The posting
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced Senior Mechatronics Engineer to serve as the technical owner of the complete mechanical and electrical hardware system for our autonomous robotic platform.
You will own the robot’s hardware architecture, detailed design, integration, documentation, verification, field improvement and production readiness across mechanical structures, electrical systems, wire harnesses, sensors, actuators, onboard compute, communications and safety hardware.
This role will help transform a functional robotics prototype into a robust, serviceable, manufacturable, weather-resistant and certifiable product for real-world outdoor deployment. You will also mentor mechanical and mechatronics interns and help build and lead KRS’s future hardware engineering team.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end mechanical, electrical and mechatronics hardware architecture of the autonomous robot, from prototype builds and field trials to production-ready release.
- Act as the KRS hardware design authority, leading design reviews and approving mechanical and electrical changes to the robot platform.
- Define and maintain subsystem interfaces, power architecture, communication interfaces, sensor and actuator integration, safety hardware and physical packaging.
- Design mechanical and mechatronics components such as sensor mounts, compute enclosures, brackets, covers, cable routing, access panels, waterproofing features, serviceability features and retrofit structures.
- Lead the physical integration of 3D LiDARs, cameras, IMUs, GNSS/RTK, safety sensors, onboard compute, HMI, 5G and teleoperation hardware, lights, speakers, antennas, emergency stops and other peripherals.
- Own electrical integration, including schematics, power distribution, fusing, grounding, connectors, wire harnesses, cable routing, strain relief, waterproof connectors, safety interlocks and peripheral wiring.
- Create and maintain CAD models, engineering drawings, assembly drawings, electrical diagrams, connector pinouts, BOMs, retrofit procedures, inspection checklists and assembly documentation.
- Manage hardware configuration and engineering changes, including CAD revisions, BOM baselines, wiring revisions, as-built records and release documentation.
- Rapidly prototype and validate designs using 3D printing, sheet metal, machining, laser cutting, off-the-shelf components and low-volume fabrication methods.
- Drive Design for Manufacturing, Assembly, Retrofit, Serviceability and Reliability across the robot hardware platform.
- Improve robustness against rain, splash, dust, mud, heat, vibration, sunlight, corrosion, impact and repeated field servicing.
- Define hardware requirements, verification plans, acceptance criteria and design-validation tests.
- Support functional safety, reliability and certification activities through risk assessments, DFMEA, root-cause analysis, test evidence and implementation of safety functions.
- Work with suppliers and manufacturers to source components, evaluate quotations, review fabrication feasibility, improve manufacturability and resolve production issues.
- Mentor and manage mechanical and mechatronics interns, including task planning, technical guidance, design reviews and development feedback.
- Help recruit, develop and provide technical leadership to KRS’s future mechanical, electrical and hardware engineering team.
- Collaborate closely with robotics software, AI perception, navigation, embedded systems, operations, deployment teams, suppliers and Kärcher stakeholders.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Product Design Engineering or a related field.
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in robotics hardware, mechatronics, mechanical design, autonomous vehicles, industrial machines, outdoor equipment or complex electromechanical products.
- Demonstrated ownership of a complex electromechanical product or robotic platform from prototype through field deployment, validation or manufacturing release.
- Strong hands-on mechanical design experience using SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA or equivalent CAD tools.
- Ability to independently create and review engineering drawings, assembly drawings, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, harness documentation and BOMs.
- Strong understanding of mechanical design, material selection, sheet metal, machined parts, fasteners, sealing, tolerances, vibration, thermal design and structural robustness.
- Practical experience with power distribution, wiring, connectors, grounding, fusing, cable routing, sensors, actuators, motor controllers and electrical troubleshooting.
- Experience with rapid prototyping, low-volume fabrication, workshop modification and hands-on field iteration.
- Experience designing hardware for rain, dust, vibration, impact, heat, corrosion or other demanding operating environments.
- Experience with supplier coordination, DFM, DFA, configuration management, design verification and root-cause analysis.
- Strong system-level problem-solving skills and the ability to independently drive practical hardware decisions.
- Ability to mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership in a fast-moving robotics development environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with mobile robots, cleaning robots, AGVs/AMRs, autonomous vehicles, industrial machines, construction equipment, agricultural robots or service robots.
- Experience retrofitting sensors, compute, electrical systems, safety systems or autonomy hardware onto an existing vehicle or machine.
- Experience with CAN bus systems, vehicle controllers, motor controllers, power electronics, emergency-stop circuits and safety interlocks.
- Experience designing wire harnesses, selecting connectors, managing EMI/EMC considerations and troubleshooting machine electrical systems.
- Experience with outdoor-rated enclosures, IP-rated connectors, gaskets, seals, drainage paths, corrosion protection and serviceable electronics compartments.
- Experience with prototype fabrication, low-volume production, manufacturing transfer, DFMEA and design-validation testing.
- Experience leading interns, junior engineers, contractors or external engineering suppliers.
- Basic familiarity with ROS/ROS 2, LiDAR, cameras, GNSS, IMUs, autonomous navigation, teleoperation or robotic perception systems.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an experienced Senior Mechatronics Engineer who enjoys building real machines. You are comfortable working in CAD, in the workshop, in the field, with suppliers and in technical design reviews.
You understand that a robot is a complete system involving mechanics, electronics, sensors, software, safety, manufacturing and operations. You are comfortable taking accountability for hardware decisions and building the engineering processes and team required to support future product growth.
Why Join Us
This is an opportunity to take ownership of the complete hardware engineering of an outdoor autonomous robot, from prototype development to real-world deployment and future production.
At Kärcher Robotics Singapore, you will help define how professional cleaning robots are designed, built, validated, deployed, maintained and scaled across real operating environments.
