Job Title: Mechatronics Manufacturing Engineer

Department: Hardware

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Houston, TX

Travel: 10%

Who We Are

Persona AI is building humanoid robots for the most demanding environments in heavy industry — shipyards, steel mills, fabrication facilities, and offshore platforms — performing welding, grinding, maintenance, inspection, and material-handling work that is dangerous, physically demanding, and increasingly difficult to staff.

We are backed by leading strategic and financial investors and engaged with global industrial leaders across Korea, Japan, the United States, and Singapore. Korea is the center of gravity for our early commercial strategy, anchored by relationships with the world’s leading shipbuilders and steelmakers. Our work spans both the robot platform itself and the systems, partners, and playbooks required to deploy it at scale.

Why Join Persona AI?

• We offer competitive compensation, a performance-based bonus, 99% employer covered medical benefits, early-stage equity, competitive PTO, and a company-wide paid winter break between December 24th and January 2nd.

• You’ll shape technology that’s redefining the possibilities of robotics and human interaction.

• Work alongside passionate teammates who value creativity, and continuous learning.

About the Role

We're looking for a Mechatronics Manufacturing Engineer to build the test fixtures, assembly aids, and end-of-line test stations that let us build and validate humanoid robots reliably and at speed. This is a hands-on, build-it-yourself role that sits at the intersection of mechanical, electrical, and software work: you'll design a fixture's mechanical structure, wire up the sensors and actuators that drive it, and write the test code that runs it — then stand at the bench and make it work.

Testing is the biggest part of this role. You'll be the person who decides how we know a subassembly or actuator is good before it goes on the robot, and you'll build the hardware and software that makes that verification fast, repeatable, and trustworthy on the shop floor. We're open to candidates coming from either a mechanical or electrical background, as long as you're comfortable working across both disciplines to get a fixture from concept to a working station on the line.

What You Will Be Doing

• Design and build test fixtures, jigs, and assembly aids that support fabrication, assembly, and end-of-line test of robot subsystems (actuators, manipulators, harnesses, and integrated assemblies).

• Develop end-of-line and in-process test stations, including mechanical hardware, sensor and instrumentation integration, and the control/test software that runs them.

• Select and integrate sensors, actuators, motors, and simple control electronics into fixtures and test equipment.

• Write test scripts and simple applications (e.g., Python, C/C++, LabVIEW) to automate data collection, pass/fail criteria, and test sequencing.

• Work with manufacturing, quality, and design engineering to define what "good" looks like for a given part or assembly, and translate that into a testable, repeatable procedure.

• Iterate quickly on fixture and station designs based on line feedback, failure data, and changing product designs.

• Debug fixtures and test stations on the floor — mechanical, electrical, and software issues alike — to keep the line running.

• Document fixture designs, test procedures, calibration steps, and maintenance instructions for use by manufacturing and test technicians.

• Support DFM/DFT feedback to design engineering based on what you learn building and running test and assembly equipment.

• Perform statistical analysis of quality metrics and provide feedback to manufacturing processes and system designs.

What We Are Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.

• 3+ years of experience working in a production environment building test fixtures, assembly tooling, or manufacturing test equipment, ideally in electronics, robotics, automotive, or similar hardware production environments.

• Comfortable working across mechanical and electrical disciplines: you can design a simple mechanical fixture, wire up sensors and actuators, and write the code to make it all work together.

• Practical CAD skills (SolidWorks, Onshape, Fusion, or similar) for fixture and tooling design.

• Basic electrical skills: reading schematics, wiring test stations, using DAQ/PLC hardware or simple embedded controllers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, microcontrollers).

• Programming ability in at least one language commonly used for test/automation (Python, C/C++, LabVIEW, or similar).

• Strong troubleshooting instincts — comfortable diagnosing whether a problem is mechanical, electrical, or software before reaching for a fix.

• A hands-on, get-it-working mindset with attention to repeatability, safety, and ease of use for the technicians who'll run your fixtures every day.

• A friendly, collaborative attitude and strong communication skills; design without ego.

Bonus Skills:

• Experience testing motors, actuators, or robotic subsystems (torque, force, position, current, thermal).

• Familiarity with statistical process control, GD&T, and calibration practices for test equipment.

• Experience performing inspection of precision mechanical or electrical systems.

• Experience with PLCs, industrial controls, or SCADA-type systems.

• Experience designing pneumatic or hydraulic fixtures.

• Comfortable in a machine shop (mill, lathe, 3D printing) for rapid fixture iteration.

• Experience supporting NPI or ramping new products from prototype to volume manufacturing.

• Exposure to humanoid robotics, exoskeletons, or other articulated mechanical systems.

• Experience working directly with manufacturing technicians and operators on the floor.

Persona AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.