Sr. Hardware Test Engineer

Here at Humanoid, we believe in a future where robots amplify human potential. That’s why we’ve set out on a mission to build the world’s most capable, commercially-scalable, and safe humanoid robots. We’re bringing that mission to life with HMND‑01 Alpha - our rapidly developed humanoid platform now running in real industrial pilots - and we’re growing the team to take it even further.

About the Role

We are looking for a Senior Hardware Test Engineer to own the test methodology for our hardware components, robot subsystems, and complete humanoid robots. You will be the engineer who decides what "good" looks like — from a single actuator on the bench to a full robot walking through an integration sequence. This is a hands‑on, technical leadership role. You will design test methods, run them yourself on early prototypes, and then partner with the test automation team to scale them across the fleet as we move from EVT toward production.

What You'll Do

• Test Method Definition
  • Component-Level Methods: Define functional, performance, and stress tests for individual hardware components — actuators, sensors, electronics, structural parts — including pass/fail criteria and required data capture.
  • Subsystem Testing: Design integration tests for major robot subsystems (arms, hands, legs, torso, head) covering kinematic accuracy, repeatability, load behaviour, and thermal response.
  • Whole-Robot Testing: Define and execute system-level tests for full robot assemblies, including end-to-end motion sequences, balance, manipulation tasks, and failure-mode behaviour.
• Hands-On Test Execution
  • Prototype Bring-up: Be the first engineer to put hands on each new hardware revision, characterising performance against design intent and feeding findings back to the design team.
  • Failure Analysis: Investigate failures during testing, work with hardware engineers to root-cause issues, and verify fixes.
  • Test Documentation: Capture methods, results, and learnings in a way that the rest of the organisation can repeat and trust.
• Automation Support
  • Test Automation Inputs: Translate manual test methods into specifications for the automation team. Decide which tests can be automated and which must remain manual, and why.
  • Tooling: Specify and prototype custom test fixtures, jigs, and instrumentation needed to execute your methods reliably.
  • Data: Define what each test must capture so that automated runs produce results comparable to your manual baseline.

What We're Looking For

• Experience: 5+ years in hardware test engineering, with hands-on testing of complex electromechanical systems — robotics, automotive, aerospace, or similar.
• Test Methodology: Strong grasp of test theory, test design, and pass/fail criteria definition. You can write a test spec that another engineer can execute without follow-up questions.
• Mechanical: Solid understanding of mechanical design principles, common core components (gears, bearings, actuators), and measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, load cells, encoders).
• Electrical: Comfortable reading schematics, using a multimeter and oscilloscope, and reasoning about basic power and signal integrity.
• Mindset: Systems thinking — you naturally see how a problem at the component level can manifest as a behaviour at the full-robot level.

Nice-to-Have:

• Robotics experience, especially with serial-link manipulators or legged systems.
• Python (or similar) for ad-hoc data analysis and lightweight test automation.
• CAD (SolidWorks/Fusion/NX) for sketching test fixtures.
• Familiarity with ROS2.
• Experience with embedded systems and field buses such as CAN or EtherCAT.

What You'll Be Testing

• Actuators (motors, gearboxes, encoders, drivers)
• Robot manipulators and end-effectors
• Legged subsystems and balance behaviours
• Power and battery systems
• Full humanoid robot assemblies

What We Offer

• Meaningful time off to rest and recharge: 23 days of annual leave (accrued), 15 days of paid sick leave, and paid company holidays.
• Fully funded private healthcare for UK employees, with broad provider access, virtual and in‑person care, and strong mental health and serious illness support.
• Equity included–we believe builders should share in what they build.
• Pension scheme with a total 8% contribution (5% employee, 3% employer) on full earnings.
• Free daily breakfast, catered lunch, and snacks in‑office.
• Collaboration with top‑tier engineers, researchers, and product experts in AI and robotics.
• Freedom to influence the product and own key initiatives.