Hardware Data Engineer - Meta Robotics Studio

Meta Robotics Studio runs large-scale robot teleoperation and wearable data collection to train robot manipulation models. Our Data Operations team builds the pipelines, reporting infrastructure, and operator-facing tools that tell the organization how much data we are collecting, how efficiently, and at what quality.

Meta Robotics Studio is seeking a skilled and experienced Prototype Test Engineer to join our team. This Prototype Test Engineer will work closely with the product design team, focusing on unit bring-up, new controls, debugging, and supporting initial unit learnings. You will play a crucial role in "signs of life" testing and adapting new features/tests from firmware/software teams to ensure functionality and quality. You will also build and scale the test automation frameworks and tooling that let test suites be created, adjusted, and deployed rapidly across prototype and build lines, and turn manual test and reporting work into automated, trustworthy systems.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside the product design team to understand unit bring-up and new controls
• Debug and support first unit learnings for prototype builds, working embedded with the first unit build
• Focus on "signs of life" testing to ensure basic unit functionality
• Adapt and implement new features and tests from firmware and software teams to ensure functionality and quality
• Build, extend, and own test automation frameworks and tooling in Python or equivalent that allow engineers and operators to rapidly create, adjust, and deploy test suites across stations and build lines without per-station rework
• Automate recurring manual test, data collection, and reporting workflows so test coverage, pass rates, yield, and station uptime are visible to engineering and program leadership
• Scale testing efforts to support the unit's need for more sophisticated functionality and calibration testing
• Support the analysis of field failures and contribute to user guides based on testing insights
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and drive adoption of common test frameworks and standards
• Identify opportunities for test process improvements and implement changes to increase efficiency and effectiveness

Minimum Qualifications

• BS degree or equivalent experience in Engineering or a related field
• 5+ years of Engineering experience developing production-quality software and hardware integration systems using one or more programming languages such as Python, Rust, C#, or C++
• Experience with zero to one hardware development and test development
• Experience with hardware and software validation across prototype and/or production hardware
• Experience building test automation frameworks or tooling used by engineers beyond yourself, not only individual test scripts
• Experience communicating in writing and working directly with non-technical operational stakeholders in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with optical electro-mechanical systems
• Experience driving technical decisions and influencing partner teams without formal authority
• Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies
• Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)
• Experience with calibration test development
• Experience developing hardware-in-the-loop fixtures or devices (e.g., microcontroller, serial, or relay-based) to automate tests that previously required human intervention
• Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)
• Experience with building cross-functional relationships
• Experience in a manufacturing, physical operations, or fleet environment working with uptime, utilization, yield, or throughput
• Experience with robotics, sensor, or time-series data
• Experience with shell scripting and SQL, and with Linux and Windows test environments

$144,000/year to $204,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits