Hardware Technician

Gradient Robotics
San Francisco, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have hands-on hardware experience and a background in CAD.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a maker mindset and experience optimizing hardware workflows
    — “you'll see a bottleneck in how parts get built or tested, design a fix”
  • Those with a strong foundation in 3D printing and shop tool proficiency
    — “Own the 3D printing equipment: operate and maintain various types of printers”

Things to consider

  • This role demands full-time on-site presence in San Francisco with potential for extended hours
    — “Able to work on-site in San Francisco 5 days/week (6 days/week if needed during crunch time)”
  • Candidates must be comfortable with ambiguity and self-directed problem-solving
    — “Comfort with ambiguity and a high-ownership mindset”

How to stand out

  • Emphasize CAD experience and any projects that demonstrate technical creativity
    — “Proficiency in CAD”
  • Showcase ability to document and communicate technical processes clearly
    — “Own documentation: communicate and document test results and data”
  • Include any experience with shop tools or manufacturing environments
    — “Hands-on experience with a range of shop tools beyond 3D printing”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • efficient operation and maintenance of 3D printing equipment
  • timely and accurate documentation of test results
Typical background
making experienceproficiency in CAD

Skills & requirements

Required

Hardware Troubleshooting3D PrintingCAD ProficiencyProject ManagementDocumentationTeam Collaboration

Preferred

AI Tools UsageRobotics Experience

Stack & domain

3D PrintingCADHardware IssuesShop ToolsAI Tools

About the role

Original posting from Gradient Robotics via Ashby

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The datacenter buildout is the largest industrial project in human history. Gradient builds the autonomous robots that make it possible.

Partnered with the world's largest AI infrastructure companies and backed by the industry's best investors, we move fast and build full-stack systems that matter.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We're looking for a Hardware Technician to be the backbone of how Gradient Robotics builds and tests hardware day-to-day. This is intentionally a hands-on, high-ownership role. You'll support multiple teams at once while taking real ownership over your own projects and workflow. This is a role for someone who loves making things and making them better: you'll see a bottleneck in how parts get built or tested, design a fix, and document it so the whole team benefits. You'll touch nearly everything that comes through the shop, which means constant learning and room to grow quickly. The impact is significant: you'll keep hardware moving for every team, while building the skills and systems that make the whole shop run faster.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Own task flow across teams: organize and prioritize incoming work from multiple teams and keep everything moving on schedule
  • Own the 3D printing equipment: operate and maintain various types of printers and keep them running reliably
  • Own your workflow: take ownership over your work and design projects that optimize how you and your team operate
  • Own documentation: communicate and document test results and data in a clear and concise way

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Making experience (DIY projects, makerspace experience, etc.)
  • Proficiency in CAD
  • Experience diagnosing and resolving hardware issues
  • Ability to work efficiently under pressure and meet deadlines across multiple projects simultaneously, with strong prioritization skills
  • Willingness to take initiative and recognize areas of potential improvement without being asked
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Commitment to taking every opportunity to learn and develop engineering skills through hands-on experience
  • Comfort with ambiguity and a high-ownership mindset
  • Able to work on-site in San Francisco 5 days/week (6 days/week if needed during crunch time), embedded in the team

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience at a hardware, robotics, or manufacturing company
  • Hands-on experience with a range of shop tools beyond 3D printing
  • Comfort using AI tools to multiply your own output

Source: Gradient Robotics careers (Ashby)

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