Robotics Hardware Engineer

About the job

As a Robotics Hardware Engineer in our London lab, you will own end-to-end hardware prototyping, integration, and bring-up to support daily robot data collection and AI policy evaluation. This position offers the opportunity to collaborate with a multi-functional team dedicated to advancing the field of robotics through rapid hardware development and testing.Artificial intelligence will be one of humanity’s most transformative inventions. At Google DeepMind, we are a pioneering AI lab with exceptional interdisciplinary teams focused on advancing AI development to solve complex global challenges and accelerate high-quality product innovation for billions of users. We use our technologies for widespread public benefit and scientific discovery, ensuring safety and ethics are always our highest priority.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, and iterate on robotic end-effectors, teleoperation devices, sensor mounts, and test fixtures from concept CAD through benchtop validation.
• Bring up, integrate, and validate actuators (BLDC motors/drives), cameras, tactile/IMU sensors, and PCBAs across robot platforms using standard buses (CAN, EtherCAT, SPI, I2C, USB).
• Write and maintain basic microcontroller firmware (C/C++) and low-level Linux drivers, hardware interfaces, and calibration/diagnostic scripts (Python, C++) to expose new sensors and actuators to the robot stack.
• Design and build reliable wiring harnesses, quick-turn electronics packaging, and strain-relieved cable routing across articulating robotic joints.
• Troubleshoot issues across mechanical, electrical, and firmware boundaries, performing Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) to maximize lab fleet uptime and reliability (MTBF).

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 4 years of experience working in robotics hardware development, electromechanical prototyping, or robot systems integration.
• Experience in 3D CAD (e.g., SolidWorks, Onshape, NX, or Creo) and direct prototyping (e.g., 3D printing, machining, laser cutting, or cable harnessing).
• Experience writing embedded firmware for microcontrollers (e.g., C or C++) and low-level hardware interface, driver, or diagnostic code in Python and C++ on Linux.
• Experience with debugging using lab instrumentation (e.g., oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or DMMs) and embedded communication buses (e.g., CAN, EtherCAT, SPI, I2C, or USB).

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 4 years of experience working in robotics hardware development, electromechanical prototyping, or robot systems integration.
• Experience in 3D CAD (e.g., SolidWorks, Onshape, NX, or Creo) and direct prototyping (e.g., 3D printing, machining, laser cutting, or cable harnessing).
• Experience writing embedded firmware for microcontrollers (e.g., C or C++) and low-level hardware interface, driver, or diagnostic code in Python and C++ on Linux.
• Experience with debugging using lab instrumentation (e.g., oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or DMMs) and embedded communication buses (e.g., CAN, EtherCAT, SPI, I2C, or USB).