Humanity's birthright is to become galactic. GRAM exists to serve this mission.

We are a foundational AI and robotics startup building the machines and intelligence necessary to overcome the physical labor bottleneck preventing large-scale space industrialization.

Our first product is a general-purpose insectoid capable of working in large swarms. Over the coming century, our systems will build the critical infrastructure needed for humanity's expansion across the Milky Way.

The Opportunity

As a Founding Robotics Engineer at GRAM, you will be instrumental in bringing our vision to life by leading the design, development, and realization of our core robotic hardware. You will architect the physical platform for our general-purpose insectoids, destined for Earth's toughest environments and eventually off-world construction.

This is a unique ground-floor opportunity to define hardware strategy from day zero, solve extreme challenges in mechatronics for unstructured environments, and build the physical backbone of a system designed for galactic scale. You will have unparalleled ownership and impact, tackling problems in mobility, manipulation integration, robustness, and power systems necessary for autonomous swarm operations. If you are a world-class builder driven by tackling seemingly impossible hardware challenges for a civilization-level mission, join us at the very beginning.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end mechanical and electro-mechanical design, analysis (FEA, thermal, dynamic), and integration of the hexapod robot platform, including structure, multi-DOF legs, high-performance actuation, power distribution, and embedded sensor systems.
• Drive critical component selection (motors, gearboxes, sensors, compute hardware, connectors, materials) balancing cutting-edge performance, cost, supply chain, and extreme reliability requirements for harsh environments.
• Own the hardware development lifecycle: architecting systems, rapid prototyping (design, build, test cycles), DFM/DFA, managing vendors/fabrication, defining assembly processes, and establishing rigorous hardware validation procedures.
• Develop and execute comprehensive test plans to validate hardware performance against demanding requirements, including functional, environmental (shock, vibration, thermal, ingress), and reliability/lifetime testing.
• Collaborate deeply with Controls, Perception, Software, and Manipulation engineers to define system requirements, ensure tight hardware-software co-design, and achieve overall robotic system performance goals.
• Mentor other engineers (as the team grows) and play a key role in shaping GRAM's hardware roadmap, technical standards, and engineering culture.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• MS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a closely related field, or equivalent practical experience demonstrating exceptional ability.
• 8+ years of professional experience designing, building, and validating complex electro-mechanical or robotic systems, with a strong portfolio of shipped hardware.
• Deep expertise in 3D CAD (e.g., SolidWorks, NX, Onshape) and advanced simulation/analysis tools (FEA, multi-body dynamics, thermal analysis).
• Proven hands-on skills in prototyping, fabrication techniques, system assembly, bring-up, and debugging.
• Strong experience with robotic actuator selection/integration (motor sizing, gearbox design/selection), power budget analysis, and integrating various sensors (IMUs, force sensors, encoders, cameras, LiDAR).
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field.
• Direct, significant experience designing and building robust legged robots (bipedal, quadrupedal, or hexapodal) that have successfully operated outside lab environments.
• Demonstrated experience designing hardware for reliable operation in harsh, unstructured environments (e.g., field robotics, agriculture, mining, defense, space applications; considering factors like dust, water, vibration, wide temperature ranges).
• Expertise in specialized areas such as custom high-torque/high-efficiency actuator design, advanced materials, power electronics for mobile systems, thermal management for high-power robotics, or design for long-term reliability and maintenance.
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 from a hardware interface and system integration perspective.
• Experience leading complex hardware projects and making critical architectural decisions.
• A first-principles approach to problem-solving, thriving in ambiguity, and possessing a relentless drive to build functional, reliable systems for groundbreaking applications.
  
  

We welcome applications from individuals even if their background does not match every listed requirement.

Our Culture

We are a small, deeply technical team operating with the urgency and focus required to tackle a multi-generational mission. Expect minimal hierarchy, maximal ownership and impact, intense collaboration, and the unique opportunity to build not just groundbreaking robots, but the culture and foundations of the company itself. We are backed by visionary investors who share our long-term conviction.

Compensation & Benefits

As a critical founding team member joining at the earliest stage, your compensation package is designed to reflect both the significance of your contribution and the inherent risks and rewards of building from zero.

• Competitive Pre-Seed Salary: We offer a competitive base salary benchmarked for founding engineering roles at venture-backed pre-seed/seed-stage startups in the Los Angeles Area, involving a conscious trade-off with equity.
• Substantial Founding Equity: Recognizing your critical role and early commitment, you will receive a significant stock option grant, providing meaningful ownership and upside potential aligned with GRAM's ambitious long-term vision.
• Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance; flexible PTO policy; 401(k) plan; other standard startup perks.
  
  

Galactic Resource Advancement Mechanism Technologies Corporation. C. MMXXV. El Segundo, California, United States of America.