Mechatronics Engineer – Field Deployed

Position: Mechatronics Engineer – Field-Deployed Agricultural Automation

Location: South San Francisco

Type: Full-time

Desired start date: ASAP

The Opportunity:

Ohalo™ is seeking a hands-on Mechanical / Mechatronics Engineer to support the design, integration, and deployment of agricultural automation systems across our research and production environments. This role will focus on integrating mechanical systems, robotics, sensors, and lab automation equipment to enable scalable, high-throughput plant genomics and greenhouse operations.

The ideal candidate enjoys working close to hardware in real-world environments and partnering directly with scientists, automation engineers, and operators. If you are motivated by building practical systems that operate reliably in greenhouse and lab settings, we want to hear from you.

This role requires a high degree of independence and self-management, with approximately half of the time spent forward-deployed at our Watsonville greenhouse facilities and the remainder based in South San Francisco. You will serve as a key on-site technical owner for deployed systems, coordinating closely with centralized engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities

• System Integration: Design, assemble, and integrate mechanical and mechatronic subsystems for lab and greenhouse automation.
• Robotics & Automation: Support deployment and tuning of robotic systems, actuators, and motion platforms.
• Sensor Implementation: Integrate and validate sensors (e.g., force, position, imaging, environmental) into mechanical systems.
• Field Deployment: Commission, troubleshoot, and maintain systems in greenhouse and lab environments.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with biology, hardware, and software teams to align system designs with scientific workflows.
• Iteration & Improvement: Identify failure modes and implement design improvements for reliability and maintainability.
• Documentation: Create and maintain mechanical drawings, BOMs, assembly instructions, and test procedures.

Candidate Profile

• 5+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, mechatronics, robotics, or related fields.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical system assembly and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with automation components such as motors, actuators, linear motion systems, and sensors.
• Comfortable working in experimental environments with evolving requirements.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical partners.

Bonus if you have

• Experience with agricultural systems, greenhouse operations, or lab automation.
• Exposure to robotics frameworks, controls, or embedded systems.
• Experience supporting systems in field or production environments.

The anticipated base pay range for this role is $120,000 - $155,000 per year for our South San Francisco location, which represents multiple levels for this function.  The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

About Ohalo: 

Ohalo™ aims to accelerate evolution to unlock nature's potential. Founded in 2019, Ohalo develops novel breeding systems and improved plant varieties that help farmers grow more food with fewer natural resources, increasing the yield, resiliency, and genetic diversity of crops to sustainably feed our population. Ohalo's breakthrough technology, Boosted Breeding™, will usher in a new era of improved productivity to radically transform global agriculture. For more information, visit www.ohalo.com.

Notes: If you previously applied for a job at Ohalo Genetics, we encourage you to restate your interest in the position by submitting your application.

Ohalo is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Ohalo is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

No visa sponsorship is available for this position at this time. 

No recruiters, please.