Head of Autonomy

We are Universe Energy, and we are the battery dismantling and sorting company.

The world needs 2 billion batteries by 2050 to make electric cars and power the grids. But we need to mine 30x more, leading to a $10 Trillion supply gap. We help EV OEMs, battery makers, and service centers make $1500 on a used battery pack by remanufacturing and repurposing them instead of letting them pay $750 for recycling. We dismantle, inspect, and grade used battery packs 90% cheaper and 6x faster using robotics, computer vision, and machine learning. We will deploy a fleet of 50 dismantling & sorting systems in shipping containers on-site to process 200k battery packs/year by 2030. Our mission is to unlock reuse as the primary source of the next 100 million batteries by 2050, powering a truly clean energy transition. We keep 5 TWh in battery capacity alive, reduce 6 Gigatons CO2, and save 125 billion liters of freshwater per year.

The robot dismantles batteries.

We are building a cognitive robot that can automatically diagnose, discharge, and disassemble EV batteries using robotic manipulation, autonomous controls, and computer vision. The first-generation robotic system will automatically assess the battery’s state of health, remove covers from arbitrary battery packs (500 kg), and perform safe discharging. It then disassembles these batteries from the pack level (500 kg) down to the module level (25 kg). Bonobo can take batteries apart 4x faster and safer than a human at 6x the throughput, leading to 50% lower unit economics.

Job objective
You will be in charge of developing and delivering the robotic system for battery recognition, discharging, and disassembly procedures from concept to physical prototype. Robotic controls steer mission and path planning, machine perception recognizes the batteries, and mechanical end-effectors take covers from the batteries.

You will conceptualize, architect, engineer, and deploy the first integrated robotic system. You manage critical interfaces toward perception algorithms, path-planning functions, software infrastructure, and mechanical end-effectors. One by one you will deploy process functions applied to battery disassembly. 

To make this happen, you will recruit, lead and mentor a team of robotics-, perception-, software- and mechatronic engineers. This is an exciting opportunity where deep technical knowledge, insight into commercial viability, and technical leadership are combined.

Your responsibilities

• Collaborate with the co-founding team on product and technology strategy, engineering road mapping, and research activities. 
• Lead design, development, and delivery of products, technology, and initiate efforts in applied research.
• Recruit, lead, and mentor a team of robotics-, perception-, mechanical- and software engineers.
• Grow the team by sourcing, hiring, and onboarding of talented and passionate engineers. Nurture a strong engineering culture, responsible for delivering creative and scalable solutions.
• Perform system design reviews, trade-studies decisions, and lead make-buy decisions for the hardware & software technology stack. 
• Manage industrial & research partnerships on technical development and deploy technology for pilot programs operationally.
• Support in drafting, managing, and filing the Intellectual Property portfolio with the IP firm.

How you will contribute

• Design and deliver the robotic mission planning software by integrating functions in path planning, robotic controls, and computer vision.
• Guide the development and deployment of robotic control software for positioning, actuation, path planning, inverse kinematics, and gripper functions.
• Architect and prototype the mechanical systems integrating industrial robotic systems and gantry-based motion systems.
• Make a selection of industrial robotic systems (like Fanuc, Kuka, ABB, and Comau), gantry-based motion systems, and industrial PLC controllers.
• Lead the integration of production-level & robust computer vision modules for classification, counting, tracking, 3D reconstruction, camera calibration, and segmentation.
• Manage the development of control and mechanical interfaces for end-effectors & manipulators like screwing, gripping, drilling, laser cutting, and milling.
• Guide the build of prototype end-effectors & manipulators for cutting, screwing, decoupling, and uncovering using cutters, heat guns, skewers, and grippers.

The skills & experience that you bring

• At least a B.Sc. in either Computer Science, Mathematics or Robotics-, Mechanical -, Electrical -, Controls Engineering, or a relevant field.
• 3-5 yrs experience in advanced product development within the domains of Robotics, Automotive, Aerospace, Battery, or Perception.
• 3-5 yrs experience delivering first-of-its-kind technology from concept to prototype that involved the integration of software, ML & perception with robotics, controls, and mechanical hardware. 
• 3+ years experience as an engineering manager performing system design reviews, trade-studies selection, product development methods, and prototype releases.
• 3+ yrs demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing mid to large-size hardware & software engineering teams in a fast-paced environment within a venture-backed startup.

Technical experience

• 3-5 yrs developing robotic control software to deliver mission and path planning, subroutines for automation tasks, and collision avoidance. Academic knowledge in Classical, Multivariable Feedback, Model Predictive or Nonlinear controls. 
• 3-5 yrs developing software from architecture to production-level code in industrial environments, like assembly lines, industrial robotics, and CNC machines. Deeply skilled in C/C++, Python, and Matlab-Simulink. 
• 3-5 Hands-on experience in configuring industrial systems like Kuka, Fanuc, and Staubli as well as gantry-based systems like CNC machines and 3D printers.
• 3+ yrs experience with robotic development and simulation in ROS, ROS-I, MoveIt for path planning and inverse Kinematics, and Gazebo for simulation. 
• 3+ yrs experience in machine learning, deep reinforcement learning, and computer vision spanning hardware and software. Developed ML tools in Torch/TensorFlow built and Classical computer vision algorithms in C++ and OpenCV.

How to hit a homerun

• Deep reinforcement learning applied to robotic control systems and path planning.
• Build continuous integration and testing infrastructure to ensure robust and production-ready robotics software.

Reach out to careers@universeenergy.ai for questions, comments and/or feedback before applying.