Job Description
Mechatronics Engineer Seed Technologies LLC Alexandria, VA Job Details Part-time | Full-time $100,000 - $150,000 a year 1 day ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Parental leave Vision insurance Flexible schedule Qualifications CAD software Fluid dynamics Digital multimeters Teamwork Bachelor of Science Electrical system design System design Master of Science Voltage testers Manufacturing Electrical Engineering Mechanical product development projects
Full Job Description About Us:
Seed Technologies is an early-stage startup gaining traction with strong industry collaborations, operating under the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) Launch Grant from Virginia's VC group. We are building the future of AI-driven industrial robotics for aerospace, maritime, and defense applications. We are developing MORPH-AI, a proprietary framework for large-scale, complex robotic material application. By combining artificial intelligence with high-degree-of-freedom (DOF) heavy-payload systems, we are solving physical execution challenges in environments previously thought impossible for automation. We swing big and think outside the box to develop novel solutions for dual-use aerospace and maritime advanced manufacturing and sustainment. Apply if you have a passion for innovation, collaboration, and love taking leaps of faith. If you don't meet all the qualifications but have deep passion for designing robotic systems and are a self motivated learner...APPLY! Salary is contingent upon award. Equity compensation is available for those who want to join the core team and are an excellent fit. Must be a US CITIZEN
per Government Requirement. The Role:
We are seeking a highly hands-on Mechatronics Engineer to lead the physical integration and environmental hardening of our advanced robotic cells. You will be bridging the gap between our advanced thermal simulation software, the MORPH-AI
edge-compute framework, and the physical hardware. This is not a desk job—you will be on the floor building, waterproofing, and testing complex robotic tooling that must survive extreme conditions, including 900°C radiant heat, high-velocity fluid sprays, and massive thermal events. We are not just looking for an employee; we are looking for a core member of our startup who wants to grow with us. Equity compensation is available for candidates who are an excellent fit and align with Seed's core values: love thy customer, radical candor, generosity, and empowered stewardship. Key Responsibilities :
Complex Integration:
Lead the mechanical and electrical assembly of custom, high-density end-effectors. These complex payloads require integrating high-speed proportional valves, hydraulic manifolds, and auxiliary mini-axes into our high-DOF systems. Extreme Environmental Hardening:
Design, test, and implement robust waterproofing and thermal protection strategies for all custom tooling, wiring harnesses, and sensors. You will ensure all auxiliary components match or exceed the IP67-rating of our heavy-payload manipulators. Complex System Troubleshooting:
Diagnose and resolve issues across integrated pneumatic, high-pressure fluid delivery, and electromechanical domains. Advanced Sensor Integration:
Mechanically and electrically integrate sensor packages into the robotic cell, including high-speed 3D laser profilers, long-wave IR thermal cameras, and high-temp Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) optical sensor arrays. Hands-On Prototyping & Testing:
Lead cyclic physical testing using massive geometric surrogates, progressively scaling up to live, multi-ton test artifacts. Low-Latency Interfacing:
Work closely with software and control engineers to ensure sub-50ms telemetry streaming between the payload control FPGA, the robot controller, and the MORPH-AI
edge-compute systems. Required Qualifications:
Education:
B.S. or M.S. in Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related highly multi-disciplinary field. Experience designing custom electromechanical end effectors or products Fluid & Hydraulic Systems:
Strong understanding of fluid dynamics, multi-zone manifold design, hydraulic pressure regulation, and fast-response valving. Hands-On Builder:
You are as comfortable with a wrench and multimeter as you are with CAD software. Preferred/Bonus Qualifications:
Experience integrating complex machine vision or thermal imaging systems into robotic workflows. Familiarity with high-speed industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT, PROFINET
) or ROS-Industrial. Background in heavy manufacturing, heat treatment, or similarly intense industrial environments. Industrial Robotics:
Experience physically integrating, cabling, and maintaining 6-axis industrial robots, and designing custom end effectors. Experience with Fanuc heavy-payload or Foundry Pro series is a massive plus. Experience routing and protecting fragile optical fibers (FBG sensors) in harsh industrial settings. Waterproofing & Ruggedization:
Proven hands-on experience designing and sealing complex electromechanical systems for marine, heavy wash-down, or extreme-temperature environments (IP67/IP68 standards, potting, waterproof packing glands, and chemical-resistant epoxies). Why Join Seed? This is a rare opportunity to build hardware and intelligence frameworks that push the absolute limits of industrial robotics. At Seed, you won't be making incremental updates; you will be building the physical and digital framework and defining how intelligent robots interact with extreme environments and complex tasks. We are looking for a foundational team member ready to take ownership, embrace our culture of generosity and candor, and share in the upside through equity as we scale. Salary is competitive and benefits are competitive and contingent upon contract award. Equity compensation is available. Pay:
$100,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year Benefits:
401(k) Dental insurance Flexible schedule Health insurance Paid time off Parental leave Vision insurance Application Question(s): Are you a US citizen? Work Location:
Hybrid remote in Alexandria, VA 22304
