Test and Validation Engineer - Contract

Here at Humanoid, we believe in a future where robots amplify human potential. That’s why we’ve set out on a mission to build the world’s most capable, commercially-scalable, and safe humanoid robots. We’re bringing that mission to life with HMND‑01 - our rapidly developed humanoid platform being deployed in real industrial environments - and we’re growing the team to take it even further.

Location

Vancouver, Canada

Employment Type

Full-Time, 6-Month Fixed-Term Contract

Work Arrangement

• On-Site
• About the Role
• We are looking for a Robotics Test & Validation Engineer to join our Vancouver team on a 6-month, full-time fixed-term contract, supporting the testing, characterization, and validation of advanced robotic components and subsystems.
• You will work hands-on with robotic actuators, joints, mechanisms, grippers, and dexterous robotic hands, helping ensure that our hardware meets performance, reliability, and safety requirements.
• Working closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, and Embedded Software engineers, you will develop and execute test procedures, build test fixtures, analyze performance data, and contribute to continuous design improvements.
• This position offers the potential to transition into a permanent, full-time role based on individual performance, business needs, and future opportunities within the team.
• This is an exciting opportunity for an early-career or intermediate engineer to gain hands-on experience in robotics testing, actuator characterization, automated validation, and hardware development while learning from experienced robotics professionals.

What Makes This Role Exciting

• Work hands-on with advanced humanoid robotic hardware, including actuators, joints, grippers, and dexterous robotic hands.
• Develop and execute tests that directly influence the performance, reliability, and safety of next-generation humanoid robots.
• Gain practical experience in actuator characterization, sensor calibration, motor control, and automated testing.
• Build and improve custom test rigs and validation systems for complex electromechanical components.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary robotics team spanning mechanical, electrical, controls, and embedded software.
• See your testing and engineering insights directly contribute to real robotic hardware improvements.

What You’ll Do

• Design, plan, and execute test procedures for robotic actuators, joints, mechanisms, grippers, and robotic hands, ensuring performance against engineering requirements.
• Build, assemble, and maintain test fixtures, test rigs, and measurement setups for functional, dynamic, endurance, and reliability testing.
• Perform actuator and sensor calibration, including encoders and motor control loops for current, velocity, and position, under the guidance of Controls engineers.
• Support actuator and subsystem characterization, measuring parameters such as torque output, friction, inertia, backlash, stiffness, thermal behavior, efficiency, and backdrivability.
• Develop and improve automated test procedures and hardware/software test setups to evaluate motor performance, force output, operating limits, and system reliability.
• Conduct lifecycle, stress, thermal, endurance, and environmental testing on robotic components and subsystems.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret test data, identifying performance trends, anomalies, and potential failure modes.
• Prepare clear test reports, performance summaries, and validation documentation, communicating findings to engineering teams.
• Work closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, and Embedded Software engineers to identify root causes of hardware failures and support design improvements.
• Collaborate with design engineers to define testable requirements, acceptance criteria, tolerances, and performance metrics.
• Support incoming quality inspections, assembly-level verification, and hardware troubleshooting.
• Assist with closed-loop actuator testing, evaluating system behavior, stability, and response under different operating conditions.
• Maintain organized test documentation, procedures, results, and equipment records.
• Contribute to improvements in testing efficiency, automation, repeatability, and validation processes.

We’re Looking For

• 1–4 years of relevant hands-on experience in robotics testing, hardware validation, mechatronics, electromechanical systems, or a related technical field.
• Bachelor's degree or technical diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• Hands-on experience testing, troubleshooting, or validating mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical systems.
• Understanding of electric motors, actuators, sensors, mechanical mechanisms, and basic control systems.
• Experience working with laboratory and measurement equipment, such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, force sensors, and data acquisition systems.
• Familiarity with test procedures, data collection, performance measurements, and technical reporting.
• Basic understanding of motor control principles, including current, velocity, and position control.
• Experience with Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools for test automation, data analysis, or engineering calculations.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and technical documentation.
• Strong analytical and practical problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify issues and support troubleshooting activities.
• Good attention to detail when performing precision measurements, calibration, and hardware testing.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, and Embedded Software engineering teams.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced R&D environment with evolving hardware designs and testing priorities.

What We Offer

• Enjoy a modern Vancouver office environment with complimentary daily lunches, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and snacks.
• Gain hands-on experience developing next-generation humanoid robots.
• Opportunity for long-term career growth, with the potential to transition from a 6-month fixed-term contract into a permanent, full-time position.
• Work directly with advanced robotic hardware and complex electromechanical systems.
• Learn from a highly experienced, multidisciplinary robotics engineering team.
• Contribute to real engineering projects, from prototype assembly through testing and validation.
• Build valuable technical experience in a fast-paced robotics startup environment.
• Join a collaborative, mission-driven team working at the forefront of humanoid robotics.