Mechatronics Engineer (Hardware)

Department: Plant & Process Engineering

Location: San Francisco HQ

Compensation: $140K – $200K • Offers Equity • Estimated Base Salary, Final salary dependent on level of experience, location, and other factors.

Employment Type: FullTime

About Mariana Minerals

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

Role Overview

We are hiring a Mechatronics Engineer (Hardware) to design and build the actuation, automation, and robotic hardware that makes our autonomous mining vehicles move.

In this role you will own the electromechanical and robotics hardware that enables full mining autonomy — drive-by-wire actuation, motion and powertrain systems, robotic mechanisms, and the automation hardware that ties them together. You will carry designs from concept and trade study through CAD, analysis, prototype build, and bench and field validation, working hand in hand with our controls, autonomy software, and systems-engineering teams. This is a hands-on, first-principles role for an engineer who wants to develop the world’s first fully autonomous mines.

What You’ll Do

• Design and integrate actuation hardware for autonomous mining vehicles — drive-by-wire steering, braking, and throttle, electric and electrohydraulic actuators, and the motion and powertrain systems that drive the vehicle

• Develop robotic mechanisms and automation hardware (manipulators, end-effectors, automated tooling, and material-handling systems) for unmanned mine operations

• Produce detailed CAD models, drawings, tolerance stack-ups, and bills of materials ready for fabrication, procurement, and assembly

• Select, size, and qualify actuators, drives, motors, gearboxes, bearings, and e-powertrain components, balancing build-vs-buy decisions against cost, lead time, and reliability

• Lead subsystem bench and rig testing, build and instrument prototypes, and drive reliability growth against MTBF and availability targets

• Collaborate with controls and autonomy-software engineers to integrate actuation, compute, and sensing into a complete vehicle

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics, Mechanical, Robotics, Electrical, or related engineering discipline

• 5-10+ years designing complex electromechanical or robotic systems, ideally including mobile or heavy equipment

• Strong proficiency with 3D CAD

• Hands-on experience with actuation and motion systems - drive-by-wire, electric or electrohydraulic actuators, motors, drives, gearboxes, and their integration

• Working knowledge of design-for-manufacture/assembly and of component selection, qualification, and supplier engagement

• Experience in autonomous vehicles, robotics, automotive, or off-highway equipment strongly preferred

Our culture is built on three principles:

Extreme Ownership – We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions.

Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate – We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale.

Share Your Legos – We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions.

Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply.