Product Development Engineer (Mechanical / Mechatronics)
Overview
We are an early-stage startup developing ‘bolt-on’ autonomy for the agricultural sector - hardware and software that turn existing tractors, sprayers, and harvesters into autonomous machines.
We fuse advanced vision/AI navigation with rugged, field-tested hardware to deliver cost-effective and intuitive autonomy that farmers can trust.
We raised our initial funding three years ago and built our core technology with a lean team of a few engineers.
We’ve proven the core technology in the field, validated market demand, and are now entering commercial trials in NZ and California - so we’re growing our engineering team over the coming months.
We’re hiring roles across software/ML, mechanical, and electronics, with multiple roles open that can be shaped around the strengths of the right candidates.
We are a small team with a lot to do, so you’ll need to be highly self-driven, able to figure things out without a detailed brief, and know when to push hard and when to be pragmatic.
The Role
We're looking for a Product Development Engineer to design the hardware that lets our autonomy system control existing tractors - from actuators and sensors for vehicle controls like steering, braking, throttle, to universal mounting solutions that work across different tractor models.
The role will also be to improve our existing core hardware: leading environmental testing and ruggedisation of electronics enclosures, optimising for serviceability and manufacturability, integrating sensors, and ensuring everything works reliably in harsh farm conditions.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop actuation systems for vehicle control interfaces using hydraulic and electronic approaches
- Develop universal mounting and coupling solutions that work across different tractor models
- Design sensor feedback systems for closed-loop control
- Environmental testing programs including IP ingress testing, vibration analysis, thermal cycling, and durability validation
- Iterate and improve existing electronics enclosures, driving ruggedisation and optimising for serviceability and manufacturability
- Develop sensor integration solutions (optical, radar, ultrasonics) including mechanical mounting, environmental protection, and performance optimisation
- Conduct safety engineering analysis, risk assessments, and contribute to system-level safety architecture
- Build and test prototypes and pre-production hardware, from concept validation to field-ready installations
- Develop automation tools and scripts for testing, analysis, and design validation
Who You Are
Ideally, you’re a standout engineer - someone who learns very fast, has sharp technical instincts, and real drive.
Given the broad scope and developing team, we are interested to hear from a range of experience levels.
- Experience taking electro-mechanical products from concept to field deployment.
- Deep understanding of how systems behave in harsh environments - you instinctively spot potential failure points and know how to simplify designs
- Product-minded engineer who always considers the end user, installation process, and long-term reliability - not just lab functionality
- Self-driven problem-solver who thrives with autonomy and navigates uncertainty well.
- Able to prioritise effectively under pressure and make critical design decisions.
- Excited by the challenge of building complex systems in a lean startup environment.
Preferred Skills/Experience
- Software/robotics: C/C++, Python, Linux, ROS.
- Agricultural equipment or heavy machinery experience.
- Retrofit/aftermarket product design, field service experience, modular/configurable systems.
- Bonus: FMEA, safety-critical systems, certification processes.
- Freedom to innovate - minimal bureaucracy, maximum impact.
- Own complete hardware systems from design to deployment.
- You’ll have opportunities to spend time on-site with growers in California and Bay of Plenty, shaping the technology hands-on.
Practical things
- We run a hybrid working model with mandatory days in the office.
- Our preference is a full time employee, but we’re open to contracting.
- Driver’s licence required.
- Available to travel for up to 6 weeks at a time.
When you apply, tell us about something you've built that you're proud of - we care about what you've actually made, not just what's on your CV.
If you can't attach it during the application, send it to
Seniority level
Employment type
Job function
- Engineering and Information Technology
Industries
- Automation Machinery Manufacturing
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