding to issues discovered in manufacturing or field deployments
• Provide mentorship to the hardware engineering team, providing technical direction, design guidance, and hands-on support when needed.
• Maintain deep awareness of the ATK program, including technical dependencies, customer issues, field performance, and product roadmap impacts.
• Maintain close integration with ATK Product Management, Program Management, Sales, Marketing, Field Operations, Procurement, and Manufacturing stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, software, autonomy, and manufacturing teams to ensure system-level performance and reliability.
• Support manufacturing builds, supplier interactions, and field testing, ensuring designs scale effectively into production.
• Know when to dive deep as an individual contributor to unblock technical challenges across sensors, power systems, compute, harnessing, firmware/software integration and mechanical fixturing.

• Proven experience leading integrated hardware project engineering teams that have designed, built, and shipped complex physical products.
• Strong preference for candidates with startup or small-company experience, where ownership, speed, and adaptability are essential.
• Demonstrated success as a high-quality individual contributor engineer in electrical, mechanical, or mechatronic systems.
• System level design experience with vehicle electrical systems; systems integration through full design cycle.
• Experience with off-highway systems like hydraulics, electromechanical assemblies, vehicle controls, etc.
• Experience with designing parts and complex assemblies in Solidworks or other CAD.
• Experience working across sensors, compute modules, power systems, harnessing, and ruggedized enclosures is highly valuable.
• Ability to balance high-level system thinking with hands-on technical depth.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence across engineering, operations, and product teams.

• Approximately 40% travel per month, typically split across several short trips.
• Occasional weekend travel may be required during major releases, field testing, or urgent issue resolution.

Carbon Robotics follows equitable hiring practices. The compensation range outlined is based on a target budgeted base salary. Individual base pay depends on various factors such as relevant experience and skill, interview assessments and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements. Offers are determined using our equitable hiring practices. Carbon Robotics offers additional compensation in the form of benefits premiums, pre-IPO stock options and On Target Earning commissions for appropriate positions.

Base pay ranges are reviewed each year. We are committed to…