Mechatronics Systems Engineer

690 Texas St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Mechatronics Systems & Motor Control Engineer

ABOUT US :

Skip is on a mission to make life joyful through powered movement.

Movement is a powerful way to build physical, mental and social health. Yet it is elusive for 2 billion people due to age, injury, or disability. We are building products that will restore mobility for millions and enable a new frontier of joyful movement experiences. We want to build a future where a grandparent can easily outrun their grandkids and no one is left behind at the trailhead.

Skip is a 20-person early-stage start-up that spun out of Google X in 2023. With deep cross-disciplinary expertise and key partnerships (e.g. with Arc’teryx) we are uniquely positioned to launch the first commercially successful wearable robotic device , the MO / GO , develop a platform to launch future Movewear products and transform millions of lives in the coming years.

More information about Skip and MO / GO can be found at www.skipwithjoy.com

THE ROLE :

We are seeking a highly motivated and adaptable individual who will explore the peaks and valleys of all problems that may come up while building a new generation of wearable robots for everyday life.

We are looking for a mechatronics systems  engineer who would primarily be responsible for the design, development, testing and validation of our powertrain, including motor control for novel actuators, and complex battery management. The team has just finished an “EVT” build, so we have functional prototypes but they need to be tested,  improved and optimised with a  whole-system approach.

We are a team of 20 phenomenal senior engineers and product leaders, where everyone contributes directly to product development. As such this will start as an individual contributor  role, with leadership for critical systems, and directing work for people contributing to the system (e.g. working closely with our test engineer and gearbox designer).

Some of the specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to :

• Understand every element of our mechatronics system ; being the go-to person for troubleshooting
• Guide design and development decisions for future iterations of the product, and future systems; including battery and motor specifications,  motor control chip selection and firmware requirements
• Own the testing protocol to validate performance of the mechatronics at volumes and standards relevant to consumer products (and work with our Test Engineer to execute)
• Help us precisely control a range of actuators including off-the-shelf BLDCs, custom PMSM and axial flux motors, cycloid gearboxes, and series elastic actuators, including writing firmware for our motor control chip (currently c2000; but likely to change over time)
• Characterize and model our actuators for open-loop and closed-loop torque control. Create thermal models and evaluate the thermal limits of the actuator.
• Own the process of productising our novel actuation systems as standalone products and components of a broader platform
• Wear prototypes several hours a week to participate in data collection, on-body testing and provide feedback
• Bring joy t o the team, participate in embarrassing team events, tolerate KZ’s terrible music

Basic Qualifications

3 days / week

Bonus Points

This is a full time position working at the Skip office in the San Francisco Bay Area, starting ASAP.

Skip is an equal opportunity employer. Our hiring decisions are based on need and competence to satisfy said need. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected status.

Any and all offers of employment extended by Skip are conditional on candidates’ ability to provide satisfactory proof of eligibility to maintain full-time employment in the United States.

To apply, send via email a CV and cover letter to