Hiring: Mechatronics Technician (Contract)
At Cargo, we’re backed by some of the best robotics investors in the Valley to transform a massive legacy industry and we’re more than doubling our team to satisfy overwhelming customer demand.
If you’re an exceptional electromechanical technician with a passion for robotics, we want to talk to you. See the JD and instructions on how to get in touch with us below.
This is an on-site contract role with the potential to transition to regular full-time employment.
About Us
Cargo Robotics is creating the logistics infrastructure of the next 100 years by automating the entire delivery chain with containerized physical AI, starting at the delivery van.
Every day, millions of delivery drivers spend hours loading, organizing, and searching for packages in their vehicles. It's physically brutal, wildly inefficient, and one of the most important unsolved problems in global logistics. Our founders worked undercover at UPS and FedEx before starting Cargo, and their experience living these problems firsthand shapes everything we build.
Our first product is the X1 Robotic Cargo Bay, which turns every delivery vehicle into a robotic warehouse. This is the first step to build fast, flawless, and fully automated logistics networks of the future.
We're backed by leading robotics investors and building alongside teammates from Tesla, NASA JPL, Lockheed Martin, Saildrone, Machina Labs, Roam Robotics, Stanford AI Lab, Stanford, Georgia Tech, and Caltech. We are doubling our engineering team and accelerating to meet overwhelming demand from some of the world’s largest logistics companies.
The Role
You will help construct, test, update, and maintain X1 systems as Cargo moves from early prototypes into customer pilots and initial production. Some assignments will be first-time builds with limited documentation and missing details to resolve. Others will involve carefully following process in ongoing reliability testing, or reproducing existing systems across multiple robots. We need someone who takes pride in doing both kinds of work correctly and seeing each task through to its intended result.
We are a small team, and every contributor has an outsize impact. We are also deeply user- and product-centric, so expect to deliver some actual parcels during your first week!
Get ready, there’s lots to build :)
What you’ll do
Build and integrate mechanical assemblies and electrical subsystems for X1 prototypes using CAD, drawings, schematics, BOMs, and guidance from the engineering team.
Fabricate and install components including frames, actuators, panels, cable harnesses, motors, sensors, and electrical enclosures.
Identify missing parts, unclear requirements, and build issues early; work with engineers to resolve them without losing schedule.
Keep prototype systems synchronized by carefully implementing approved design changes, validating functionality, and documenting completion.
Run defined performance and reliability tests, clearly document results, and troubleshoot problems with the engineering team.
Maintain an organized, safe, and effective prototype shop, including tools, materials, and parts.
Support pilot installations and system maintenance at customer sites as needed.
Translate hands-on build experience into clear assembly, test, and maintenance instructions as Cargo moves toward production.
Personal characteristics: you are
Reliable and accountable: finish what you start and close the loop.
Disciplined in your craft: follow the process and do the job right.
Practical and self-directed: make progress and know when to ask for help.
Focused on priorities: do the most important work first.
Adaptable and resilient: stay productive when plans change.
Collaborative and low ego: work well with others and take feedback with grace.
Safety-conscious: protect yourself, your teammates, and the equipment
You need to bring this
Associates or higher in engineering technology, robotics, or a related field - or equivalent hands-on experience.
Hands-on experience building, integrating, testing, maintaining, or repairing mechanical and electrical equipment.
Strong mechanical intuition and practical build skills using common hand and shop tools; experience with 3D printing is strongly preferred.
Electrical assembly and measurement fundamentals, including wiring, soldering or crimping, and using tools such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, and bench power supplies.
Some experience reading CAD, drawings, wiring diagrams, or schematics; familiarity with SolidWorks or another CAD package is helpful.
The maturity to follow defined procedures and complete repetitive work carefully when the system requires it.
The judgment to operate with moderate ambiguity, manage multiple tasks, and keep work aligned with team priorities.
Ability to work on-site in Menlo Park during normal business hours and travel to pilot sites as needed.
We’d love if you also have this:
Built or maintained robots, automated equipment, custom machinery, or vehicles.
Fabricated cable harnesses, electrical panels, or electronics prototypes.
Familiarity with manual mills or lathes.
Prototyped with Arduino or ESP32, motors, sensors, actuators, vacuum systems, or end effectors.
Worked with BOMs, DFM, GD&T, manufacturing documentation, or production transition.
Supported customer deployments or performed field service.
In Your First Year
You will take ownership of executing new X1 builds and approved upgrades with speed, quality, and attention to detail. You will learn the system's mechanical and electrical subsystems, keep prototype configurations synchronized, run reliability and performance tests, and help support customer pilots. As you build practical knowledge, you will help create the instructions that manufacturing and field-service teammates will use to build and maintain future systems. When high-priority work is covered, you will also identify and complete useful improvements to the product, test process, or shop.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive contract compensation based on experience.
Potential to transition to regular full-time employment based on performance and company needs.
Free lunch every day! :)
Upon full-time conversion: meaningful early-stage equity, company-sponsored medical and dental coverage, a 401(k) with company match, and unlimited PTO
How We Work
We are an in-person team in Menlo Park. Building world-class hardware requires rapid iteration, hands-on collaboration, and frequent testing. This role works on-site during normal business hours and may occasionally require extended hours or travel around major builds and customer pilots. We’ve got an inspiring industrial office space with an outdoor picnic area and palm trees, and you’ll love coming in every day!
Apply
Does this sound like you? If you’re excited about Cargo’s mission and think you can rock this role, then we’d love to meet you! Please submit your resume and a brief note describing one or two relevant systems or assemblies you have built, maintained, or repaired and why you are interested in joining Cargo to jobs@withcargo.com.
We value resourceful generalists with the motivation to learn and solve important problems, so we would still like to hear from you if your experience does not match every qualification.
