Senior Engineer, SI Applications

About LightSpeed

LightSpeed Build Technologies is revolutionizing the construction industry through AI-powered robotics. Our flagship systems—BRUTE for automated wall panel manufacturing and DEX for on-site collaborative construction—are addressing the global housing crisis by delivering unprecedented speed, precision, and affordability in homebuilding.

Position Overview:

As a Senior SI Applications Engineer, you will serve as the technical bridge between concept and build, defining the hardware architecture, vendor strategy, and cost engineering for LightSpeed’s deployable robotic manufacturing cells. Drawing on a systems integration background, you will scope automation solutions, select robot platforms and components, manage vendor relationships, and ensure every cell can be manufactured cost-effectively and deployed at scale. This is not a project-to-project SI role. You will own the hardware systems engineering for a repeatable product that scales from a handful of deployed cells to hundreds, making design-to-cost decisions that directly determine whether the company scales profitably.

What you'll work on:

Hardware Systems Architecture

• Define and own the hardware system architecture for LightSpeed’s robotic manufacturing cells, including robot platform, end-of-arm tooling, conveyors, fixtures, sensors, and guarding

• Develop cell concept layouts and solution architectures that meet production, safety, and cost requirements

• Evaluate and recommend robot platforms, actuators, and ancillary equipment for current and next-generation cell designs

• Translate production requirements into hardware specifications and system-level design packages for the engineering team

• Collaborate with robotics software engineers on hardware-software integration, sensor placement, and control system requirements

Vendor Management & Component Selection

• Build and manage relationships with robot OEMs, component suppliers, and contract manufacturers

• Evaluate, select, and specify industrial components: linear motion, pneumatics, sensors, guarding, and power distribution

• Source and negotiate with vendors for volume pricing, lead times, and quality standards to support production scaling

• Maintain approved vendor lists and preferred component libraries for standardized cell builds

• Coordinate with contract fabricators and machine shops on custom component manufacturing

Cost Engineering & Design for Scale

• Drive design-to-cost decisions across the cell hardware stack, balancing performance with manufacturability at 100+ unit volumes

• Develop and maintain bills of materials with accurate costing for cell builds targeting ~$350K per unit

• Evaluate COTS versus custom fabrication tradeoffs for every major subsystem

• Create and refine quoting and cost estimation processes for cell hardware

• Identify cost reduction opportunities through supplier consolidation, design simplification, and standardized components

Safety & Compliance

• Conduct and document robot safety risk assessments per RIA 15.6 and ISO 10218 for cell designs and customer deployments

• Design safeguarding solutions including light curtains, area scanners, guarding, and safety-rated control interfaces

• Ensure cell designs meet OSHA, NFPA, and customer-specific safety requirements across deployment environments

• Support safety documentation and compliance packages for customer facility installations

Required Qualifications:

Systems Integration & Applications Engineering

• 3+ years at a systems integrator, robot OEM, or automation equipment company in an applications, solutions, or project engineering role

• Demonstrated experience scoping automation solutions from customer requirements through concept layout, hardware selection, and cost estimation

• Hands-on experience with industrial robot platforms (FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Staubli, Yaskawa, Hyundai, or Universal Robots)

• Strong vendor network and component knowledge across industrial automation (pneumatics, linear motion, sensors, guarding, power distribution)

• Experience with quoting, proposal development, and BOM costing for automation projects

Mechanical & Hardware Engineering

• Mechanical engineering background with strong understanding of materials, fabrication methods, and structural loads

• Ability to read, interpret, and evaluate mechanical designs, engineering drawings, and fabrication specifications

• Knowledge of manufacturing processes: CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, and 3D printing

• Experience with robot safety standards (RIA 15.6, ISO 10218) and risk assessment methodologies

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field

• 5+ years in systems integration with increasing scope and project complexity

• Experience with Hyundai industrial robot platforms (LightSpeed’s current production platform)

• Background in end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) design and specification

• Experience designing robotic work cells for production environments with high cycle counts

• Familiarity with construction, prefabrication, or building products manufacturing

• Startup or product company experience, particularly transitioning from custom project work to scalable product development

• A3 (Association for Advancing Automation) involvement or industry network

Why Join LightSpeed:

• Leadership that speaks your language: the COO delivered $1B+ in automation and sits on the A3 board. This is not a company where SI experience is undervalued.

• Shift from project work to product ownership: build a repeatable robotic cell that scales to hundreds of deployments, with equity in the outcome

• Your hardware decisions directly determine whether the company scales profitably from 3 cells to 1,000

• Hands-on engineering culture with direct access to robotic cells, machine shop, and prototyping equipment

• Competitive compensation including salary, significant equity participation, and comprehensive benefits