Head of Mechatronics
Have you taken a hardware product from prototype to something that actually works in the real world - under pressure, at scale, and with customers using it?
This is a role for someone who knows that building a robot is easy - making it work reliably in the real world is the hard part.
A scaling robotics company is developing autonomous systems designed for demanding agricultural environments, where hardware has to perform day in, day out, in unpredictable conditions.
They're looking for a
Head of Mechatronics
to own the physical system end-to-end - leading everything from actuation and sensing through to mechanical integration and real-world performance. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who has taken hardware from early prototypes all the way through to commercial deployment.
What You'll Be Doing
Own the mechatronic architecture of the robot - spanning mechanical systems, actuation, embedded control, and sensor integration
Lead the development of hardware from prototype through to multiple product iterations and commercial readiness
Turn field performance and customer feedback into concrete design improvements, making pragmatic trade-offs where needed
Define reliability and performance standards for challenging agricultural environments
Collaborate closely with software and AI teams to ensure hardware supports perception and autonomy requirements
Build and lead a small, high-output mechatronics team as the company scales
Own supplier relationships, component selection, BOM management, and certification processes
Support field trials and real-world deployments, using those insights to drive continuous improvement
Contribute to technical direction, IP, and documentation for investors and partners
What They're Looking For
Experience leading mechatronic or robotics hardware development
Proven track record taking a product from prototype through to commercial deployment
Strong hands-on experience across mechanical design (CAD, manufacturing, tolerances) and embedded systems (firmware, motor control, sensors)
Comfort making decisions across hardware and software without relying on specialists for every detail
Experience incorporating real-world feedback into iterative product development
Background in robotics, agriculture, industrial systems, or similar real-world environments is a strong plus
Previous experience leading or building engineering teams
Pragmatic, ownership-driven, and comfortable working in fast-moving, ambiguous environments
Hybrid on-site role based in Porto, Portugal.
If you want to build robots that actually work in the real world and take ownership of the hardware that makes it possible - apply now.