Ghost Robotics is the industry leader in legged robotic systems that help customers solve complex operational, national security, and technical challenges to save lives, reduce harm, and improve outcomes.
In this role, you will build, inspect, and repair the custom cable assemblies, harnesses, and electronics that go into our robots. This is a hands-on bench role on a small team. You execute to documented work instructions and IPC acceptance standards, you catch problems early, and you give engineering the feedback from the floor that makes the next build easier and more reliable. You are the person who makes sure what leaves the bench is right.
This is a build-and-repair role, not a design role. You will partner closely with the engineer who owns the designs and procedures, and your bench-level input directly shapes how those designs evolve.
Key Duties
Assemble and terminate custom cable and wire harness assemblies to documented work instructions and IPC/WHMA-A-620 acceptance criteria.Read and interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, and harness drawings.Crimp, solder, and pot connectors using calibrated tooling; perform pull-testing and continuity verification.Perform QC and incoming/in-process inspection on cable assemblies and robot electronics against documented procedures.Debug and repair RMA electrical subassemblies and custom PCBAs to IPC-7711/7721; document failure symptoms and findings clearly so engineering can drive root-cause and corrective action.Provide DFM and assembly-ability feedback to engineering from the bench (where a design is hard to build, fragile, or error-prone).Flag component shortages, fit issues, and supply roadblocks to engineering and supply chain early, before they stall a build.Maintain tools, fixtures, calibration logs, and an ESD-safe workstation.Requirements:2 years minimum experience at an established contract manufacturer or product company in electrical assembly.IPC J-STD-001 certification (soldered electrical and electronic assemblies).IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification or equivalent hands-on experience (cable and wire harness assembly). Given that custom cable work is the core of this role, this is as central as J-STD-001.Experience reading schematics, wiring diagrams, and harness drawings.Hands-on crimp tooling and crimp pull-testing experience.Hands-on PCBA debugging and repair.Comfortable with standard test and inspection equipment: DMM, continuity tester, and basic oscilloscope use.Proper ESD handling discipline.Familiarity with assembly documentation and the ability to follow, mark up, and improve work instructions.Additional Experience a Plus
IPC-7711/7721 certification (rework, modification, and repair). Strongly preferred given the RMA repair scope.Experience building and testing to IP67/IP68 ingress-protection requirements.Familiarity with Lemo 0M and Harwin M80 signal contacts.Familiarity with Harwin M80 and Harting D-Sub power contacts.Experience with custom cable housings and potting.Experience with communication cable solutions: USB 2.0/3.0/3.1, Ethernet Cat5/6, and coax for RF communications and high-throughput data transfer.Familiarity with EMI testing and performance improvements.Minimum Education
Associate's degree in electrical engineering or a similar discipline, or equivalent hands-on experience paired with the relevant IPC certifications.
Location
Philadelphia, PA (no remote candidates considered at this time).
Travel
No Travel Required. Opportunities for Domestic and International Travel are available.
Compensation
Competitive base, full benefits and highly motivating equity incentive package. Flexible time-off policy. Focus on output
and ability to work with a stellar team of interdisciplinary functions.
Background Check
Clear standard background checks, pre-hire, post hire and anytime during employment as required.
Residency Requirements
Permanent Residency Required.
Physical Requirements
Prolonged periods of standing, sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Must be able to lift 20 pounds. Assistive equipment available
Read LessWe're a robotics company building autonomous systems that operate in complex, dynamic environments. We're hiring a Controls Engineer to design, implement, and deploy control algorithms for dynamic legged robots operating in the real world. You'll work across dynamics, optimization, state estimation, and real-time software, owning both the algorithmic innovation and the system-level performance on hardware. This role suits engineers who thrive on high-velocity problem solving, deep technical ownership, and hands-on testing and validation.
How leveling works This is one role, open at the Senior, Staff, or Lead level. The responsibilities below reflect the core of the role at every level. You don't need to decide which level fits you before applying. The selected candidate will be placed at the level commensurate with the skills, scope, and experience they demonstrate through the interview process, and the offer will align with that level. Senior and Staff are individual-contributor positions. Lead carries the same technical scope plus people-leadership responsibilities, for candidates who want them.
What you'll do (all levels)
Design, implement, and validate advanced control architectures (model-based, optimization-based, learning-augmented) for agility and robustnessDevelop, maintain, and validate state estimation and sensor fusion pipelines (IMU, joint encoders, contact/force sensing)Lead gait generation, footstep planning, contact scheduling, and disturbance recovery tuningPerform rigorous offline and real-time testing in simulation and on hardwareDebug and analyze system performance using logs, visualization tools, hardware experiments, and fleet dataBuild automated diagnostics, analysis scripts, and tools to improve robot reliability and field performanceCollaborate with mechanical, perception, embedded, and systems teams to ensure end-to-end performance and robustnessWrite clean, maintainable, real-time-safe code in C++ and PythonContribute to long-term architectural decisionsSenior Controls Engineer
Typically reached with 5+ years of relevant experience, or 3+ years following a PhDOwns a defined technical area of the controls stack and delivers independently end to endMentors less-experienced engineersTrack record of deploying control algorithms to real hardwareStaff Controls Engineer
Typically reached with 8+ years of relevant experienceDrives technical direction and architecture across the team's areaSets engineering standards and multiplies the output of othersDemonstrated influence beyond their own deliverables, across teams or an entire controls stackLead Controls Engineer
Typically reached with 10+ years of relevant experience, including experience guiding engineersStaff-level technical scope plus people-leadership responsibilities: direct reports, hiring, performance, and team planningDemonstrated ability to grow engineers and run a healthy, productive teamRequirements:Core qualifications (all levels)
Strong foundations in control theory (linear, nonlinear, optimal control), with experience in legged locomotion or other dynamic systems. We weigh what you've built and shipped over where your degree is from. An advanced degree in Robotics, Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering, or a related field is one path in. Equivalent industry experience is another.Experience with multi-body dynamics, modeling, and simulation (e.g., MuJoCo, Gazebo, Isaac Sim, PyBullet)Hands-on experience deploying algorithms on physical robotic systems and debugging complex hardware/software interactionsProficiency in modern C++ (C++17/20) and PythonExperience with Unix/Linux environments and software engineering best practices (version control, CI/CD)Preferred qualifications
Experience with legged or humanoid robots and real-world locomotion challengesBackground in whole-body control frameworks (operational space control, MPC, and similar)Familiarity with state estimation methodologies (EKF, factor graphs, UKF)Experience architecting data analysis pipelines and automated diagnostic systemsExperience with ROS 2 and real-time middlewareA combination of classical control and reinforcement learning applied to robotic systemsPublications or significant open-source contributions in robotics, controls, or estimationDemonstrated ability to lead technical efforts and mentor engineersWhat we offer
Work with state-of-the-art legged robots and influence real-world performanceHands-on hardware labs and advanced simulation infrastructureA collaborative, technically rigorous culture with emphasis on learning and ownershipAccess to real robots, real data, and real impactThe anticipated starting base salary for this position is $145,000 to $185,000 per year, placed by level as described aboveLocation
Philadelphia, PA. This is a full-time, on-site role. No remote candidates will be considered at this time.
Travel
None required, though domestic and international opportunities exist for engineers who want field exposure.
Compensation
Competitive base salary, full benefits, and a highly motivating equity incentive package. Flexible time off policy. We focus on output, impact, and the ability to work alongside a stellar interdisciplinary team.
Additional Information
Clear standard background checks are required pre-hire, post-hire, and at any time during employment. Permanent U.S. residency is required.
Read LessGhost Robotics is the industry leader in legged robotic systems that not only help our customers solve complex operational, national security, and technical challenges to save lives, reduce harm and improve outcomes.
About the Role
We are hiring a Senior Engineer, Electronics to own the electrical architecture of critical subsystems on Ghost's Q-UGV platform as we scale for defense, homeland, public safety, and enterprise customers worldwide. This is not a role where you will execute a spec someone else handed down. You will set the design direction, make the hard tradeoffs between power, thermal, cost, and manufacturability, and carry PCBs from concept through field deployment.
You will report to the Head of Electronics and Firmware and work shoulder to shoulder with firmware, mechanical, controls, and supply chain. You will be the senior electronics authority on your boards, accountable for schematic decisions, layout quality, DFM and DFT outcomes, and the success of every contract manufacturer handoff.
What You Will Do
Own the electrical design of critical subsystems on the Q-UGV platform, including motor control, position and IMU sensing, high speed communications, and battery management. Integrate diverse payload sensors (RGB, thermal/IR, time of flight, gas, audio, and task specific) onto the platform, translating customer functional requirements into production ready electronics. Drive PCB schematic capture and layout from prototype through bring up, debug, and volume production, and work directly with contract manufacturers on fab, assembly, and yield. Design and review power architectures for battery powered systems, including regulator selection, power distribution, and protection circuits appropriate for ruggedized deployment. Lead design reviews, mentor junior electronics engineers, and raise the bar on schematic quality, layout discipline, and revision control hygiene across the team. Debug hardware systematically at the bench and in the field, isolating root cause across electrical, firmware, and mechanical boundaries. Partner with the Head of Electronics and Firmware on architecture decisions, technology selection, and long-range electronics roadmap. Requirements:What You Bring
7+ years of hands-on PCB schematic and layout design experience, with at least one full product cycle taken from concept to volume production. Demonstrated ownership of prototype PCB assembly, bring up, and debug, and direct experience working with contract manufacturers on fab and assembly. Strong high speed digital layout experience, including signal integrity awareness on interfaces such as Ethernet (up to gigabit), USB 3.x, and PCIe. Proven experience designing power electronics for battery powered systems, including regulator design and power line layout for mid to high power applications. Expertise in Altium Designer. Disciplined revision control practices and rigorous hardware documentation habits. Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.What Sets You Apart
Brushless DC motor controller design experience. Battery Management System (BMS) design experience. Experience with legged, wheeled, or aerial robotic platforms, or other ruggedized mobile systems. Hands on experience integrating NVIDIA Jetson or similar compute modules into a full electronics design. Track record of mentoring junior engineers and leading technical design reviews.Location
Philadelphia, PA. This is a full-time, on-site role. No remote candidates will be considered at this time.
Travel
None required, though domestic and international opportunities exist for engineers who want field exposure.
Compensation
Competitive base salary, full benefits, and a highly motivating equity incentive package. Flexible time off policy. We focus on output, impact, and the ability to work alongside a stellar interdisciplinary team.
Additional Information
Clear standard background checks are required pre-hire, post-hire, and at any time during employment. Permanent U.S. residency is required.
Read Less