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Hardware Test & Prototype Technician

Not Disclosed

Job Description & Details

This is a boots-on-the-ground hardware role where you will physically build, break, and validate the robotic package-loading systems that interact with everyday users. If you like working with your hands, debugging messy physical integrations, and collaborating directly with engineers instead of just hiding behind a desk, this gig is worth a serious look.

What You'll Actually Be Doing

Your day-to-day will be split between assembling mechanical prototypes, modifying wiring harnesses, building custom test fixtures, and running brutal test regimes on Dropbox units. You will spend a lot of time instrumenting sensors, tracking down intermittent electrical bugs, and documenting failure modes when things break in the lab. A good chunk of your time will also be spent in the field around the Bay Area, supporting actual deployments and figuring out why a prototype is acting up in the rain or under weird outdoor conditions.

The Core Tech Stack

Forget pure software stacks; you need strong mechanical assembly skills, proficiency with lab tools like multimeters, oscilloscopes, and hand tools, and a solid grasp of mechatronics integration. You will live and breathe CAD drawings, wiring diagrams, and test procedures, but you also need enough practical intuition to figure out an engineer's half-baked idea and turn it into a working test rig without explicit instructions.

Interview Expectations

When you talk to the engineering team, expect them to ask you how you troubleshoot a system when both the software and hardware are misbehaving at the same time—they want to see a systematic, methodical debugging process rather than random guessing. They will also likely quiz you on your hands-on experience with wiring, soldering, and mechanical assembly tolerances, listening closely for how safely and cleanly you work in a lab environment.

Application Advice

When tuning up your resume for this role, drop the corporate fluff and lean heavily into your tangible hands-on experience with mechatronics, fixture building, and failure analysis. Highlight any past work involving rapid prototyping, sensor instrumentation, or field troubleshooting, and make sure to explicitly list the standard lab tools and mechanical equipment you are comfortable operating daily.