Job Description:
Job Title: Mechatronics & Integration Engineer
Location: Folsom, California – USA
Time Type: Full Time
About Nextpower
Nextpower is a global leader in intelligent solar tracker and software solutions, optimizing solar power plant performance worldwide.
Within Nextpower, the Robotics and Autonomy team develops and deploys intelligent robotic systems operating in live solar environments. These systems combine mobility, perception, embedded compute, autonomy algorithms, and cloud intelligence to increase inspection capacity, improve safety, and scale operations.
We are seeking a Mechatronics & Integration Engineer to accelerate robotics development through rapid prototyping, system integration, testing, debugging, and deployment.
This role sits at the intersection of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, software, and robotics. You will work directly on robots, prototypes, engineering test systems, and field deployments, helping transform concepts into reliable, working systems.
This role is based in Folsom, California and requires regular hands-on work with robotic systems.
Role Overview
We move quickly and build real systems.
This role is focused on turning ideas into working robots. You will work across mechanical, electrical, software, and robotics domains to rapidly prototype, integrate, test, and deploy new capabilities onto robotic platforms.
The objective is not to design perfect systems on paper. The objective is to get them working quickly, learn from real-world testing, and iterate.
This is a hands-on engineering role. We need someone who can CAD a bracket in the morning, solder a board after lunch, write a Python script to test it, SSH into the robot, debug logs, and have a prototype running by Friday. If that sounds exciting, you'll probably enjoy this role.
You will work closely with autonomy engineers, software engineers, hardware engineers, technicians, and contractors to help accelerate development and improve overall team velocity.
Core areas of responsibility include:
- Building and integrating robotic hardware systems
- Developing prototypes, fixtures, mounts, and test equipment
- Integrating sensors, firmware, software, and electrical systems
- Debugging issues across mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software boundaries
- Supporting testing, deployment, and continuous improvement of robotic platforms
Key Responsibilities
Prototyping and Mechanical Design
- Design and iterate mechanical components using CAD and 3D printing
- Build and modify prototypes, fixtures, brackets, sensor mounts, cable routing, and engineering test systems
- Create manufacturing drawings and documentation as needed
- Support rapid iteration of concepts from prototype through deployment
- Work with internal and external fabrication resources to build and improve robotic systems
Mechatronics and Electrical Integration
- Integrate sensors, actuators, controllers, embedded systems, and supporting electronics
- Perform soldering, wiring, connector assembly, electrical rework, and hardware bring-up
- Debug electrical, communication, firmware, and integration issues
- Support firmware validation and hardware verification activities
- Develop and execute electrical and system-level validation procedures
- Characterize and troubleshoot sensor, power, and communication issues
Robotics Software and System Integration
- Develop scripts and utilities using Python, Bash, or similar tools
- Configure, deploy, and debug software on Linux-based robotic platforms
- Collect logs, analyze system behavior, and support root cause analysis
- Support sensor integration, calibration, data collection, and system characterization activities
- Collaborate with software and autonomy engineers to integrate and validate new capabilities
- Support software deployment, testing, and release validation activities
Testing, Validation, and Deployment
- Develop and execute engineering test plans and validation procedures
- Build and maintain engineering test setups and development platforms
- Collect data, analyze results, and make data-driven engineering recommendations
- Perform structured troubleshooting and root cause analysis
- Support field testing, deployment, and operational validation activities
- Identify recurring failure modes and help implement long-term improvements
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 2+ years of experience developing, integrating, testing, or deploying robotic or mechatronic systems in real-world environments
- Strong hands-on mechanical assembly experience including CAD, rapid prototyping, and 3D printing
- Experience soldering, wiring, troubleshooting, and reworking electrical systems, including small electronic components, connectors, and signal wiring
- Experience with embedded systems, microcontrollers, or firmware development
- Strong experience with Python and Linux command-line environments
- Experience using Git, Docker, and modern software development workflows
- Experience using AI-assisted and agentic engineering tools to accelerate development, debugging, testing, and documentation while maintaining strong hands-on technical capability
- Experience debugging integrated hardware, firmware, electrical, and software systems
- Experience with robotics sensors such as cameras, GPS, IMUs, LiDAR, or similar systems
- Working knowledge of coordinate transforms, sensor calibration, and system integration fundamentals
- Experience collecting data, executing engineering tests, and making data-driven engineering decisions
- Experience writing and executing engineering test plans and validation procedures
- Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills
- Comfortable working directly with physical robotic systems
- Coachable and able to operate effectively within a fast-moving, collaborative engineering team
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with ROS or ROS2
- Experience with mobile robotic platforms such as unmanned ground vehicles or drones
- Experience supporting autonomy, perception, controls, or navigation systems
- Experience with test automation and engineering validation workflows
- Experience working with outdoor robotic systems
- Experience supporting field deployments and customer-facing installations
- Familiarity with manufacturing automation or industrial robotics
Join Us
At Nextpower, we are building robotic systems that operate at scale in real solar environments.
As a Mechatronics & Integration Engineer, you will play a critical role in transforming concepts into working robotic systems. You will work across hardware, software, testing, and deployment, helping accelerate development while improving the reliability and capability of our robotic platforms.
If you enjoy building things, solving practical engineering problems, and making robots work in the real world, this role is for you.
Nextracker offers a comprehensive benefits package. We provide health care coverage, dental and vision, 401(K) participation including company matching, company paid holidays with unlimited paid time off, generous discretionary company bonuses, life and disability protection and more. Employees in certain positions may be eligible for stock compensation. All plans are in accordance with relevant plan documents. For more information on Nextracker’s benefits please view our company website at www.nextracker.com .
Pay is based on market location and may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education and other job-related reasons. The annual salary range for this position is $120K to $130K.
At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.
Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
