Sorting Robotics

Designs and manufactures cannabis-automation robotics systems

Mechatronics Engineer Lead

Robotics & Autonomous SystemsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeVan Nuys, Los Angeles, CA, USA

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a similar field is required.
Strong understanding of artificial intelligence tools and an AI-native approach.
Technical depth in robotics, automation, or a related field, including experience shipping a system from concept to delivery.
Demonstrated work on 6DOF or similar collaborative robot arms.
Working knowledge of Python or a similar programming language.
At least 10 years of full-time on-the-job experience.
Must not currently be enrolled in a college or graduate program.
Must be able to work without visa sponsorship.
Must work on-site in Van Nuys or Los Angeles, with a reliable commute or willingness to relocate.
Able to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

Own the VLA gripping and assembly system from concept through design, build, bring-up, deployment, and field reliability, and be accountable for its technical success.
Design the gripper and mechatronics, including end-effector design, actuation, GD&T drawings, mass, cost and manufacturability tradeoffs, rapid prototyping using 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC and PCB, and production-ready designs.
Integrate perception and sensing into the manipulation loop, including cameras and vision, force, torque and tactile feedback, and the 6DOF arm.
Operationalize VLA and learned manipulation policies by establishing teleoperation and demonstration-collection data pipelines, integrating policy inference into real-time control, evaluating grasp and assembly success, and iterating between simulation and real-robot operation.
Optimize systems through analytical and physical simulation, then validate them on hardware.
Work with suppliers on supply chain development and vendor qualification for manufacturing feasibility, validation and assigned commodities, and deliver fit, finish and craftsmanship suitable for launch.
Help assemble and install systems at customer sites as needed, with approximately 1–5% travel.
Support other flagship products as a support or Responsible Engineer.

Desired Qualifications

A master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or Mechatronics.
Experience taking a robotic system from concept to delivery on an R&D team.
Experience with manipulation and gripping, including end-effector or gripper design, grasping, pick-and-place, or assembly automation.
Experience integrating 6DOF and collaborative robot arms, including low-level programming and motion control.
Ability to integrate learned policies, run inference on a robot, collect and curate demonstration data, and debug policy failures on real hardware.
Familiarity with modern manipulation stacks such as ROS or ROS 2, OpenVLA or pi-0-style policies, RT-style models, imitation learning, and sim-to-real.
Strong Python skills and working knowledge of real-time or embedded control.
Proficiency with CAD, 3D printing, laser cutters, CNC and PCB.
Comfort with cannabis; experience with it is preferred.

Mechatronics Engineer (Lead)

Sorting Robotics · Van Nuys, United States · Full-time · Posted 2025-04-30

Salary: USD 170,000–190,000

Workplace: on_site

Description

Job description

Sorting Robotics builds and deploys robotic systems for real manufacturing floors. We are hiring the Cognizant Engineer (CogE) to own our next flagship: a VLA-powered (Vision-Language-Action) gripping and assembly system. You will lead this product from the rig on the bench to machines running in customers facilities, and you will own its technical success end to end. Additionally, you will help with other flagship products as a support or Responsible Engineer.

This is a hands-on technical leadership seat. You will design the end-effector and mechatronics, integrate vision and force and tactile sensing into a 6DOF arm, and operationalize learned manipulation policies (VLA models) so the system reliably grips, places, and assembles in the real world. You work directly with the founder and leadership. Expect to learn a lot fast, hit days where nothing works, and ship a multi-million-dollar product in a room full of people who appreciate you.

Preferred: comfortable with cannabis (ideally you enjoy it and have experienced it), as we build innovations for the legal cannabis market in the US and Canada.

What you will own

Own the VLA gripping and assembly system cradle to grave: concept, design, build, bring-up, deployment, and field reliability. You are accountable for its technical success.
Design the gripper and mechatronics: end-effector design, actuation, GD&T drawings, mass, cost and manufacturability tradeoffs, rapid prototyping (3D print, laser, CNC, PCB), and production-ready designs.
Integrate perception and sensing into the manipulation loop: cameras and vision, force, torque and tactile feedback, and the 6DOF arm.
Operationalize VLA and learned manipulation policies: stand up the data pipeline (teleop and demonstration collection), wire policy inference into real-time control, evaluate grasp and assembly success, and close the sim-to-real and on-robot iteration loop.
Optimize with modeling and test: analytical and physical simulation, then validate on hardware.
Interface with suppliers to build supply chain and vendor qualification for manufacturing feasibility, validation, and assigned commodities; deliver world-class fit, finish, and craftsmanship for launch.
Support deployment: help assemble and install systems at customer sites as needed. Travel is approximately 1 to 5 percent.

Ideal candidate skills

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Robotics (M.S. a plus).
Real experience taking a robotic system from concept to delivery on an R&D team.
Manipulation and gripping experience: end-effector or gripper design, grasping, pick-and-place, or assembly automation.
6DOF and cobot arm integration, including low-level programming and motion control.
Comfortable at the hardware and ML boundary: you do not have to train VLA models from scratch, but you can integrate learned policies, run inference on a robot, collect and curate demonstration data, and debug why a policy fails on real hardware. Familiarity with modern manipulation stacks (ROS or ROS 2, OpenVLA or pi-0 style policies, RT-style models, imitation learning, sim-to-real) is a strong plus.
Strong Python; working knowledge of real-time or embedded control.
Fluent with prototyping tools: CAD, 3D printing, laser cutter, CNC, PCB.
Takes initiative across whatever the company needs to win. Able to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

Requirements

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or similar.
Strong understanding of AI tools. We're looking for an "AI native" engineer.
Technical depth in robotics, automation, or a related field; has shipped from concept to delivery.
Demonstrated work on 6DOF or similar cobot arms.
Working knowledge of Python or a similar language.
Minimum 10 years of full-time on the job experience.
Bonus: hands-on with manipulation or grasping, or with learned policies (VLA, imitation learning, ROS).
Not currently enrolled in a college or graduate program.
Free to work without visa sponsorship.
On-site in Van Nuys or Los Angeles (reliable commute or willing to relocate). Some travel to customer sites will be required.

Benefits

Structure: contract-to-hire (3-month contract converting to full-time) or direct full-time for the right person. We can start a strong candidate quickly.

Salary (full-time): $170,000 - $190,000 per year + 0.2% equity + full benefits + fun company perks.

Benefits: 401(k), health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, flexible spending account, paid time off, parental leave.

Schedule: 8-hour shift, Monday to Friday, weekends as needed.

Location: in person, Van Nuys or Los Angeles, CA. Reliable commute or willing to relocate (employer-provided relocation package available).

Education: Bachelor degree required.

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About the Company

Sorting Robotics

Designs and manufactures cannabis-automation robotics systems

Sorting Robotics designs and builds robotic systems and software to automate cannabis production for brands, growers, and co-packers. Its hardware and AI software use computer vision and real-time data analysis to perform tasks like infusion, filling, and coating, increasing speed and precision; Jiko handles 800–1,000 pre-rolls per hour, Jiko+ targets high-viscosity concentrates, Omni fills vape cartridges, and Stardust coats pre-rolls. The company differentiates itself with a vertically integrated robotics stack focused on the cannabis value chain and a track record of high-throughput automation, supported by venture funding and accelerator experience (Y Combinator). Its goal is to raise production efficiency and lower operating costs for cannabis producers across North America, helping them scale manufacturing and meet demand.

Company size: 11-50
Company stage: Debt Financing
Total funding: $2.1M
Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA
Founded: 2018

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