Designs and scales hardware test systems spanning EVT, DVT, PVT, and production for autonomous construction machines. Builds automated Python test sequences, integrates DAQs and vision systems, and configures MES work orders and traceability. Covers NPI bring-up, root cause analysis, and test coverage metrics.
Join the team bringing autonomy to the built world
At Bedrock, we're moving AI out of the lab and onto real job sites. Our team includes veterans who helped launch Waymo, scaled Segment to a $3.2B acquisition, and grew Uber Freight to $5B in revenue. We retrofit the heavy equipment contractors already own, starting with excavators, so experienced crews can safely take on more projects and deliver more of the critical infrastructure our society needs.
In August 2026, Bedrock-equipped excavators began doing fully autonomous, paid work on live commercial job sites. We've more than doubled our customer base since 2025, and our machines now work with contractors across the South, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic
In October 2026, we raised a $600M Series C co-led by CapitalG and Emergence Capital, bringing our total funding to nearly $1B. We're using it to put more autonomous machines to work, build the field and operations teams behind every deployment, and expand into new machine types and job-site tasks.
This is where algorithms meet steel-toed boots. You'll work alongside construction veterans and world-class engineers to solve physical-world problems that simulations can't touch. If you're ready to do meaningful work on hard problems, we'd love to have you join us.
Role Overview: We are looking for a Manufacturing Test Engineer to design, build, and scale robust test systems that ensure product quality from early hardware development through high-volume manufacturing and fleet deployment.
This role sits at the intersection of hardware engineering, manufacturing, and quality—owning test strategy, infrastructure, and execution to catch design, process, workmanship, and component-level issues before products reach the field.
You will develop automated, data-driven test frameworks and diagnostic systems that enable fast bring-up, high coverage, and scalable production operations.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Test Strategy & Framework Development
Define end-to-end manufacturing test strategy across EVT, DVT, PVT, and production
Develop scalable hardware test frameworks covering functional, system-level, and end-of-line testing
Architect modular test systems that can evolve from prototype builds to high-volume manufacturing
Establish test coverage goals to ensure detection of:Design defectsComponent quality issuesManufacturing process variationWorkmanship defects
2. Test Development & Automation
Design and implement functional test systems (electrical, mechanical, system-level validation)
Develop automated test scripts and sequences using Python or similar languages
Integrate test equipment (DAQs, sensors, vision systems, robotics interfaces, etc.)
Build diagnostic tools to quickly isolate failures and reduce debug time
Enable data logging, traceability, and test result analytics
3. Work Order & Manufacturing Execution Integration
Configure and manage work orders and test flows within MES or manufacturing systems
Define test steps, pass/fail criteria, and routing logic across stations
Ensure traceability of test results to serial numbers, components, and build configurations
Partner with manufacturing teams to optimize throughput and minimize test time
4. Product & Manufacturing Line Bring-Up
Lead test bring-up for new products during EVT/DVT/PVT builds
Support factory ramp by deploying and validating test stations on production lines
Debug early build issues and rapidly iterate on test coverage and methods
Train operators and technicians on test processes and troubleshooting
5. Diagnostics & Failure Analysis
Develop structured diagnostic workflows to identify root causes of failures
Partner with hardware, firmware, and quality teams on root cause analysis (RCA)
Differentiate between design issues, supplier defects, and manufacturing errors
Implement containment actions and feed improvements back into test and design
6. Reliability & Sustaining Test
Design and execute ongoing reliability and stress testing (burn-in, environmental, lifecycle)
Monitor failure trends and adjust test strategies to catch emerging issues
Ensure alignment between validation testing and production test coverage
7. Test Coverage & Continuous Improvement
Define and track test coverage metrics and escape rates
Continuously improve test effectiveness to reduce field failures and returns
Optimize test time, cost, and efficiency without compromising quality
Drive improvements in first pass yield (FPY) through better detection and diagnostics
8. Data, Automation & Scaling
Build systems for automated data collection, analysis, and reporting
Leverage scripting and software tools to streamline test development and execution
Implement scalable solutions that support multi-line, multi-site manufacturing
Utilize advanced tools (including AI Agents/ML where applicable) for:Anomaly detectionFailure classificationPredictive insights on test and field data
Key Requirements:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field
5+ years of experience in manufacturing test, hardware validation, or production engineering
Experience supporting NPI builds (EVT/DVT/PVT) and scaling production ramp
Strong experience with automated test development and scripting (Python preferred)
Hands-on experience with test equipment (oscilloscopes, DAQs, power supplies, sensors, etc.)
Familiarity with MES systems, work order configuration, and manufacturing workflows
Experience with hardware-software integration and embedded systems testing
Knowledge of diagnostics, failure analysis, and reliability testing methodologies
Experience with data analysis tools (Python, SQL, or similar)
Willing to travel domestically and internationally up to 30%
Preferred Experience:
Robotics, autonomous systems, or complex electromechanical products
High-volume manufacturing and contract manufacturer environments
Vision systems, calibration processes, or system-level testing
HIL/SIL testing frameworks
Problem-Solving Mindset: Ability to manage and resolve complex challenges with little to no established playbooks, using creative and proven strategic thinking to drive solutions.
Risk Management: Proven track record of identifying, managing, and mitigating risks in large, complex programs.
Adaptability: Comfortable with ambiguity and able to thrive in a fast-moving, constantly evolving environment.
What Success Looks Like:
High test coverage with minimal field escapes
Efficient, scalable test systems that support rapid production ramp
Fast and accurate failure detection and diagnosis
Improved yield and reduced rework through better test and diagnostics
Strong alignment between design validation and manufacturing test
Operating Style:
Hands-on, detail-oriented, and highly analytical
Strong problem solver with a bias toward root cause and data-driven decisions
Comfortable working on the factory floor and in the lab
Thrives in fast-paced environments with evolving products and processes
If you thrive in dynamic environments, love solving complex challenges, and want to make an impact with cutting-edge technology, we’d love to hear from you!
Day in the life - Manufacturing Test Engineer
Morning: Data Review & Production Pulse Check
You start by checking what happened overnight or on the previous shift:
First Pass Yield (FPY) by station
Top failure modes and pareto trends
Test station uptime and bottlenecks
Any line stops or escalations
If a failure spikes—say a communication test or sensor calibration—you flag it immediately.
Then you join a quick stand-up with manufacturing, quality, and engineering:
What’s breaking on the line right now?
Are failures real (product) or false (test issues)?
What needs immediate containment vs. deeper investigation?
You leave with a clear priority: keep the line running, but don’t let bad units escape.
Mid-Morning: On-the-Line Debugging
You’re on the manufacturing floor (or remote into stations), working side-by-side with technicians.
Typical scenarios:
A unit is failing functional test intermittently → you hook into logs, probe signals, and check if it’s hardware, firmware, or test script timing
A station is slowing throughput → you optimize sequence timing or parallelize steps
A new build variant isn’t flowing correctly → you adjust work order/test routing in MES
You’re constantly asking:
Is this a real defect or a test artifact?
If it’s real, is it design, component, or process-related?
How do we contain it now and detect it earlier next time?
Midday: Test Development & Iteration
Back at your desk or lab bench, you shift into build mode.
You might be:
Writing Python scripts to automate a new functional test
Adding diagnostics to isolate failures faster (better logging, error codes, signal capture)
Integrating new hardware into the test system (DAQs, sensors, fixtures)
Expanding test coverage to catch a recently discovered issue
This is where you improve the system so the same issue doesn’t keep showing up on the line.
Early Afternoon: Bring-Up & New Product Support
If you’re in EVT/DVT/PVT or launching a new product, this block is intense.
You’re:
Bringing up new test stations for a prototype or pilot build
Debugging early design issues exposed during testing
Defining pass/fail limits where none existed before
Rapidly iterating test sequences as the product evolves
Expect ambiguity—things aren’t fully defined yet, and you’re helping shape both the test strategy and the product quality bar.
Mid-Afternoon: Failure Analysis & Cross-Functional Work
You sit down with hardware, firmware, and quality engineers to go deeper on key issues:
Reviewing failure logs and waveform captures
Reproducing issues in the lab
Running experiments to isolate root cause
You help answer:
Did test catch this early enough?
Should this be moved upstream (design validation vs. production test)?
What additional coverage is needed to prevent escapes?
This is where you connect test → design → manufacturing → field performance.
Late Afternoon: Systems, Scaling & Optimization
Now you zoom out and improve the broader system:
Updating MES flows (test steps, routing, traceability)
Refining test limits to reduce false failures without letting defects pass
Smarter failure classification (rule-based or AI-assisted)
End of Day: Wrap-Up & Prioritization
Before signing off, you:
Check if critical line issues are contained
Ensure test changes are deployed and documented
Align with the next shift or offshore teams
Set priorities for the next day (new tests, top failures, line risks)
What Makes the Role Unique
You are the gatekeeper between manufacturing and the field
You constantly balance coverage vs. speed vs. cost
You touch everything: hardware, software, fixtures, data systems, and operations
Your work directly impacts yield, reliability, and customer experience
In One Sentence
You spend your day building and refining the systems that catch problems early, diagnose them quickly, and keep production moving without compromising quality.
Bedrock Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer
We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.
Reasonable Accommodations
We want our hiring process to be accessible to everyone. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please let your recruiter know so we can support you.
