{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"38f7b2b0bc50824ebdc54529","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/38f7b2b0bc50824ebdc54529","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/38f7b2b0bc50824ebdc54529","title":"Founding Engineer, R&D","description":"About the Role\nAs a Founding Engineer, you will be a core part of the team creating a robot that must survive operating for long durations in some of the most cramped, dark, dirty, and hazardous industrial environments — and eventually, making thousands of them.\n\nIn this role, you will bridge the gap between complex robotics and the human user. One day, you might be refining internal assemblies for clarity and serviceability; the next, designing intuitive control interfaces for extreme environments. We value engineers who understand that clean, intentional design goes a long way.\n\nResponsibilities\n\nDesign, manufacture, and assemble robotic components\n\nSelect, test, and integrate sensors for robotic perception & navigation\n\nDesign and build test facilities for the robots, and then test them\n\nDevelop and refine algorithms for novel robotic controls in confined environments\n\n3D data reconstruction and visualization\n\nHelp improve manufacturing processes for reliability and repeatability\n\nRequirements\nWe're looking for founding generalist engineers with 2+ years of work experience and foundational knowledge in hardware, mechanical, or software disciplines but understand a little bit about all of them.\n\nMechanical\n\nIntuitive understanding of material, structural, and mechanical system behavior\n\nCAD fluency (preferably OnShape) with experience in DFM, GD&T\n\nManufacturing experience (CNC, additive, composites, molds)\n\nPrototyping and a fast iterative (build, test, fail) approach\n\nSoftware\n\nCreating an intuitive UI/UX interface for both front and backend\n\nExperience with 3D data reconstruction, such as Gaussian splatting\n\nObsession with fusing both functionality and aesthetic form\n\nRobotics\n\nProficient in C++ and Python, with ROS1/ROS2 experience in Linux\n\nExperience building RC vehicles, flight controllers, and motor controls\n\nSoldering, PCB work, and design experience\n\nAbout You\n\nTechnical Versatility: Deep expertise in one core discipline but proficient enough to dive deep into others\n\nDesign-Minded: You believe that 'how it looks' and 'how it feels' are just as important as 'how it works'\n\nDriven by Curiosity: You build complex things for fun in your free time\n\n$100K/yr - $180K/yr + Equity (0.25% - 1.0%) + Benefits\n\nDrover Labs cares deeply about your time. Project work and on-site interviews are compensated on a paid hourly basis. We want the foundations of our company to be in investing in what's most important — you.\n\n#J-18808-Ljbffr","company":"Drover Labs","rawCompany":"drover labs","city":"Berkeley","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":true,"createdAt":"2026-07-05T03:29:24.128Z","occupations":[{"code":"17-2199.08","title":"Robotics Engineers","slug":"robotics-engineers"},{"code":"17-2199.00","title":"Engineers, All Other","slug":"engineers-all-other"},{"code":"17-2141.00","title":"Mechanical Engineers","slug":"mechanical-engineers"}],"industries":[{"code":"541715","title":"Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)","slug":"research-and-development-in-the-physical-engineering-and-life-sciences-except-nanotechnology-and-biotechnology"},{"code":"333248","title":"All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing","slug":"all-other-industrial-machinery-manufacturing"},{"code":"541330","title":"Engineering Services","slug":"engineering-services"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Founding Engineer, R&D","description":"About the Role\nAs a Founding Engineer, you will be a core part of the team creating a robot that must survive operating for long durations in some of the most cramped, dark, dirty, and hazardous industrial environments — and eventually, making thousands of them.\n\nIn this role, you will bridge the gap between complex robotics and the human user. One day, you might be refining internal assemblies for clarity and serviceability; the next, designing intuitive control interfaces for extreme environments. We value engineers who understand that clean, intentional design goes a long way.\n\nResponsibilities\n\nDesign, manufacture, and assemble robotic components\n\nSelect, test, and integrate sensors for robotic perception & navigation\n\nDesign and build test facilities for the robots, and then test them\n\nDevelop and refine algorithms for novel robotic controls in confined environments\n\n3D data reconstruction and visualization\n\nHelp improve manufacturing processes for reliability and repeatability\n\nRequirements\nWe're looking for founding generalist engineers with 2+ years of work experience and foundational knowledge in hardware, mechanical, or software disciplines but understand a little bit about all of them.\n\nMechanical\n\nIntuitive understanding of material, structural, and mechanical system behavior\n\nCAD fluency (preferably OnShape) with experience in DFM, GD&T\n\nManufacturing experience (CNC, additive, composites, molds)\n\nPrototyping and a fast iterative (build, test, fail) approach\n\nSoftware\n\nCreating an intuitive UI/UX interface for both front and backend\n\nExperience with 3D data reconstruction, such as Gaussian splatting\n\nObsession with fusing both functionality and aesthetic form\n\nRobotics\n\nProficient in C++ and Python, with ROS1/ROS2 experience in Linux\n\nExperience building RC vehicles, flight controllers, and motor controls\n\nSoldering, PCB work, and design experience\n\nAbout You\n\nTechnical Versatility: Deep expertise in one core discipline but proficient enough to dive deep into others\n\nDesign-Minded: You believe that 'how it looks' and 'how it feels' are just as important as 'how it works'\n\nDriven by Curiosity: You build complex things for fun in your free time\n\n$100K/yr - $180K/yr + Equity (0.25% - 1.0%) + Benefits\n\nDrover Labs cares deeply about your time. Project work and on-site interviews are compensated on a paid hourly basis. We want the foundations of our company to be in investing in what's most important — you.\n\n#J-18808-Ljbffr","datePosted":"2026-07-05T03:29:24.128Z","dateModified":"2026-07-05T03:29:24.128Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Drover Labs","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Berkeley","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"38f7b2b0bc50824ebdc54529"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/38f7b2b0bc50824ebdc54529"}}