Systems Engineer, Architecture

The Mission

At GRAM, we believe the next great leap for humanity will be physical, not digital. What AGI is to bits, Self-Replication (SR) is to atoms. As an SR research and deployment company, our mission is to make humanity galactic by enabling physical exponential growth. To achieve this, we are conducting foundational research across general-purpose robotics, artificial intelligence, biology, and materials science to enable SR within our lifetimes.

Our first step is to challenge the consensus that robots should look like us. We believe true progress comes from optimizing for function over form. We are creating a new embodiment for intelligence, designed from first principles to build the future physical economy, on and off-world.

The Role

At GRAM, we are not integrating off-the-shelf components; we are building a novel physical being from the ground up. This role is for the engineers who build the machine itself: the bones, muscles, and nerves of our Insectoid robot. You will be responsible for inventing the core hardware that pushes the boundaries of performance and efficiency, creating a system that is greater than the sum of its parts.

This is a unique opportunity to solve fundamental challenges in mechatronics, power density, and biomechanics for a completely new robotic morphology. You will work at the intersection of mechanical design, electronics, and firmware to bring our vision to life, creating the physical foundation upon which all of our advanced AI will run.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the master system architecture for the Insectoid platform, acting as the ultimate technical authority on how all subsystems interconnect.
• Define and manage the critical interfaces between mechanical, electrical, and software components, ensuring seamless integration and communication.
• Lead system-level engineering efforts, including the management of the robot's mass, power, thermal, and computational budgets.
• Develop comprehensive models and documentation of the system's architecture to guide development and facilitate cross-functional collaboration.
• Drive the top-level integration and testing plan, identifying and resolving cross-disciplinary issues to create a single, cohesive, and reliable robot.

About You

You are a first-principles thinker who is energized by solving problems that have no playbook. You are drawn to ambitious, long-term missions and want to build technology that fundamentally changes our physical capabilities. You thrive in a high-agency environment where you are given the ownership and resources to tackle core challenges.

Basic Qualifications:

• MS in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with 5+ years of experience in a systems engineering role for complex hardware products.
• A proven track record of serving as the lead systems architect for a robotic or mechatronic system that has been successfully built and deployed.
• Deep, cross-disciplinary knowledge spanning at least two of the following: mechanical, electrical, or software engineering.
• Experience with systems modeling tools and methodologies (e.g., SysML).

Preferred Qualifications:

• A PhD in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Experience leading the systems architecture for a legged robot or other dynamically complex mobile platform.
• Expertise in requirements management and decomposition for safety-critical or high-reliability systems.
• Hands-on experience in multiple engineering disciplines.

Location

This is an on-site role at our research lab in El Segundo, California. We offer significant relocation assistance for exceptional candidates.

Interview Process

After submitting your application, we review your portfolio and any exceptional work you've shipped. If your application demonstrates the caliber we seek, you'll enter our interview process, which is designed for speed and substance. We aim to complete it within one week from start to finish.

• Company-Wide Base Salary Range: $75,000 - $300,000 USD, calibrated to your impact potential
• Equity: Substantial ownership stake befitting founding team members
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; all meals are paid for; relocation assistance

GRAM is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate solely on capability and drive.

Why Join?

We are an early, focused team of scientists and engineers building the system that builds itself. GRAM is funded by leading investors and long-term visionaries. We operate without bureaucracy. Ownership and leadership flow to those who demonstrate exceptional capability, and every team member works directly on our core technology. We are based in El Segundo, the heart of America's industrial future, focused on solving one of the most important problems of our time.