Verified Job
Engineering - Architecture
Senior Mechatronics Engineer — Aquila Earth
Engineering - Architecture
#33723
Remote / WFH
David Joseph & Company
Job Description
Senior Mechatronics Engineer — Aquila Earth
Location: Sydney, Australia — Marrickville (Onsite, ~5 days/week)
Compensation: $140,000 – $200,000 AUD base (~$99,400 – $142,000 USD equivalent) + ~0.1% equity
Visa Sponsorship: International relocation and visa sponsorship supported — relocation assistance available including support for families and pets
Employment Type: Full-Time
About Aquila Earth
Aquila Earth is building an infinitely scalable energy network that powers a more abundant, limitless, and sustainable future. The company develops technology that beams energy through high-powered lasers, charging drones mid-flight and converting light into electrical power through highly efficient energy links. Every challenge the team tackles sits at the cutting edge of physics, controls, optics, and engineering. A 15-person, engineering-dense team based in Sydney currently finishing its Series A raise — with plans to double headcount in the near future.
About the Role
As Senior Mechatronics Engineer, you'll own the mechatronics stack end-to-end and help build systems that deliver energy through light. You'll work across beam steering, control systems, firmware, electronics, safety systems, and integrated hardware platforms — designing, testing, and shaping foundational architecture from the ground up while solving problems no one has solved before.
What You'll Own
Develop optical gimbals capable of pointing an invisible laser within millimeters of a drone flying kilometers away
Design, implement, and validate advanced MIMO controllers and observers for high-accuracy drone tracking
Design, build, and validate precision test rigs with microsecond-level repeatability
Own the mechatronics stack end to end — actuators, sensors, electronics, and firmware
Lead higher-performance redesign efforts around precision beam steering and safety system timing
Collaborate closely with electronics, firmware, optics, mechanical, and laser engineers in rotating project pods
Requirements
Strong end-to-end mechatronics systems experience built from scratch
Real-world high-performance control systems experience
First-principles problem-solving ability without reliance on established playbooks
C/C++ familiarity for embedded systems, firmware, or real-time microcontroller development
Bench-level electronics debugging experience including schematics, circuits, and instrumentation
Nice to Have
Formula SAE / Formula Student or comparable university engineering project experience
Startup or scrappy engineering company experience with demonstrated ownership
Familiarity with CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, and low-level communications debugging
Experience with or curiosity around functional safety systems and high-power laser technologies
This Role Is NOT For
Large-company engineers without ownership experience
10+ years of experience without evidence of startup or hands-on ownership mentality
Pure software engineers lacking hardware integration and electronics debugging depth
Benefits
~0.1% equity with standard four-year vesting
Parental leave and self-development stipend
Fully equipped laser facilities and cutting-edge hardware environment
Snacks and maker-friendly engineering workspace
International relocation support including assistance for families and pets
Interview Process
Hiring manager screen
Take-home technical assessment
Technical interview
CEO / cultural / behavioral final round
Offer
Logistics
Role is primarily onsite in Sydney (Marrickville) — ~5 days/week
Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance available
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by David Joseph & Co., the recruiting partner managing this search on behalf of Aquila Earth.
Location: Sydney, Australia — Marrickville (Onsite, ~5 days/week)
Compensation: $140,000 – $200,000 AUD base (~$99,400 – $142,000 USD equivalent) + ~0.1% equity
Visa Sponsorship: International relocation and visa sponsorship supported — relocation assistance available including support for families and pets
Employment Type: Full-Time
About Aquila Earth
Aquila Earth is building an infinitely scalable energy network that powers a more abundant, limitless, and sustainable future. The company develops technology that beams energy through high-powered lasers, charging drones mid-flight and converting light into electrical power through highly efficient energy links. Every challenge the team tackles sits at the cutting edge of physics, controls, optics, and engineering. A 15-person, engineering-dense team based in Sydney currently finishing its Series A raise — with plans to double headcount in the near future.
About the Role
As Senior Mechatronics Engineer, you'll own the mechatronics stack end-to-end and help build systems that deliver energy through light. You'll work across beam steering, control systems, firmware, electronics, safety systems, and integrated hardware platforms — designing, testing, and shaping foundational architecture from the ground up while solving problems no one has solved before.
What You'll Own
Develop optical gimbals capable of pointing an invisible laser within millimeters of a drone flying kilometers away
Design, implement, and validate advanced MIMO controllers and observers for high-accuracy drone tracking
Design, build, and validate precision test rigs with microsecond-level repeatability
Own the mechatronics stack end to end — actuators, sensors, electronics, and firmware
Lead higher-performance redesign efforts around precision beam steering and safety system timing
Collaborate closely with electronics, firmware, optics, mechanical, and laser engineers in rotating project pods
Requirements
Strong end-to-end mechatronics systems experience built from scratch
Real-world high-performance control systems experience
First-principles problem-solving ability without reliance on established playbooks
C/C++ familiarity for embedded systems, firmware, or real-time microcontroller development
Bench-level electronics debugging experience including schematics, circuits, and instrumentation
Nice to Have
Formula SAE / Formula Student or comparable university engineering project experience
Startup or scrappy engineering company experience with demonstrated ownership
Familiarity with CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, and low-level communications debugging
Experience with or curiosity around functional safety systems and high-power laser technologies
This Role Is NOT For
Large-company engineers without ownership experience
10+ years of experience without evidence of startup or hands-on ownership mentality
Pure software engineers lacking hardware integration and electronics debugging depth
Benefits
~0.1% equity with standard four-year vesting
Parental leave and self-development stipend
Fully equipped laser facilities and cutting-edge hardware environment
Snacks and maker-friendly engineering workspace
International relocation support including assistance for families and pets
Interview Process
Hiring manager screen
Take-home technical assessment
Technical interview
CEO / cultural / behavioral final round
Offer
Logistics
Role is primarily onsite in Sydney (Marrickville) — ~5 days/week
Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance available
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by David Joseph & Co., the recruiting partner managing this search on behalf of Aquila Earth.
